Celebrate the Legacy of Lee Sun Kyun with His Top 10 Films!
Lee Sun Kyun, known for his role in the acclaimed film "Parasite," has showcased his talent in a multitude of roles across diverse movie genres. He has skillfully portrayed characters ranging from a dedicated policeman to a romantic lead, an irksome husband, and even a regal king, establishing himself as an exceptionally versatile actor.
Though Lee Sun Kyun is no longer with us, his remarkable legacy lives on through his cinematic contributions. Showpoiler has compiled a list of some of the finest films featuring the late Lee Sun Kyun, allowing us to cherish and remember his extraordinary talent.
1. Parasite
Year | 2019 |
Genre | Drama, Thriller |
Director | Bong Joon Ho |
Cast | Song Kang Ho Choi Woo Shik Lee Sun Kyun Cho Yeo Jeong Park So Dam Lee Jung Eun Jang Hye Jin Park Myung Hoon |
In a cramped, damp semi-basement apartment lives a struggling family: father Gi Taek (Song Kang Ho), mother Choong Sook (Jang Hye Jin), son Ki Woo (Choi Woo Shik), and daughter Ki Jung (Park So Dam). One day, Ki Woo's friend, Min Hyuk, offers him a unique opportunity.
Min Hyuk suggests Ki Woo take over his job as a private tutor for a daughter from a wealthy family. Once Ki Woo starts, he cleverly gets Ki Jung hired to tutor the family's son, though they act as if they're strangers.
Their plan doesn't stop there. They devise a plan to get jobs for their parents in the same house. Gi Taek got a job as a driver, and Choong Sook as the maid, without the house owner realizing that they were a family.
At first, everything went smoothly, and they all enjoyed well-paid positions. However, a problem arises that causes them to lose everything. The movie highlights the rampant social gap where the rich flourish while the poor continue to struggle.
2. Project Silence
Year | 2023 |
Genre | Action, Horor, Sci-Fi |
Director | Kim Tae Gon |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Ju Ji Hoon Kim Hee Won |
South Korea always delivers captivating thrillers that can keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Enter "Project Silence," directed by Kim Tae Gon, a movie that received great reviews at Cannes 2023. Unfortunately, its screening was postponed following the tragic death of one of its lead actors, Lee Sun Kyun, on December 27, 2023.
The movie revolves around an unusual fog that covers several regions in Korea due to unpredictable temperatures. The thickest fog settles in highland areas, especially on the bridge connecting Seoul and Incheon Airport. This triggered a major crisis when a major accident trapped vehicles on the bridge.
Adding to the chaos, a mutant dog that was to be taken to the lab escapes. The vehicle that carries it overturns due to the accident. The dog becomes a threat to everyone there, who can't see anything due to the thick fog. Will all the passengers survive where unseen dangers threaten them?
3. A Hard Day
Year | 2014 |
Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
Director | Kim Seong Hun |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Cho Jin Woong Jung Man Sik |
Among the plethora of action films gracing the international scene, the South Korean movie "A Hard Day" is a must-watch. Selected for the prestigious Director's Fortnight section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, it tells the story of a shrewd detective embroiled in a complex situation of his own making.
4. Kingmaker
Year | 2022 |
Genre | Drama |
Director | Byun Sung Hyun |
Cast | Sol Kyung Gu Lee Sun Kyun Yoo Jae Myung Jo Woo Jin |
5. The King’s Case Note
Year | 2017 |
Genre | Comedy, Drama, Historical |
Director | Moon Hyun Sung |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Ahn Jae Hong Kim Hee Won Kyung Soo Jin |
Don't miss the chance to experience a unique blend of South Korean history and humor in the movie "The King's Case Note." Adapted from a comic featured in the popular 2012 magazine Wink, this film is a delightful mix of comedy and historical drama.
Featuring a cast of renowned South Korean actors, the story centers around a king and his loyal aides as they unravel a mysterious crime that endangers the stability of their kingdom.
The king, Yejong (Lee Sun Kyun), is admired for his wisdom and kindness, even though he often finds himself in absurd situations. His aide, Yi Seo (Ahn Jae Hong), is in charge of keeping the kingdom's historical records. Their adventures are frequently laced with humor, mostly due to Yi Seo's antics.
The kingdom's peace is jeopardized by spreading rumors that threaten its harmony and the people's trust. In response, King Yejong and Yi Seo go on a mission to uncover the truth behind these strange rumors and restore the kingdom to its former glory.
