India, May 24 -- Korean storytelling entered the new millennium with a bold and introspective voice. From bittersweet romances like Il Mare to psychological dramas like All About Eve, South Korean fiction captured the anxieties and aspirations of a changing society in 2000. With these titles turning 25 in 2025, revisit the Korean movies and dramas that helped shape the enduring legacy of Hallyu around the world.

An iconic example is the Korean movie Peppermint Candy. Directed by Lee Chang-dong, it is a searing critique of modern Korean history told through a man's tale of love and loss. The film stands out for its use of reverse chronology, inspired by classics like Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950), which famously employed fragmented st...