After two unsuccessful films in the 1990s which he has since largely disowned, Park came to prominence with his acclaimed third directorial effort,Joint Security Area (2000), which became thehighest-grossing film in South Korean history at the time and which Park himself prefers to be regarded as his directorial debut.[9][10] Using his newfound creative freedom, he would go on to direct the films forming his unofficialThe Vengeance Trilogy:Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), a financial failure that polarized critics, followed byOldboy (2003) andLady Vengeance (2005), both of which received critical acclaim and were financially successful.Oldboy in particular is regarded asone of the greatest films ever made, and helped establish Park as a well-known director outside his native country.[c]
Park was born 23 August 1963 inSeoul.[17] Both his parents were native Seoul residents of five generations. His father, Park Don-seo, was a professor of architecture and former dean ofAjou University's College of Engineering. His grandfather, Park Seung-seo, was the former president of the Korean Bar Association.[18]
Park studied philosophy atSogang University, where he joined the photography club and film club.[19] Originally intending to be anart critic, Park, upon seeingVertigo, resolved to become a filmmaker.[20] After graduation, he wrote articles on film for journals and soon became an assistant director of films likeKkamdong, directed by Yu Yeong-jin, andWatercolor Painting in a Rainy Day, directed byKwak Jae-yong (My Sassy Girl).[21]
Park's debut feature film wasThe Moon Is... the Sun's Dream (1992). After five years, he made his second film,Trio. Park's early films were not successful at the box office, and he pursued a career as a film critic to make a living.[22] In an interview in 2017, he said, "Many people think my directorial debut film is JSA, but I want to keep it that way".[23]
In 2013, Park directed his first film in English-language,Stoker.[33] He said he learned to accelerate the production process and completed filming in 480 hours.[31] Although Park does speak English, he used an interpreter on set.[31] On why the script attracted his attention, Park said: "It wasn't a script that tried to explain everything and left many things as questions, so it leads the audience to find answers for themselves, and that's what I liked about the script... I like telling big stories through small, artificially created worlds".[34][31] On 2 March 2013, Park appeared on a panel discussion about the filmStoker held at the Freer Gallery of Art in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art.[35] In 2014, Park directed a short film commissioned by luxury brandErmenegildo Zegna, co-written by himself,Ayako Fujitani, Chung Chung-hoon and Michael Werwie, scored byClint Mansell, and starringJack Huston andDaniel Wu. It screened at theRome International Film Festival and theBusan International Film Festival.[36]
In September 2014, it was announced that Park would adaptFingersmith, a historical crime novel by Sarah Waters.[37] The film entered production in mid-2015 and ended on 31 October 2015.[38] That film ended up becomingThe Handmaiden and premiered in competition to rave reviews at the2016 Cannes Film Festival, where Artistic Director Seong-hie Ryu won the Vulcain Prize for the Technical Arts, and the film was nominated for both the Palme d' Or and Queer Palm. At the 2016Buil Film Awards,The Handmaiden won for Best New Actress (Tae-ri Kim), The Buil Readers' Jury Award and Best Art Direction (Seong-hie Ryu).[39] The film holds a 95% rating onRotten Tomatoes, and saw box office success in several countries, including South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom.[40][16]
In May 2020, it was announced that he was working on his next film, tentatively titledHeeojil gyeolsim (The Decision to Break Up). It is described as amelodrama and will starTang Wei andPark Hae-il.[46][47] In October 2020, the title of the film was revealed asDecision to Leave, with the story described as a murder mystery romance. The film was set to begin shooting later that month.[48][49] In April 2021,A24 optionedViet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novelThe Sympathizer for a TV adaptation, with Park directing.[50][51] He was awardedBest Director at the2022 Cannes Film Festival for his work onDecision to Leave.[52][53]
In August 2025, Park and writing partnerDon McKellar were expelled from theWriters Guild of America for work performed onThe Sympathizer during the union's2023 strike.[57] According to Park, a jury of WGA members determined that the violations were unintentional and stemmed from a misunderstanding of their roles during post-production. He claims the jury recommended only issuing a confidential warning, but the WGA Board of Directors voted to expel the duo for unspecified reasons.[58]
Park has a history of successful collaborations with various talented individuals in the film industry. Among these collaborations, the longest-standing partnership is with EditorKim Sang-bum.[61] Their relationship dates back to when Park, then a college student, joined the directing department led by editor-in-chiefKim Sang-bum. It is worth noting that EditorKim Sang-bum's late father, Editor Kim Hee-soo, was involved in Park Chan-wook's debut film,The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream as editor. Since the filmJoint Security Area (1998), EditorKim Sang-bum has edited all of Park Chan-wook's works, except forStoker (2013), up untilThe Handmaiden.[62] For his editing work in Park's latest filmDecision to Leave,Kim Sang-bum won José Salcedo Award for Best Editing inValladolid International Film Festival.[63]
Park has a talent for attracting top-tier acting talents. Some of Korea's most well-known stars, such asChoi Min-sik andSong Kang-ho, have been integral parts of his casting selection.Song Kang-ho, in particular, has appeared in six of Park's feature length films.Park Hae-il andShin Ha-kyun have also worked with Park on multiple occasions, three and four, respectively. Their collaborations have been highly regarded by audiences and critics alike.
