Kang Woo-suk
Encyclopedia
Kang Woo-suk is a South Korea
n film producer
and director
. He has often been called the most powerful man in Korean cinema, topping Cine21 magazine's list of '50 Most Powerful Men in Korean Cinema' for seven consecutive years from 1998 to 2004.
Kang started as a director of successful comedy films before directing Two Cops
in 1993, a box office hit whose success at the time was only surpassed by Sopyonje
. More recently, he has directed several Korean blockbusters, including the Public Enemy series (Public Enemy
, Another Public Enemy
, and Public Enemy Returns
) and Silmido
. While Kang's films aren't usually best known for their artistic merits, they have consistently been among the most watched films in the country.
After the success of Two Cops Kang founded his own film production and distribution
company, Cinema Service
, which has since become the biggest homegrown studio in the Korean film industry and along with CJ Entertainment
, one of the two largest film distributors in South Korea. In 2005 Kang stepped down from the position of president of Cinema Service, claiming he intends to concentrate more on his personal film projects.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He has often been called the most powerful man in Korean cinema, topping Cine21 magazine's list of '50 Most Powerful Men in Korean Cinema' for seven consecutive years from 1998 to 2004.
Kang started as a director of successful comedy films before directing Two Cops
Two Cops
Two Cops is a South Korean action/comedy film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It stars Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon as a pair of police inspectors with different outlooks who end up working on a case together. Upon its release the film became a box-office hit and was the second most watched Korean...
in 1993, a box office hit whose success at the time was only surpassed by Sopyonje
Sopyonje
Sopyonje is a South Korean film directed by Im Kwon-taek in 1993. Its story tells of a family of traditional Korean pansori singers trying to make a living in the modern world. The film was originally expected to only draw limited interest, and was released on only one screen in Seoul...
. More recently, he has directed several Korean blockbusters, including the Public Enemy series (Public Enemy
Public Enemy (film)
Public Enemy is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Kang Woo-suk. The film was well-received by audiences and critics alike, being seen by almost 3 million people in South Korea, while winning Sol Kyung-gu "Best Actor" at the 39th Grand Bell Awards for his lead role...
, Another Public Enemy
Another Public Enemy
Another Public Enemy is a 2005 South Korean film and the sequel to Public Enemy.-See also:*List of Korean language films*Cinema of Korea*Contemporary culture of South Korea*List of Korea-related topics...
, and Public Enemy Returns
Public Enemy Returns
Public Enemy Returns is a 2008 South Korean film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It is the sequel to 2002's Public Enemy, and 2005's Another Public Enemy, also directed by Kang....
) and Silmido
Silmido (film)
Silmido is a 2003 South Korean film, directed by Kang Woo-suk. It is loosely based on a military uprising from the island of Silmido in the 1970s. At the end of its run, the film was the most watched film ever in South Korea, and the first film to attract an audience of 10 million viewers in the...
. While Kang's films aren't usually best known for their artistic merits, they have consistently been among the most watched films in the country.
After the success of Two Cops Kang founded his own film production and distribution
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
company, Cinema Service
Cinema Service
Cinema Service is a South Korean film production and distribution company. They are one of the two largest film distributors in Korea, along with CJ Entertainment....
, which has since become the biggest homegrown studio in the Korean film industry and along with CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company which is involved in film production, investment, distribution and exhibition. It is the largest entertainment company in South Korea...
, one of the two largest film distributors in South Korea. In 2005 Kang stepped down from the position of president of Cinema Service, claiming he intends to concentrate more on his personal film projects.
Selected filmography
- GloveGlove (film)Glove is a 2011 South Korean baseball film based on the ture story of a baseball player who was dumb and deaf.-Plot:Fallen-star baseball player Sang-Nam is forced to take a coaching job by his agent after his behaviour was made public in the media. The players on the team, from Chungju Sung-Shim...
(2011) - MossMoss (film)Moss is a 2010 South Korean mystery thriller. It was based on Webcomic with same name by Yun Tae-ho.-Plot:A Man tries to solve his father's mysterious death after his return to his hometown...
(2010) - Hanbando (2006)
- Another Public EnemyAnother Public EnemyAnother Public Enemy is a 2005 South Korean film and the sequel to Public Enemy.-See also:*List of Korean language films*Cinema of Korea*Contemporary culture of South Korea*List of Korea-related topics...
(2005) - SilmidoSilmido (film)Silmido is a 2003 South Korean film, directed by Kang Woo-suk. It is loosely based on a military uprising from the island of Silmido in the 1970s. At the end of its run, the film was the most watched film ever in South Korea, and the first film to attract an audience of 10 million viewers in the...
(2003) - Public EnemyPublic Enemy (film)Public Enemy is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Kang Woo-suk. The film was well-received by audiences and critics alike, being seen by almost 3 million people in South Korea, while winning Sol Kyung-gu "Best Actor" at the 39th Grand Bell Awards for his lead role...
(2002) - Two Cops 2 (1996)
- Two CopsTwo CopsTwo Cops is a South Korean action/comedy film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It stars Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon as a pair of police inspectors with different outlooks who end up working on a case together. Upon its release the film became a box-office hit and was the second most watched Korean...
(1993)
External links and references
- Interview of Kang Woo-suk by Kim Young-jin, retrieved January 30, 2006Detailed information about Kang Woo-suk at the KMDb