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Lee Chang-dong

South Korean film director, screenwriter and novelist · South Korea · On the map · Directors · Born 1954 · age 72

Lee Chang-dong is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, and novelist. He has directed six feature films: Green Fish (1997), Peppermint Candy (1999), Oasis (2002), Secret Sunshine (2007), Poetry (2010), and Burning (2018).

Lee Chang-dong is read about 1,123 times a day, in 27 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 3 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 401 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2026Mr. Kim Goes to the CinemaFilm2024Walking in the MoviesFilm2022HeartbeatFilm, Director, Writer2019BirthdayFilm, Producer2018“To be honest, it’s very difficult to explain what stories I see fit to become a film or not.”In their words10 December 2018The Hollywood Reporter

“When I used to write novels, I always wrote for one person, for this person who thought and felt the same way as I do.”In their words10 December 2018The Hollywood Reporter

“I have to wonder how much obvious messages like ‘justice prevails’ would affect our lives, which leads me to make films that ask questions.”In their words27 May 2018The Korea Herald

“I’ve never made films that delivers messages, nor have I ever felt the urge to make such pieces. I just like to ask questions.”In their words27 May 2018The Korea Herald

BurningSeries, 2018Creator2016The World of UsFilm, Producer2014A Girl at My DoorFilm, Producer2013Hwayi: A Monster BoyFilm, Producer2011“Poems are about things and occurrences that we don’t see visually, it’s the needing of beauty and meaning, that’s what poetry can be.”In their words8 February 2011Indie Wire

“It’s very different between writing a novel and making a film, in a novel you’re using language to bring a story to life, so through this you’re speaking of it.”In their words8 February 2011Indie Wire

Asian Film Award for Best DirectorAward2010PoetryFilm, Director, Writer2009A Brand New LifeFilm, Writer, Producer2008Asian Film Award for Best DirectorAward2007Never ForeverFilm, Producer2002OasisFilm, Director, Writer2000Peppermint CandyFilm, Director, Writer1995A Single SparkFilm, Writer1993To the Starry IslandFilm, Writer1954Born4 July 1954

People around Lee

Close ties

Known for

View all 23 titles
  • Oasis 2002
  • Poetry 2010
  • The World of Us 2016
  • Peppermint Candy 2000
  • Burning 2018

Also in Deutsch

Filmography 23

37 credits on file

Television 1

Media & music

In their own words 2

,
Lee Chang-dong
,
2 statements, newest first

  1. To me it seems that films these days are becoming more and more simple, and the audience seems to desire simpler stories.

    10 December 2018 · The Hollywood Reporter, Own words

  2. I’ve always wanted actors to simply and purely feel the emotions rather than feeling like they have to express them.

    3 December 2018 · Variety, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Asian Film Award for Best Director2011
Asian Film Award for Best Director2008
Legion of Honour

About this person

Burning became the first Korean film to make it to the 91st Academy Awards' final nine-film shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film. Burning also won the Fipresci International Critics' Prize at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, Best Foreign Language Film in Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and Best Foreign Language Film in Toronto Film Critics Association.

Country
South Korea
Category
Directors
Type
Movie Director
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1954 · age 72

In the same film or series as Lee

Yoo Yeon-seokAlso in Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013)Jo Yu-riAlso in Possible Love (2026)Son Byong-hoAlso in Oasis (2002)Lee Sun-kyunAlso in A Single Spark (1995)