Park Chan-wook facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Park Chan-wook
박찬욱
Park in 2013
Born	(1963-08-23) 23 August 1963 (age 61) Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Bakridamae (박리다매)
Alma mater	Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter
Years active	1992–present
Notable work	The Vengeance Trilogy Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Oldboy Lady Vengeance Thirst The Handmaiden Decision to Leave
Spouse(s)	Kim Eun-hee ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	1
Relatives	Park Chan-kyong (brother)
Awards	Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival
Honours	Eun-gwan Order of Cultural Merit (2022)
Korean name
Hangul	박찬욱
Hanja	朴贊郁
RR	Bak Chanuk
MR	Pak Ch'anuk

Park Chan-wook (Korean: 박찬욱; pronounced [pak̚ tɕʰanuk̚]; born on August 23, 1963) is a famous South Korean film director, screenwriter, and producer. He used to be a film critic. Many people think he is one of the most important filmmakers from South Korea and in the world today. His movies often mix crime, mystery, and thriller stories. They are known for their amazing camera work, unique way of showing scenes, and sometimes dark humor.

After making two films in the 1990s that were not very successful, Park became well-known with his third movie, Joint Security Area (2000). This film became the highest-earning movie in South Korean history at that time. Park himself considers this movie his real start as a director. Because of its success, he gained more freedom to make the movies he wanted. He then directed a series of films known as his unofficial The Vengeance Trilogy. These include Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), and Lady Vengeance (2005). While Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance did not do well financially, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance were very popular and received great reviews. Oldboy is even seen as one of the best films ever made. It helped Park become a famous director outside of South Korea.

Many of Park's films after The Vengeance Trilogy were also successful in South Korea and around the world. Examples include Thirst (2009), The Handmaiden (2016), and Decision to Leave (2022). The Handmaiden won him a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. Decision to Leave earned him the Best Director award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. He also directed the English-language TV shows The Little Drummer Girl (2018) and The Sympathizer (2024).

Early Life and Inspiration

Park was born on August 23, 1963, in Seoul, South Korea. Both his parents were from Seoul, and his family had lived there for many generations. His father, Park Don-seo, was a professor of architecture. His grandfather, Park Seung-seo, was a former president of the Korean Bar Association.

Park studied philosophy at Sogang University. There, he joined the photography and film clubs. He first wanted to be an art critic. But after watching the movie Vertigo, he decided he wanted to become a filmmaker instead. After college, he wrote articles about movies for magazines. He then became an assistant director for films like Kkamdong and Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day.

His Journey in Filmmaking

Park's first full-length movie was The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream (1992). Five years later, he made his second film, Trio. These early movies did not earn much money at the box office. So, Park worked as a film critic to support himself. He once said that many people think Joint Security Area was his first film, and he prefers it that way.

In 2000, Park directed Joint Security Area. This movie was a huge success with both audiences and critics. It even became the most-watched film in South Korea at that time. This success gave Park the freedom to make his next film, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, exactly how he wanted.

Park's unofficial Vengeance Trilogy includes Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), and Lady Vengeance (2005). He did not plan for them to be a trilogy at first. These films explore how seeking revenge can cause a lot of trouble for everyone involved. Park won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival for Oldboy. The famous American director Quentin Tarantino is a big fan of Park's work. Tarantino even pushed for Oldboy to win the top prize at Cannes.

Since 2004, Park has owned a film company called Moho Film. This company helped produce movies like Snowpiercer (2013) and The Handmaiden (2016). In 2006, Park was a judge at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival. In 2007, he won the Alfred Bauer Prize at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival for his film, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK. This award celebrates films that bring new ideas.

Park at the Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya 2009

In 2009, Park directed the vampire movie Thirst, starring Song Kang-ho. It won the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. In 2011, Park made a fantasy-horror film called Paranmanjang (also known as Night Fishing) using only an iPhone. He co-directed this film with his younger brother, Park Chan-kyong. It won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.

In 2013, Park directed his first English-language film, Stoker. He said he learned to make the filming process faster. He used an interpreter on set, even though he speaks English. Park liked the script because it did not explain everything. It left many questions for the audience to think about.

In 2014, Park directed a short film for the luxury brand Ermenegildo Zegna. It was shown at the Rome International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival.

In September 2014, it was announced that Park would adapt a historical crime novel called Fingersmith. This film became The Handmaiden, which started filming in mid-2015. It premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and received excellent reviews. The film was very successful in South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Park presenting The Handmaiden at the 2016 Lumière Film Festival

In January 2018, Park directed a TV miniseries based on the novel The Little Drummer Girl. It aired in October 2018 and starred Michael Shannon, Florence Pugh, and Alexander Skarsgård. At the 24th Busan International Film Festival, Park shared that he was writing new scripts. These included a new part of the Vengeance Trilogy and a movie based on Donald E. Westlake's novel The Ax.

In May 2020, he started working on his next film, which was later titled Decision to Leave. It is a murder mystery romance starring Tang Wei and Park Hae-il. Filming began in October 2020. In April 2021, the novel The Sympathizer was chosen for a TV show, with Park directing. He won Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for Decision to Leave.

In August 2024, Park began filming his movie based on The Ax, now called No Other Choice. Park wrote the script with his past collaborators. The film also brings him back together with actors Lee Byung-hun and Cha Seung-won.

Park's Filmmaking Style

Park Chan-wook's movies are known for their unique camera work and how scenes are set up. They often feature black humor and intense stories.

In an interview in 2004, Park mentioned writers like Sophocles, Shakespeare, Kafka, and Dostoevsky as people who influenced his work. He also has a list of 61 favorite films, which includes movies by famous directors like Luchino Visconti and Alfred Hitchcock. He has said that Taxi Driver by Martin Scorsese is one of his favorite films.

Park often works with the same talented people. His longest partnership is with editor Kim Sang-bum. They have worked together since the film Joint Security Area (1998). Kim Sang-bum has edited almost all of Park's films, including Decision to Leave, for which he won an award.

Park has also worked with music director Jo Yeong-wook since Joint Security Area. They have created music for many films together, like Oldboy and The Handmaiden. Art director Ryu Seong-hie is another key collaborator. She has worked on films like Oldboy and The Handmaiden, helping to create their unique visual look.

Cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon is also a frequent collaborator. They first met while making Old Boy. Chung is known for his excellent use of lighting and camera work, which fits perfectly with Park's visually striking films. Park also often works with screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyeong on many projects.

Park is great at choosing talented actors. Many well-known Korean stars, like Choi Min-sik and Song Kang-ho, have been in his movies. Song Kang-ho has appeared in six of Park's films. Actors Park Hae-il and Shin Ha-kyun have also worked with Park multiple times. Their teamwork has been praised by audiences and critics.

Personal Life

Park was raised in a Catholic family in Korea, but he describes himself as an atheist. He grew up in a home that encouraged culture and learning. His father was a professor, and his grandfather was a former president of the Korean Bar Association. Park's younger brother, Park Chan-kyong, is also an artist who works with different types of media.

Park met his wife, Kim Eun-hee, through a friend when she was a student. At the 15th Marrakech International Film Festival, Park thanked his wife for her support throughout his career. Park's daughter, Park Seo-woo, studied at the Korea National University of Arts. She worked on the art team for The Handmaiden.

Filmography

Feature films

Short films

Television

Awards and Nominations

State Honors

Listicles

See also

In Spanish: Park Chan-wook para niños

• List of Korean-language films
• Cinema of South Korea
• Contemporary culture of South Korea