Now, there appears to be growing interest in Korean films overseas.
Domestic productions are winning critical acclaim at major film festivals in particular, in Europe.
Jeong Soyun explains.
Korean films are gaining increasing recognition on the international stage, winning numerous awards and honorable mentions in various film festivals. Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" received an Honorable Mention at the FantasPorto 2008, the 28th edition of the Oporto International Film Festival, which opened March 9th in Portugal.
The film takes place in a mental hospital, where a girl who thinks she's a cyborg falls in love with another mental patient.
Park is one of the most acclaimed directors in Korea today and is famous for his "vengeance trilogy", which includes the films "Old Boy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance".
The film "Breath" by director Kim Ki-duk is a story about a deathrow inmate who falls in love with a married woman.
It won the Jury's Special Award in the Orient Express section for Asian films at the festival in Portugal.
Also attracting attention overseas is Director Jeon Sooil.
His movie, "With a Girl of Black Soil", has won several awards at festivals in Spain and Switzerland, as well as from the International Federation of Film Societies.
Korean films are also being shown at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival, which opened in France March 12.
Veteran director Im Kwon-taek's 100th film, "Beyond the Years" with themes of love and nostalgia was chosen as the opening film.
Jeong Yeon-soo's film "Love Now" ("Changing Partners"), which involves two couples who get caught up in affairs with each other, will close the festival on March 16th.
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