Oldboy (올드보이)

Name: Oldboy
Released: 2003

Film · 2003

Park Chan-wook's Cannes Grand Prix thriller contains the most infamous food scene in Korean cinema: a live octopus, eaten whole. It made san-nakji globally notorious — and globally misunderstood, because no Korean actually eats it that way.

Foods seen in Oldboy

01 · San-nakji (live octopus) 산낙지

Infamous scene

Choi Min-sik really ate the octopus — four takes, no CGI. Real san-nakji is chopped small and seasoned, not swallowed whole.

✓ Verified — editorial research

The scene → Related: Nakji Bokkeum

Famous food scenes

산낙지 · San-nakji (live octopus) The Live Octopus Scene Oh Dae-su, fresh from fifteen years of imprisonment, seizes a live octopus at a sushi bar and eats it whole — no cuts, n…

How to experience it

Eat it in Korea Verified classic restaurants in Seoul & Busan — sourced, never sponsored. Where to eat → More shows & films Every food–screen connection, verified and sourced. K-Food on Screen →

Sources are listed per connection above. Theme connections describe what the work is about, not specific scenes. We use our own food photography — no copyrighted stills.