5 Underrated Korean Sci-Fi Movies

gamerant.com:

For those that dared to venture into South Korean cinema years ago, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite was no surprise, given the country possesses one of the most prolific and vibrant movie scenes in the world. With that being the case, and despite not being the preferred genre for Korean filmmakers, there are plenty of impressive sci-fi productions out there.

South Korean sci-fi films put a different spin on the genre, without many of the tropes present in their Western counterparts. It's precisely what led to the creation of the widely successful dystopian nightmare that is Squid Game, as well as the Netflix sci-fi series Silent Sea. For fans of this culture's take on the popular genre, what else is there to see?

The Best Sci-Fi Series On HBO Max (September 2022)

This one isn't quite underrated, but it's very easy for The Host to fly past one’s radar considering the nature of Bong Joon-ho’s other films. The Host veers towards the more simplistic side of sci-fi. It concentrates on early failed experiments that would lead to a giant freak monster terrorizing a certain population, much like Godzilla.

What makes The Host special is its intricate mix of political satire and social commentary, a staple of Bong's work. Here, it is seen through the eyes of a Korean version of Little Miss Sunshine’s dysfunctional family, led by one Bong’s preferred actors more recognizable to wider audiences, Song Kang-ho. The Host has mad scientists, political cover-ups, the Park family's hilarious interactions, and a river monster that still looks quite the part in 2022. It pretty much checks all the boxes.

Ironically, Jang Joon-hwan's masterpiece does not define itself as hard sci-fi. Instead, it blurs the lines between that genre, horror, comedy and