Lee Chang-dong | |
|---|---|
 Lee at 2010Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | |
| Born | (1954-07-04)July 4, 1954 (age 71) Daegu, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Kyungpook National University (1981) |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Honours |  Legion of Honour - Knight (2006) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이창동 |
| Hanja | 李滄東 |
| RR | I Changdong |
| MR | I Ch'angdong |
| Signature | |
 | |
Lee Chang-dong (Korean: 이창동; born July 4, 1954)[1] is a South Koreanfilm director,screenwriter, andnovelist.[2] He has directed sixfeature films:Green Fish (1997),Peppermint Candy (1999),Oasis (2002),Secret Sunshine (2007),Poetry (2010), andBurning (2018).Burning became the first Korean film to make it to the91st Academy Awards' final nine-film shortlist forBest Foreign Language Film.Burning also won theFipresci International Critics' Prize at the71st Cannes Film Festival,Best Foreign Language Film inLos Angeles Film Critics Association, andBest Foreign Language Film inToronto Film Critics Association.
Lee has wonSilver Lion for Best Director andFipresci International Critics' Prize at the2002 Venice Film Festival and theBest Screenplay Award at the2010 Cannes Film Festival. He also won the award for Achievement in Directing at the 4thAsia Pacific Screen Awards in 2017,[3]Jury Grand Prize at the 2018Asia Pacific Screen Awards,Best Director and Lifetime Achievement Award at the13th Asian Film Awards in 2019,[4] and he has been nominated for theGolden Lion and thePalme d'Or. Lee served as South Korea'sMinister of Culture and Tourism from 2003 to 2004.
Lee Chang-dong was born inDaegu, South Korea. He graduated in 1981 with a degree in Korean Literature fromKyungpook National University in Daegu, where he spent much of his time in the theater, writing and directing plays. He went on to teach high school Korean and established himself as a novelist with his first novelChonri in 1983.[1]
Lee had no formal training in filmmaking. He was approached byPark Kwang-su to write the screenplay forTo the Starry Island. Lee negotiated anassistant director (AD) position as part of the deal and was promoted to first AD on the first day of the shoot when the original first AD failed to show up. The film was released in 1993.[1][5] He later wroteA Single Spark in 1995, which won Best Film at the 1995Blue Dragon Film Awards.[5][6]
After his contemporaries encouraged him to finally step behind the director's chair, Lee madeGreen Fish, a "critique of Korean society told through the eyes of a young man who becomes enmeshed in the criminal underworld",[7] in 1997.Green Fish won Best Film atBlue Dragon Film Awards,Dragons and Tigers Award at theVancouver International Film Festival andNETPAC Award's Special Mention at theRotterdam International Film Festival.
In 2000, Lee madePeppermint Candy, chronicling a single man in reverse chronology through 20 years of South Korean history—from the student demonstrations of the 1980s to the film's 2000 release. The movie won the Special Jury Prize atBratislava International Film Festival and three awards at theKarlovy Vary International Film Festival including the Don Quixote Award, Special Jury Prize and NETPAC Award. The film also won Best Film at theGrand Bell Awards of Korea.
In 2002, Lee releasedOasis about a mentally ill man and a woman with cerebral palsy, winning theSilver Lion for Best Director at the 2003Venice Film Festival.Oasis was the Korean entry forBest Foreign Language Film at the75th Academy Awards. In 2003, it got the Chief Dan George Humanitarian Award at theVancouver International Film Festival and theVenice International Film Festival's Special Director's Award,FIPRESCI Prize andSIGNIS Award. Lee won theBaeksang Arts Award for Best Director.Oasis was nominated at the 2005Independent Spirit Awards for Best Foreign Film.
From 2003-04, Lee was his country's minister of culture and tourism. On the political appointment, he said:
At the time of PresidentRoh Moo-hyun's election campaign, one of the things he promised was that his Minister of Culture would be selected from the field of culture and art rather than a professional politician. Well, he got elected, and a lot of people recommended me as this new Minister of Culture. I never thought that this was an outfit that suited me particularly well, but had to accept it as one of those bitter cups one has to accept in the course of life.[8]
In October 2006, Lee was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) order of theLegion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor) by theFrench government for "his contribution to maintaining thescreen quota to promote cultural diversity as a cultural minister." It was delivered to the French Embassy in Seoul by French Minister of CultureRenaud Donnedieu de Vabres during an official visit.[9]
Lee's fourth film,Secret Sunshine about a grieving mother who loses her son, was completed in 2007. At the60th Cannes Film Festival, the film was in the competition category with lead actressJeon Do-yeon, winning thePrix d'interprétation féminine.[10] It was released in South Korea in 2007 and served as the country's nominee forBest Foreign Language Film of the 2008Academy Awards.Secret Sunshine won Best Feature Film at theAsia Pacific Screen Awards; Best Film and Best Director at the 2008Asian Film Awards; Best Picture and Best Director at theKorean Film Awards; Best Director at theDirector's Cut Awards; and Special Award at theGrand Bell Awards.