6. The Advocate: A Missing Body
Year | 2015 |
Genre | Comedy, Mystery, Thriller |
Director | Heo Jong Ho |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Kim Go Eun Jang Hyun Sung Choi Jae Woong |
7. Sleep
Year | 2023 |
Genre | Comedy, Horor, Thriller |
Director | Yoo Jae Sun |
Cast | Jung Yu Mi Lee Sun Kyun Kim Gook Hee |
A married couple grappling with bizarre occurrences during their sleep. Initially, Hyun Soo (Lee Sun Kyun) and Soo Jin (Jung Yu Mi) are depicted as contented newlyweds, basking in the joy of their new marriage. Their home life radiates warmth and happiness, particularly as they anticipate the arrival of their first child.
However, this joy is short-lived as Soo Jin starts to be unnerved by Hyun Soo's strange nocturnal behaviors. These range from talking in his sleep to waking up and acting like a completely different person. Even more perplexing, Hyun Soo has no recollection of these episodes upon waking, heightening Soo Jin's concern.
Soo Jin grows increasingly fearful of sharing a bed with her husband, anxious that Hyun Soo's alarming nighttime actions might pose a threat to both of their safety. The mystery surrounding Hyun Soo's sleepwalking is profound. Is this a medically explainable sleep disorder, or does it hint at something more mystical?
Despite its limited cast, Yoo Jae Sun's film explores the seldom-touched theme of "sleep" in cinema. The film skillfully blends elements of comedy and horror, creating a narrative that keeps the audience engaged and intrigued, wondering about the underlying cause of Hyun Soo's condition.
8. Helpless
Year | 2012 |
Genre | Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
Director | Byun Young Joo |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Kim Min Hee Jo Sung Ha |
In the gripping psychological thriller "Helpless," based on the Japanese novel "All She Was Worth" by Miyabe Miyuki, the film has received numerous nominations and awards at various South Korean film festivals.
The plot centers around Jang Mun Ho (played by Lee Sun Kyun), a veterinarian planning to marry his fiancée, Kang Seon Yeong (Kim Min Hee), soon. However, Seon Yeong vanishes mysteriously while they are en route to Mun Ho's parents' home for a rest stop.
To find her, Mun Ho launches a search, both through the police and his own investigation. He is shocked to discover that his fiancée is not who she seems. She is involved in identity fraud, banking scams, data falsification, and other criminal activities. She even went as far as to murder her own mother for insurance money!
Now, Mun Ho, along with his detective friend Kim Jong Geun (Jo Sung Ha), are on a mission. But their goal has drastically changed: they're not looking to marry Seon Yeong, but to arrest this dangerous woman.
9. Jo Pil Ho: The Dawning Rage
Year | 2019 |
Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
Director | Lee Jeong Beom |
Cast | Lee Sun Kyun Jeon So Nee Park Hae Joon Song Young Chang |
Lee Sun Kyun returns to the screen in the action-crime film "Jo Pil Ho: The Dawning Rage." The movie compellingly portrays the corruption within the South Korean police force through the story of a detective who refuses to accept the unjust death of his colleague.
The film features Jo Pil Ho (Lee Sun Kyun), a detective known for his shady dealings. He works closely with an informant named Gi Chul (Jung Ga Ram), who helps him in various operations. In one of their risky ventures, they try to rob a police warehouse. However, their plan goes wrong when an explosion occurs, destroying crucial evidence linked to a major corporate scandal involving Taesung Group.
Jo Pil Ho survives the blast but wakes up injured in a hospital, only to know that Gi Chul has been found dead. To make matters worse, the explosion is falsely pinned on Gi Chul, with manipulated evidence found in his cell phone.
Determined not to let his friend be wrongfully accused, Pil Ho transforms from a corrupt detective into a righteous one. He sets out to expose the corrupt officers colluding with Taesung Group, even if it means risking his own life to uncover the truth.
10. Take Point
Year | 2018 |
Genre | Action, Thriller |
Director | Kim Byung Woo |
Cast | Ha Jung Woo Lee Sun Kyun |
"Take Point" or "PMC: The Bunker" is a thrilling action movie directed by Kim Byung Woo, which features a collaboration of actors and artists from various countries. The story revolves around Captain Ahab and his team of 12 soldiers whose mission is to sneak into a secret underground bunker in the Korean demilitarized zone and eliminate key targets.
Recruited by the CIA, Captain Ahab (Ha Jung Woo) leads the mission to attack North Korea's Supreme Leader, King (Sun Wook Hyun), who is hiding inside the bunker. Despite successfully securing the hostages, Ahab is injured during the operation.
As they try to escape, the bunker is bombed, leaving Ahab and Dr. Yoon (Lee Sun Kyun) trapped inside. CIA agent MacKenzie (Jennifer Ehle), who leads the mission, lose her authority to communicate with the rescue team.
In the middle of the chaos, Ahab and Dr. Yoon must navigate danger and uncertainty until they are finally rescued by a backup team.