Park was raised in a devout Catholic family in Korea, and describes himself as an atheist.[70][71] He was raised in an environment that fostered culture and intellectual pursuits. His father, Park Don-seo, served as a professor of architecture and former dean of Ajou University's College of Engineering, while his grandfather, Park Seung-seo, was the president of the Korean Bar Association. Additionally, Park's younger brother,Park Chan-kyong, is active as a multimedia artist.[19]
^Visionary Awards, which started in 2020, selects and awards people who lead roles in the Korean entertainment industry. It highlights the meaning and achievements of a person whose chosen trend keywords penetrated the entertainment industry, including broadcasting, movies, music, and performances, and presents the next vision of the cultural sector with outstanding achievements and influence.[174]
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^박찬욱 감독, 아내와 딸 데리고 칸영화제 참석 [Director Park Chan-wook attends the Cannes Film Festival with his wife and daughter.].Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). 13 May 2016.Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved7 January 2024.
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^역대 주요 국제영화제 수상 연혁 [History of Major International Film Festival Awards].Yonhap News (in Korean). 12 September 2004. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^박찬욱 감독 필름느와르페스티벌 심사위원특별상 [Director Park Chan-wook Film noir Festival Judge's Special Award].Yonhap News (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^Lee, Jong-soo.'올드보이' 아태영화제 감독상수상 ['Old Boy' Asia Pacific Film Festival Director Award].YTN (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^올드보이, 스톡홀름영화제 관객상 수상 [Old Boy Wins Audience Award at Stockholm Film Festival].JoyNews24 (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^"故프라이스신부-박찬욱감독 '자랑스러운 서강인상' 수상" [The late bride of Price - Director Park Chan-wook won the 'Proud Sogang Man Award'].Donga Ilbo (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^박찬욱 감독 로얄살루트 선정 2005 리스펙트상 수상 [Director Park Chan-wook won the 2005 Respect Award selected by Royal Salut].Herald Pop (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^'올드보이', 방콕영화제 감독상 수상 ['Old Boy' wins Bangkok Film Festival Director's Award].Joynews24 (in Korean).Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^'올드보이' '인어공주' 오포르토 국제영화제 초청 ['Old Boy' 'The Resident Princess' Invitation to the Oporto International Film Festival].Joynews24 (in Korean). Retrieved23 August 2023 – viaNaver News.
^공유·박보검·남궁민·한석규...백상예술대상 男TV연기상 4파전 [Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum, Nam Goong-min, Han Seok-kyu... A four-way competition for the Best Actor in a TV Drama at the Baeksang Arts Awards.].Star.mk.co. 7 April 2017.Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved28 April 2021.
^Park Ha-na (25 November 2022).'헤어질 결심' 최우수 작품·주연·감독상까지...43회 청룡영화상 싹쓸이 ['Decision to Break Up' Best Picture, Lead Actor, Director... Swept the 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards].News1 (in Korean).Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved26 November 2022.
^Nam, Yoo-jung (28 August 2022).헤어질 결심 브로커 둘 다 8개 부문 후보 올라 [Decision to break up and Broker both nominated for 8 categories] (in Korean).Busan Ilbo.Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved28 August 2022 – viaNaver.
^Lee Ji-yul (26 August 2022).제27회 춘사국제영화제 각 부문별 후보자 공개 [The 27th Chunsa International Film Festival nominees for each category revealed] (in Korean). Beyond Post.Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved26 August 2022.
^Kim, Jeong-jin (30 September 2022).'헤어질 결심', 춘사국제영화제서 감독상 등 3관 ['Decision to Leave' wins 3 awards including Best Director at Chunsa International Film Festival].Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). k-odyssey.Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved30 September 2022.
^Yoon, Ki-baek (1 October 2022).박은빈·박찬욱·황동혁, 美 비평가협회 주관행사서 나란히 수상 [Park Eun-bin, Park Chan-wook, and Hwang Dong-hyeok were awarded side by side at an event hosted by the American Critics Association] (in Korean). E-Daily.Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved1 October 2022 – viaNaver.
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^Han, Hyun-jung (6 November 2022).헤어질 결심' 박찬욱, LA미술관 아트·필름 갈라 수상 [Chanwook Park, 'Decision to break up' wins Art and Film Gala at Los Angeles Museum of Art].Maeil Star Today (in Korean).Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved7 November 2022 – viaNaver.
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^[영화] 스크린의 지평 넓히는 명장들의 아름다운 경쟁 [[Movie] Beautiful competition of masters who broaden the horizons of the screen].Sisa Journal (in Korean). 20 October 2009.Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved12 August 2023.
^"[2015 차세대 리더 100] '설국열차' 멈췄어도 봉준호는 달린다" [[2015 Next Generation Leaders 100] Even though *Snowpiercer* has stopped, Bong Joon-ho keeps moving forward.].Sisa Journal (in Korean). 22 October 2015.Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved12 August 2023.
^"[2017 차세대 리더-문화·예술·스포츠②] 조성진 박찬호 추신수 조수미" [[2017 Next Generation Leader-Culture, Art, Sports2] Cho Sung-jin, Park Chan-ho, Choo Shin-soo, Jo Soo-mi].Sisa Journal (in Korean). 24 October 2017.Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved12 August 2023.
^[누가 한국을 움직이는가] '봉준호 월드'는 이제 시작이다 [[Who is Moving Korea?] The "Bong Joon-ho World" is just beginning.].Sisa Journal (in Korean). 20 August 2020.Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved13 August 2023.
^국내 무대는 이제 좁은 봉준호의 영향력 [누가 한국을 움직이는가] [The domestic stage is now the influence of the narrow Bong Joon-ho [Who moves Korea]].Sisa Journal (in Korean). 19 August 2021.Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved12 August 2023.
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Eun-gwan Order of Cultural Merit (2022)