In 2009, Lee was appointed to the jury of the international competition at the61st Cannes Film Festival along withIsabelle Huppert,Shu Qi andRobin Wright.
Released the following year, Lee's filmPoetry tells a of a suburban woman in her 60s who begins to develop an interest inpoetry while struggling withAlzheimer's disease and her irresponsible grandson. It garnered positive critical reviews and won Best Screenplay at the2010 Cannes Film Festival. The starring role was played byYoon Jeong-hee, who returned to the screen after an absence of 16 years. For this film, Lee won Achievement in Directing at theAsia Pacific Screen Awards.Poetry also won Best Film and Best Screenplay at the 2010Grand Bell Awards and Best Director at the 2011Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2018, Lee returned after an eight-year hiatus with thepsychological dramamystery filmBurning, based on one ofHaruki Murakami's 17 short stories inThe Elephant Vanishes, "Barn Burning".[11][12][13] The film premiered at the71st Cannes Film Festival, winning theFipresci International Critics' Prize.[14] It became the highest-rated film in the history ofScreen International's Cannes jury grid.[15]Burning was selected as Korea's nominee forBest Foreign Language Film at the91st Academy Awards,.[16] It was the first Korean film to make it to the shortlist of the final nine of the award.[17]Burning also won theBest Foreign Language Film at theLos Angeles Film Critics Association,Best Foreign Language Film inToronto Film Critics Association, and runner-up of theNational Board of Review'sTop Five Foreign Language Film. For this film, Lee won Best Director at the 2018Buil Film Awards and 2019 KOFRA Film Awards. In addition to international acclaim, "Burning won the 2018Grand Bell Awards for Best Film and FIPRESCI Award at theKorean Association of Film Critics Awards.
In March 2019, Lee won theBest Director forBurning and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the13th Asian Film Awards.[18][4] In 2021, he was appointed to head the jury of the international competition at the15th Asian Film Awards.[19] He also worked with Jason Yu's first film "Sleep" along withBong Joon-ho.[20]
In May 2025, Lee's next moviePossible Love was announced withNetflix boarding as the film's distributor.[21][22]
Lee Chang-dong was born inDaegu, the most conservative andrightist city in Korea, to lower middle-class parents, who wereleft-leaning, particularly his father. His family came from noble class of the old Korea. This contradiction of growing up in an ex-noble family withsocialist ties shaped his character, and subsequently his film style.[1]
Lee supportedRoh Moo-hyun's candidacy since 2002, and after he won the elections, Lee served in the office as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2004. During his term, Lee proposed ascreen quota for independent film but his proposal met with fierce opposition by the Korean movie industry. However, in October 2006, he was rewarded for his efforts with the Chevalier (Knight) order of theLegion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor) by the French government for "his contribution to maintaining the screen quota to promote cultural diversity as a cultural minister".[23]
Lee has been boycotting and refusing to attend theBlue Dragon Film Awards ceremony since 2002 due to political conflicts withThe Chosun Ilbo, a conservative South Korean newspaper which hosts the awards. Consequently, since 2002 his films have never been submitted to the competition and were excluded from the nomination for the award's best picture and best director.[24]
For nearly a decade until 2017, during theLee Myung-bak[25] andPark Geun-hye[26] presidential administrations, Lee Chang-dong was blacklisted by the government.[27] Artists such as Lee that were put on the blacklist were subject to investigations and denial of subsidies.[28] Lee recalls of his eight-year-hiatus:
During these eight years, I questioned myself a lot: what kind of films I want to make and what kind of films am I going to make for my audience? Actually, it wasn't necessary to catch up for such a long time: I just could've easily made films that people wanted to see, with a touch of my personal style so they could be critically acclaimed, but I was looking for my own films, that's all I can speak and talk about. At the time I was thinking about people's anger: everybody I knew back then was angry, no matter their religion or nationality or differences. (Burning) original story put me in connection with my own questions and story.[29]
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Lee Chang-dong describes his creative process as one of utter despair.[30][31] All his films are dark stories of innocence lost, suffering and alienation. His key themes have been consistently aboutpsychological trauma. Rather than allowing his characters simply to wallow in their misery, Lee draws them into situations that make them search, often futilely, for the meaning of life. Memory has often been an important theme for Lee.[32] His work can be defined by thetragedy genre and his stories almost always involve his characters experiencing some degree of suffering.
