The first financially successful local documentary in South Korea was 2008’s “Old Partner,” which broke domestic records by quickly drawing 100,000 viewers in the first two weeks following its release. Historically, local documentaries about South Korea have not been particularly well-liked in the country. Since then, more independently produced movies have started to appear, telling authentic stories about multiple aspects of Korea. Some of these stories are depicted in the seven documentaries listed below.
Best Documentaries About South Korea:
7. Twinsters
About Twinsters:
Imagine being an only child for 25 years and discovering that you had an identical twin one day. This situation occurred to two Korean adoptees. Thus, it is not simply for dramatic soap operas. In the documentary Twinsters, Samantha Futerman, raised in the US, and Anais Bordier, raised in France, discover the twin they were unaware of.
Even though this movie is mainly about the two ladies and their developing relationship, it also touches on more general issues like international adoption and what culture and heritage mean to these adoptees as they age.
A Twitter user, after watching this documentary, tweeted, “I’m making my Honey watch the documentary #Twinsters on YouTube. The true story of how Samantha Futerman found her twin sister Anais who lives in London. It’s so good!”
I’m making my Honey watch the documentary #Twinsters on YouTube. True story on how Samantha Futerman found her twin sister Anais who lives in London. It’s so good!
— AmazonGoddess (@amazongd) August 5, 2022
To the above tweet, another user replied, “I remember this story a couple of years back. It was so amazing!! I’ve always said it must be an amazing thing to have an identical twin — you are born with a best friend. That was a beautiful story!”
I remember this story a couple years back. It was so amazing!! I’ve always said, it must be an amazing thing to have an identical twin — you are born with a best friend. That was a beautiful story!
— ♻ tczig (@tczig) August 5, 2022
There is a skype video of both twins talking to each other:
6. 9 Days in the Summer
About 9 Days in the Summer:
At Yonsei University in the summer of 1996, undergraduate students attempted to host the Unification Festival, a pan-national protest that strongly opposed the administration. A video from that occasion was shared online after 20 years, evoking a range of emotions, including introspection, shock, and disapproval.
This movie documents the student community in the area where the protest took place. It seeks to illustrate how the present compares to the past.
5. Comfort by Lee Hyerin
About Comfort:
Women who performed sexual labor for US military Camptowns under the identities “Yankee Princess” and “UN Madame” sued the government of Korea under the banner “US military comfort women.” This movie tells you about the comfort women system in Korea, which has persisted since World War II, as it searches for lost voices and erased evidence.
4. My Love, Don’t Cross That River
About My Love, Don’t Cross That River:
This heartwarming movie, about an old couple and their 76-year marriage, was a commercial and critical success, becoming the most well-liked independent film in Korean history. The film is slow-moving but never monotonous, letting the love between the pair shine through, as when 98-year-old Jo Byeong-man accidentally throws leaves on his wife while raking their yard.
Her irritated response shows that this has happened numerous times before. This eliminates the need for narrative or explanation while properly illustrating the movie’s themes of love, family, and perseverance.
Nika, a Twitter user, after watching the documentary, couldn’t control her emotions and wrote,” My Love, Don’t Cross That River” I’ve seen that with my family, and I burst out crying with my dad “Me Before You”? it seems I have a lot to watch I have to prepare for tomorrow, so I have to go now we’ve been very busy recently.”
🐧 "My Love, Don't Cross That River", i've seen that with my family and i burst out crying with my dad
🐧 "Me Before You"?
🐧 it seems i have a lot to watch
🐧 i have to prepare for tomorrow so i have to go now
🐧 we've been very busy recently ㅠㅠ— nika ◡̈ (@palcheokkitty) July 14, 2022
Sijie Gao tweeted, “This is me when I watch My Love, Don’t Cross That River. I did not stop crying for the whole movie; everyone should watch it.”
#4: This is me when I watch My Love, Don't Cross That River. I did not stop crying for the whole movie, everyone should watch it. #TFM310 pic.twitter.com/G6aAmeTyfI
— Sijie Gao (@Sijie_Gao_73) May 4, 2022
Brianna Marie says:
I can’t find a screenshot of the exact scene, but there is a scene from My Love Don’t Cross That River where Kang talks about sending her departed children clothing. It’s so raw but beautiful. The whole movie is. Highly suggest. pic.twitter.com/VYCcXhmXmW
— Brianna Marie (@HexManiacMarie) August 18, 2022
my love don’t cross that river_
a love film 🥺 pic.twitter.com/UkuvMjCdJS
— moonflower / the iii. (@AfroJediii) August 16, 2021
3. Community of Parting by Jane Jin Kaisen
You can look at this video where Jane Jin Kaisen gives a speech and talks about her documentary:
About Community of Parting:
The myth of the abandoned Princess Bari from Korean shamanism illustrates a different perspective on borders. The film merges the past and present connection with the shamanic blurring of boundaries. It is a feminist, diasporic, and multilingual film about the Korean War and division that was shot on Jeju Island, the DMZ, North Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, and other locations.
In the video, she discusses her creative research Ph.D., in which she investigated how translation and borders might simultaneously manifest as a place of mutual recognition, conversation, and group emerging.
2. Vote Young Ones by Min Hwan-Ki
About Vote Young Ones:
In the 2018 municipal elections, Ko Eun-young, a thirty-year-old non-native Jeju Island woman without any prior political experience, is running for governor of Jeju. Ko and her coworkers’ rocky journey during the election campaign influences and transforms them. Above all, they start to see new sides of themselves as their voices unpredictably stir up quite a stir among the electorate.
You can watch the trailer of the documentary here.
1. Yellow Ribbon by Ju Hyunsook
About Yellow Ribbon:
How have victims handled the five years since the Sewol ferry catastrophe- The characters remember that tragic day from five years ago and discuss the wounds it left behind. Maybe people are able to compose a new story while dealing with the tragedy of Sewol.
After coming across a yellow ribbon in their daily life, many people remember the dreadful incident and express their sorrow over it. Some of their reactions are listed below.
Jordan Jansen, a Twitter user, writes, “While we are having an amazing time in South Korea, it is also a very sad time here. It breaks my heart every time I see a yellow ribbon :'(“
While we are having an amazing time in South Korea, it is also a very sad time here. It breaks my heart every time I see a yellow ribbon :'(
— Jordan Jansen (@JordanJansen) April 25, 2014
Another user tweeted, “the ferry that sank in South Korea with over 300 teenagers on a field trip. A symbol of hope they will be found”
@JordanJansen @viva_la_niall the ferry that sank in South Korea with over 300 teenagers on a field trip. A symbol of hope they will be found
— Em🌻 (@EmilyNicole112) April 25, 2014
To know more about the incident, you can also watch this video:
