Korean cinema began in the 1960s, with the first feature film, "The Potato" (1964), directed by Kim Soo-yong. However, it was not until the 1980s that Korean films started gaining popularity, both domestically and internationally. One notable film from this era is "The Handmaiden" (1982), directed by Im Kwon-taek, which tells the story of a young woman's struggle for independence in a patriarchal society.