His films are the reflection of the repressive social and political climate of the South Korea, and depictions of marginalized blue-collar Koreans. His characters are characteristically anti-heroic, but he seems to justify them due to their background.[1] Through realistic portraits of troubled characters, Lee asks the audience to examine themselves and to look at what society pushes under the rug. However, he shies away from masking his themes with boldsurrealism. Instead, he's more driven bynaturalism.[33]
Lee doesn't give too specific direction when he works with actors. He believes that an actor's reaction is more important than the action.[34] He doesn't have a particular method of directing. He doesn't tell the actors to act or be in a certain way. Instead, he tells them to become the persona, the character in the film. He said,
"What I try to have them do is become the character, to feel like the character. I do not try to be very specific in how I direct my actors, for instance I will not say things like 'Use this expression' or 'Speak this way', or 'Can you please raise the pitch of your voice a bit higher' or anything like that." And, "Sometimes, actors expect from me a bit more detail, to give them specific advise but I don't do that. But what I DO sometimes is to tell them different stories, or speak about other things that do not seem to have anything in common with what the actors should be playing, but indirectly might help them feel the same way as the character feels so that they become the character."[35]
It was talked about that there is a lot of pressure on a Lee Chang-dong set. In response to the pressures felt byMoon So-ri andSul Kyung-gu on his film set, Lee said,
"[...] I've never raised my voice, and I'm never really about giving any sort of strict direction, especially when it comes to working with the actors. When it comes to acting, I really prefer the actors to find themselves in the character, and find themselves living in the situations, themselves. I'm not someone to tell them, or to instruct them how to express whatever in a certain sort of situation." And, "[...] One of the things that I say a lot to my actors is, 'Don't act'. That be a bit flabbergasting to actors, because, 'Wait, I'm an actor, I'm supposed to act. What do you mean? What does that mean?' That can come as a confusing statement."[36]
In 1987, Lee Chang-dong published his first short story, "Possession", followed by the novellaThere's a Lot of Shit in Nokcheon in 1992 which won himThe Korea Times Literary Prize, and thenTenaciousness in 1996.[37][38][39]
Lee said about his writing style,
"I always wrote for one person, for this person who thought and felt the same way as I do. It almost felt like I was writing a love letter to this very specific person who would understand what I'm writing and share the same feelings and thoughts."[40]
In 2007, Lee's short story, "The Dreaming Beast" (translated byHeinz Insu Fenkl), was published in the journalAZALEA.[41][42] In 2018, his short story, "On Destiny" (translated by Soyoung Kim), was published in the journalAsymptote.[43]
In 2023, Lee's short story, "Snowy Day" (translated byHeinz Insu Fenkl and Yoosup Chang), was published in the March 6th, 2023 issue ofThe New Yorker. In 2024, Lee's short story, "The Leper" (translated byHeinz Insu Fenkl) was also published in the December 30th, 2024 and January 6, 2025 double issue ofThe New Yorker.[44][45]
Lee's first collection of short stories in English,Snowy Day & Other Stories (translated byHeinz Insu Fenkl and Yoosup Chang), was published to acclaim by Penguin Random House in early 2025. The collection includes four short stories and three novellas taken from his two original Korean collections,There's a Lot of Shit in Nokcheon (1992) andBurning Paper (1987).
