Yongary, Monster from the Deep – Vinegar Syndrome (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: South Korea, 1967
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Writers: Kim Ki-duk, Seo Yun-sung
Cast: Oh Yeong-il, Kwang Ho Lee, Nam Jeong-im, Lee Sun-jae, Moon Kang, Cho Kyoung-min

Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 79 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: PG
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $64.98

"Earthquakes are causing havoc throughout Korea, and it's no simple seismic mayhem, but instead the mythic monster Yongary emerging from the earth! After nuclear testing awakens the giant monster presaged in Korean folklore, Yongary threatens to level the country, breathing fire and stomping entire buildings. Only scientist Il-Woo, with the help of his girlfriend's prankster kid brother Icho, can figure out how to slow down the terrible Yongary, who gobbles up petroleum products and only appears to be growing stronger. The seemingly powerless army considers using guided missiles against Yongary, potentially demolishing ancient historical landmarks in order to save lives, all in the hope of stopping his fiery path of destruction." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (4K UHD), 4/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm interpositive."

Yongary, Monster from the Deep comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 56.6 GB

Feature: 56 GB

Kino Lorber’s 2016 Blu-ray came from a date source; this new release comes from a 4K scan, and the result is a noticeable improvement in every way. Although some minor debris still remains and grain is noticeably thicker in some moments, the bulk of the source looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Yongary, Monster from the Deep comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.4 GB

Feature: 22 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Though the audio sounds clean and clear, it is limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an archival audio commentary with film historian Steve Ryfle and writer/film critic Kim Song-ho and an audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include an image gallery, an archival video interview with legendary kaiju suitmaker Keizo Murase, originally produced for TohoKingdom.com (20 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a featurette with Korean film historians Kim Hyun-jae, Hong Gi-hun, and Park Sang-kyu titled Yongary: The Birth of Korea's Monster (19 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Korean with non-removable English subtitles), an introduction by film historian Sean Rhoads, co-author of Japan's Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema (7 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), all that remains of Daegoesu Yonggari, the original Korean cut of Yongary with newly translated English subtitles, sourced from tape and courtesy of the Korean Film Archive (48 minutes 15 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono Korean with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Steve Ryfle and Kim Song-ho and an audio commentary with Samm Deighan.

Other extras include reversible cover art, an anatomy poster by renowned kaiju artist Matt Frank, and a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (limited to 6,000 units).

Summary:

Kim Ki-duk directed Yongary, Monster from the Deep. He was one of the most prolific Korean filmmakers from the 1960s and 1970s, directing 66 films in 17 years. Despite sharing a surname, he’s not related to Kim Ki-duk, who directed The Isle, Samaritan Girl, and 3-Iron.

When Yongary, Monster from the Deep was sold outside of South Korea, the Korean producers shipped the film’s original negative and all sound elements to its international sales agent, Toei. Somewhere down the line these elements were lost, and all that remains is American International Pictures source material and about 48 minutes of the original Korean version, which is held by the Korean Film Archive. That said, it is a shame that the full-length Korean version is lost forever and cannot be compared to the English language version.

A nuclear test in the Middle East causes an earthquake in South Korea that awakens a giant monster.

Despite being one of South Korea’s best-known giant reptilian films, Yongary, Monster from the Deep was not its first; that distinction goes to Pulgasari: The Iron-Eating Monster, a film that is considered lost. Yongary, Monster from the Deep is a film clearly influenced by Japan's Kaiju films, notably Godzilla and Gamera. This link is especially clear to the latter; both films prominently feature child characters who interact with the monster and, content-wise, are child-friendly films.

Yongary, Monster from the Deep, like its Japanese counterparts, keeps things simple: a monster is awakened, characters frantically search for a way to kill it, and usually the simplest answer saves the day. The first 25 minutes are devoted to the human characters and getting to know them, while the last 55 minutes are mostly about the monster wreaking havoc by destroying everything and everyone in its path. That said, the narrative does a great job building momentum to its climax.

Without a doubt the highlight of Yongary, Monster from the Deep is its practical special effects, which were created by a Japanese crew who were well versed in Kaiju films. While evaluating the performances can be challenging, the voice acting ultimately surpasses expectations. Yongary, Monster from the Deep follows a formula similar to that of the Kaiju films that inspired it; despite its predictability, it effectively executes this formula. Yongary, Monster from the Deep does manage to get some humor into the mix, notably an absurd scene where the monster dances to rock and roll. Ultimately, Yongary, Monster from the Deep is a highly entertaining film that fans of kaiju cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Vinegar Syndrome gives Yongary, Monster from the Deep its best home media release to date; highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer