By Honorary Reporter Weronika Ciarka from Poland

From Oct. 11-19, the Korean Culture Center in Poland hosted the 11th Warsaw Korean Movie Festival at Muranow Cinema. 

Over nine days, 18 films were screened ranging from dramas and rom-coms to action thrillers to show the diversity of Korean cinema and its distinctive storytelling.

This year's Warsaw Korean Movie Festival ran from Oct. 11-19.

The festival opened with "Harbin" (2024), a historical film on the Korean independence movement in 1909, and "Virus" (2025), a rom-com about a translator whose life changes after a blind date.

Attending several screenings, I watched on the second day "A Normal Family" (2023), a drama that explores moral dilemmas and family relationships, and "Midnight Runners" (2017), an action comedy featuring two young and clumsy police cadets.

The Warsaw Korean Movie Festival attracts a large crowd in the Polish capital.

Among my favorites were "Hear Me: Our Summer" (2024), a romantic work that beautifully portrayed youth, love and communication; "The Old Woman with the Knife" (2025), the story of an aging assassin confronting her past; and "Yadang: The Snitch" (2025), which impressed with its tense political plot blending betrayal, corruption and a touch of comedy.

"1987: When the Day Comes" (2017) was particularly moving, leaving me in tears and silence. Its historical resonance also highlighted parallels between Korea and Poland, reminding audiences of courage and sacrifices in the fight for freedom.

The festival closed with "House of the Seasons" (2023), the story of a three-generation family whose seemingly perfect life hides dark secrets, after which its director Oh Jung-min held a Q&A with the audience.

The Warsaw Korean Movie Festival attracted full houses, with many attendees returning daily to watch more works and discussing the plots and cast. 

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.