Lee Chang-dong is the third son out of four brothers. He said that they were very close, and called themselves fraternity brothers. His youngest brother, Lee Joon-dong, is a film producer for Lee's films. Lee hoped to become a painter growing up, but he could not afford art supplies.[46][47] Lee and the president ofMBC television and radio network company,Choi Seung-ho [ko],[48] are old friends andKyungpook National University alumni. He personally asked Choi to appear inBurning playing as Jong-su's father. He is also a close friend of his frequent collaborator, actorMoon Sung-keun.[49]
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| Year | English Title | Original Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Green Fish | 초록 물고기 | |
| 1999 | Peppermint Candy | 박하사탕 | |
| 2002 | Oasis | 오아시스 | Silver Lion for Best Direction 75th Academy Awards submission forBest Foreign Language Film |
| 2007 | Secret Sunshine | 밀양 | Also producer 80th Academy Awards submission forBest Foreign Language Film |
| 2010 | Poetry | 시 | Best Screenplay at the2010 Cannes Film Festival |
| 2018 | Burning | 버닝 | 91st Academy Awards shortlisted forBest Foreign Language Film |
| 2026 | Possible Love | 가능한 사랑 | Post production |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 1993 | To the Starry Island | Assistant Director | Yes | No | |
| 1995 | A Single Spark | No | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | Never Forever | No | No | Yes | |
| 2009 | A Brand New Life | No | No | Yes | |
| 2013 | Hwayi: A Monster Boy | No | No | Yes | |
| 2014 | A Girl at My Door | No | No | Yes | |
| 2015 | Collective Invention | No | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | The World of Us | No | No | Yes | |
| 2019 | Birthday | No | No | Yes | |
| 2022 | Heartbeat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Vancouver International Film Festival | Dragons and Tigers Award | Green Fish | Won |
| 1998 | Rotterdam International Film Festival | NETPAC Award | Special Mention | |
| 2000 | Bratislava International Film Festival | Special Jury Prize | Peppermint Candy | Won |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | Don Quijote Award | Won | ||
| NETPAC Award | Special Mention | |||
| Special Jury Prize | Won | |||
| 2003 | Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema | Three Castles Award | Oasis | Won |
| Gardanne Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | ||
| Vancouver International Film Festival | Chief Dan George Humanitarian Award | Won | ||
| Venice International Film Festival | FIPRESCI Prize | Won | ||
| Silver Lion for Best Direction | Won | |||
| Special Director's Award | Won | |||
| 2005 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Feature Film | Secret Sunshine | Won |
| 2008 | 2nd Asian Film Awards | Best Director | Won | |
| Best Film | Won | |||
| 2010 | Cannes Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Poetry | Won |
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Achievement in Directing | Won | ||
| 2012 | Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films | Best Movie | Nominated | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Won | |||
| 2018 | Cannes Film Festival | FIPRESCI Prize | Burning | Won |
| International Cinephile Society Cannes Awards | Palme d'Or | Won | ||
| International Adana Film Festival | Golden Boll International Best Feature | Won | ||
| National Board of Review | Top Five Foreign Language Film | Runner-up | ||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| Toronto Film Critics Association | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| Tour du Cinéma Français | Etoile du Cinéma Award | Won | ||
| ShinFilm Art Film Festival | Shin Sang-ok Director Award | Won | ||
| Pingyao International Film Festival | Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award | Won | ||
| Oslo Film from the South Festival | Silver Mirror Award | Won | ||
| New Mexico Film Critics Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | |||
| Key West Film Festival | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| Greater Western New York Film Critics Association | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| London Film Week | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | Won | |||
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Jury Grand Prize | Won | ||
| 2019 | Club Média Ciné | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | |
| International Cinephile Society | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| 91st Academy Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Shortlisted | ||
| Latino Entertainment Film Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| Austin Film Critics Association | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| International Cinephile Society | Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| 13th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | Won | ||
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Recipient | |||
| MOOOV Film Festival | Sembène Award | Won | ||
| 45th Saturn Awards | Best International Film | Won | ||
| Asian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Won |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | A Single Spark | Won |
| 1997 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Green Fish | Won | |
| 2000 | Grand Bell Awards | Peppermint Candy | Won | |
| 2003 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Oasis | Won |
| 2007 | Korean Film Awards | Best Picture | Secret Sunshine | Won |
| Best Director | Won | |||
| Director's Cut Awards | Best Director | Won | ||
| Grand Bell Awards | Special Award | Won | ||
| 2010 | Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | Poetry | Won |
| Best Screenplay | Won | |||
| 2011 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Won | |
| 2018 | Buil Film Awards | Best Director | Burning | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | FIPRESCI Award | Won | ||
| Cine21 Film Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Won | |||
| 2019 | KOFRA Film Awards | Best Director | Won |
| Country | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Legion d'Honneur -Jacques Chirac Administration | 2006 | the Chevalier (Knight) order | [50] |
| South Korea | Korean Culture and Arts Awards[note 1] | 2002 | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Order of Cultural Merit | [51][52] |
| Republic of Korea Order of Civil Merit | 2005 | Blue Stripes Order of Civil Merit |
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help){{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)Awards for Lee Chang-dong | |||||
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