Kim Dong-won
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- February 24, 1955
KIM Dong-won is like a godfather to Korean documentaries. As the leader of [PURN Production], a documentary production house that focused on unearthing the contradictions of Korean society from a progressive viewpoint. Purporting to make “good,” rather than “fun” movies, his camera zoomed straight in on the dark corners of the society, places full of contradictions, and refuges of the socially disadvantaged. KIM’s works provided textbook examples to Korea’s documentary directors that followed in his footsteps. His debut movie, < Sangye-dong Olympics >(1987), deals with people of Sangye-dong, an area of Seoul that was torn down by the government only because the area was “not easy on eyes” in the years leading up to the Seoul Olympics of 1988. In < Repatriation >(2004), arguably his best work, KIM Dong-won’s camera followed in breathing distance the lives of unconverted long-term pro-North Korea prisoners in South Korean jails. Devoid of any traces of exaggeration or direction, < Repatriation > shows the power of a documentary by capturing the essence of the subjects through long and candid takes.
Filmography
The 2nd Repatriation 2022
Director
Jung Il-woo, My Friend 2017
Director
63 Years On 2008
Director
JONGNO, WINTER 2006
Director
If You Were Me 2 2006
Director
Repatriation 2004
Director, Screenplay
TEKKEN FAMILY 2002
Director
A man 2001
Director
Another World We Are Making: Haengdang-Dong People 2 1999
Director
The 6 Days Struggle at the Myong-Dong Cathedral 1997
Director
We'll Be One 1995
Director
People In A Flood Of Media 1995
Director
Haengdang-dong People 1994
Director
Standing on the Edge of Death 1990
Director
Sanggyedong Olympic 1988
Director, Director of Photography
James' May 1986
Director
Credits from TMDB.