1. Park Chan-wook is considered one of the most prominent filmmakers of South Korean cinema as well as 21st-century world cinema.
35 Facts About Park Chan-wook
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Park Chan-wook directed the English-language miniseries The Little Drummer Girl and The Sympathizer.
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Park Chan-wook's father, Park Don-seo, was a professor of architecture and former dean of Ajou University's College of Engineering.
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Park Chan-wook studied philosophy at Sogang University, where he joined the photography club and film club.
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Originally intending to be an art critic, Park Chan-wook, upon seeing Vertigo, resolved to become a filmmaker.
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In 2000, Park Chan-wook directed Joint Security Area, which was a great success both commercially and critically, even surpassing Kang Je-gyu's Shiri as the then most-watched film ever made in South Korea.
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Park Chan-wook won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival for Oldboy.
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Since 2004, Park Chan-wook has been an owner of the filmmaking company Moho Film, which participated in the production of Snowpiercer and The Handmaiden.
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In 2006, Park Chan-wook was the member of official section jury at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival.
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In February 2007, Park Chan-wook won the Alfred Bauer Prize at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival.
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In 2009, Park Chan-wook directed the vampire film Thirst, starring Song Kang-ho, which won the Prix du Jury at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
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Park Chan-wook considered directing Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy but ultimately turned it down.
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In 2011, Park Chan-wook said his new fantasy-horror film Paranmanjang was shot entirely on the iPhone.
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Park Chan-wook said he learned to accelerate the production process and completed filming in 480 hours.
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On 2 March 2013, Park Chan-wook appeared on a panel discussion about the film Stoker held at the Freer Gallery of Art in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art.
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In 2014, Park Chan-wook directed a short film commissioned by luxury brand Ermenegildo Zegna, co-written by himself, Ayako Fujitani, Chung Chung-hoon and Michael Werwie, scored by Clint Mansell, and starring Jack Huston and Daniel Wu.
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In September 2014, it was announced that Park Chan-wook would adapt Fingersmith, a historical crime novel by Sarah Waters.
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In October 2014, it was announced that Park Chan-wook had signed on to direct the sci-fi body-swap film, Second Born.
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At the 24th Busan International Film Festival, Park said that he is writing scripts for feature films, for theater and for TV, including a new installment in the Vengeance Trilogy, and an adaption of Donald E Westlake's novel The Ax.
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Park Chan-wook had first discussed adapting the book in 2009, when he received approval from Costa-Gavras who owned the rights and directed a previous rendition of the novel.
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Park Chan-wook was awarded Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for his work on Decision to Leave.
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The film would see Park Chan-wook reunite with actors Lee Byung-hun and Cha Seung-won.
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Park Chan-wook's films have gained notoriety for their cinematography and framing, black humor and often brutal subject matter.
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Park Chan-wook has named Taxi Driver by Martin Scorsese as one of his favorite films, a "monument of film history".
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Park Chan-wook has a history of successful collaborations with various talented individuals in the film industry.
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Park Chan-wook has collaborated with music director Jo Yeong-wook since Joint Security Area.
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Park Chan-wook has worked closely with art director Ryu Seong-hie, who was filming Memories of Murder when Park Chan-wook asked her to work on Oldboy.
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Park Chan-wook has since worked with Park on I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, Thirst, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave.
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Park Chan-wook has frequently collaborated with screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyeong on several projects, such as Sympathy For Lady Vengeance, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, Thirst, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave.
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Park Chan-wook was raised in a devout Catholic family in Korea, and describes himself as an atheist.
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Park Chan-wook was raised in an environment that fostered culture and intellectual pursuits.
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Park Chan-wook was introduced to his future wife, Kim Eun-hee, by a mutual friend when she was a student at Ewha Womans University.
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At the 15th Marrakech International Film Festival, Park Chan-wook paid tribute to his wife Kim Eun-hee for her support throughout his career.
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Park Chan-wook voiced support for the Democratic Labor Party and was a member of its successor, the New Progressive Party.
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Park Chan-wook supported Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung in the 2017 South Korean presidential election.