SummarySeoul, 1986. A raucous gaggle of Korean teenagers spill out of the Gimpo airport and onto buses that transport them to a location just outside the city. There, these high schoolers sent from all over the world—the U.S., Mexico, London, and Hamburg—are participating in a government-sponsored summer program to help them connect with their heritage.... Read More
Directed By:Benson Lee
Written By:Benson Lee
Seoul Searching
Metascore
Generally Favorable
63
User score
Generally Favorable
7.2
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
63
56% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
44% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jun 16, 2016
80
Seoul Searching is rude, funny, silly and poignant. Above all, it’s kind; Mr. Lee understands that belonging is a feeling that many of us may never experience.
Jul 15, 2016
75
A John Hughes-inspired comedy-drama — think “The Breakfast Club” set in rural Korea — starring a group of teenagers coming to terms with the passionate feelings and issues that evolve with impending adulthood.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.2
40% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
60% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jul 17, 2016
10
Great movie. Well executed. Things that surprise hits are made of. Klaus Kim character is surprisingly charming and the 80s soundtrack takes you back.
Mar 13, 2021
6
"Soeul Searching" is a movie about the children of Korean expatriates who attend a summer camp in Korea to learn about their heritage, but really, it is just mimicking '80s John Hughes coming of age movies, and it is actually pretty good. I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first half, though. The movie begins by demonstrating how badly a bunch of adolescents can act without adult supervision, but the second half is all about how those characters figure out how to navigate life. I'd guess that 75% of the movie is in English, so you don't have to worry about reading subtitles the entire time. It is rated TV-MA, and it does tackle some pretty adult material, but the rating is mostly for the foul language, so it would be ok for a mature teenager to see. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out.
Jun 23, 2016
70
Despite the overwrought stylization, the heart of Seoul Searching does ultimately emerge: a tender story that’s more about the high stakes of youthful connection than culture, proving that this universal tale transcends borders.
Jun 14, 2016
63
With so many recycled scenes and cliches to get through, Lee let his comedy run on too long. But Seoul Searching is worth a look and a laugh.
Jun 15, 2016
60
Every character gets to learn a lesson, and while the humor is nothing new, the situations are.
May 26, 2016
60
Liberally riffing on situations and themes familiar from the high school-set movies that established the renowned writer-director’s legacy, Lee has crafted an entertaining alternative interpretation that substitutes an international cast of Asian actors for Hughes’ largely white, suburban ensembles.
Jul 7, 2016
50
It’s too bad, then, that the comedy spends so much more time mimicking the familiar than trusting in its own fresh perspective.
Apr 3, 2020
6
Charming and funny, Seoul Searching would be better if it was a TV show rather than a movie so that more characters can be well-developed rather than rushed plot lines all the way through.
Production Company:
- World Paradise Productions
- Bowery Hills Entertainment
- Seoul Searching
- TPS Company
Release Date:Jun 17, 2016
Duration:1 h 45 m
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
Seattle International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
CAAMFest
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
