General Information

• International Title: Memories of Murder
• Original Title: 살인의 추억 (romanization: Sarinui Chueok)
• Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
• Runtime: 2h 9m
• Released Date: 2003.05.02
• Production: CJ Entertainment & Sidus Pictures
• International Distributor: CJ Entertainment
• Starring: Song Kang Ho, Kim Sang Kyung, Kim Roe Ha
• Producer: Cha Seung Jae
• Director: Bong Joon Ho
• Writer: Bong Joon Ho, Shim Sung Bo, Kim Kwang Rim
• Rating: IMDb (8.1/10) & Rotten Tomatoes (95%)
• Awards: 2003 Tokyo International Film Festival (Best Asian Film)

Synopsis

Memories of Murder movie follows three detectives who investigate serial murder cases in Gyeonggi-do. This series of rapes and murders is conducted in the similar pattern. Counting on their skills and tools, the three detectives tries to unveil the clues, solve the case, find the culprit.

Main Cast

Character name: Park Doo Man
Actor name: Song Kang Ho
Song Kang Hos notable works: Parasite, A Taxi Driver, The Age of Shadows, The Attorney, The Face Reader, Secret Sunshine, etc

Character name: Seo Tae Yoon
Actor name: Kim Sang Kyung
Kim Sang Kyung’s notable works: Racket Boys, The Crowned Clown, Jang Youngsil: The Greatest Scientist of Joseon, What Happens to My Family?, Snow Flower, etc

Character name: Cho Yong Koo
Actor name: Kim Roe Ha
Kim Roe Ha’s notable works: Kingdom: Ashin of the North, Crime Puzzle, The Road: The Tragedy of One, Whisper, Voice, The Princess’ Man, Il Ji-Mae: The Phantom Thief‎, etc

Extended Cast

Song Jae Ho as Shin Dong Chul
Byun Hee Bong as Koo Hee Bong
Ko Seo Hee as Kwon Kwi Ok
Jeon Mi Sun as Kwok Seol Yung
Park No Shik as Baek Kwang Ho
Park Hae Il as Park Hyun Kyu
Seo Yeong Hwa as Eon Deok Nyeo
Ryu Tae Ho as Jo Byeong Sun
Woo Ko Na as Kim So Hyeon
Yeom Hye Ran as So Hyeon’s mother
Choi Jong Ryul as Park Doo Man’s father
Kwon Byung Gil as Doctor Noh
Kwak Soo Jung as Jo Byeong Sun’s wife

Character Relationship Chart

N/A

Original Soundtrack

Music composed by Taro Iwashiro

Teaser & Trailer Videos

Awards & Nominations

2003 Blue Dragon Film Awards: Best Cinematography (“Kim Hyung Koo”) – 2003
2003 Torino Film Festival: Best Screenplay (“Bong Joon Ho & Shim Sung Bo”) – 2003
2003 Tokyo International Film Festival: Best Asian Film – 2003
2004 Festival du Film Policier de Cognac: First Prize & Premier Prize – 2003
2003 Busan Film Critics Awards: Best Director & Best Screenplay (“Bong Joon Ho”) – 2003

2003 Grand Bell Awards

• Best Film
• Best Director (“Bong Joon Ho”)
• Best Actor (“Song Kang Ho“)

2003 Chunsa Film Art Awards

• Best Film
• Best Director (“Bong Joon Ho”)
• Best Actor (“Song Kang Ho“)
• Best Supporting Actor (“Park No Shik”)
• Best Screenplay (“Bong Joon Ho & Shim Sung Bo”)
• Best Cinematography (“Kim Hyung Koo”)
• Best Editing (“Kim Sun Min”)

Trivia

• Memories of Murder movie is based on the true events when a series of murder and rape attacks several young women in Gyeonggi-do
• This series of murder took place within 1986 to 1991
• Memories of Murder is the second feature movie of Bong Joon Ho as a director
• Several Japanese composers were contacted for music production including Joe Hisaishi
• Finally, the production team selected Taro Iwashiro as the composer
• Memories of Murder was screened at several movie festivals such as Cannes Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, London International Film Festival, and so on
• Quentin Tarantino picks Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder and The Host as his top 20 movie since 1992