This is the third anniversary of the late director Kim Ki-duk’s death.
Director Kim was hospitalized with COVID-19 in Latvia on December 11, 2020, and died in the early morning of the same day as his symptoms worsened. At the time, it was known that Director Kim had planned to set up shop in Latvia, but due to COVID-19, he had to turn his back on the world.
Director Kim Ki-duk is a person who has made his name known as a world-renowned director by sweeping major awards including Best Picture at the Cannes, Venice, and Berlin film festivals, which are considered the world's three major film festivals.
He debuted in 1996 with 'Crocodile' (1996), and two years later, 'The Blue Gate' (1998) was invited as the opening film of the Panorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival, attracting public attention. Afterwards, 'Island' (2000) entered the competition section of the Venice Film Festival and won the World Cinema Award at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States. In particular, 'Bad Guy' (2002), starring Jo Jae-hyun, was invited to the competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring' (2003) won the Grand Bell Award and the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Picture, and 'Samaria' (2004) won the Silver Bear Award (Best Director) at the Berlin International Film Festival. In the same year, 'Empty House' won the Silver Lion Award (Best Director) at the Venice Film Festival. I even received it. It showed off its spirit by winning two awards at the world's top three film festivals in one year. In addition, his 18th film, 'Pieta' (2012), was nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival.
However, it disappeared like a bubble in 2017 when director Kim Ki-duk was pointed out as the perpetrator of the 'MeToo' movement. Victims revealed that director Kim Ki-duk frequently used verbal abuse and sexual assault in bed scenes and nudity scenes. After the 'MeToo' controversy, director Kim Ki-duk was wandering overseas and died lonely in another country.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr