''Champion'' () is a 2002 South Korean film directed by

Kwak Kyung-taek Kwak Kyung-taek (; born 23 May 1966) is a South Korean film director best known for his 2001 record-breaking film ''Friend (2001 film), Friend''. Career ''Friend'', a drama where conflicting criminal alliances turn old friends into enemies, ...

, about

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

n boxer

Duk Koo Kim Kim Duk-koo (Hangul:김득구; born Lee Deokgu, Hangul: 이덕구; July 29, 1955November 18, 1982) was a South Korean boxer who died after fighting in a world championship boxing match against Ray Mancini. His death sparked reforms aimed at bette ...

, portrayed by

Yu Oh-seong Yu Oh-seong (born September 11, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''The Spy'' (1999), ''Attack the Gas Station'' (1999) and ''Friend'' (2001). Career Yu Oh-seong made his stage debut in 1992, and throughout the mi ...

Background

A biopic, ''Champion'' details the life of

, South Korea's most popular boxer, who, in his rise to international fame, faced the reigning lightweight champion Ray Mancini at

Caesar's Palace Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The hotel is situated on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio and The Mirage. It is one of Las Vegas's largest and best known landmarks. Caesar ...

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

, Nevada on November 13, 1982. Kim ultimately lost the match after fourteen rounds, and within minutes, dropped into a coma from which he never recovered. The match changed boxing rules around the world; and affected South Korea especially.

Cast

- Kim Deuk-gu *

Chae Min-seo Chae Min-seo (born Jo Soo-jin; March 16, 1981) is a South Korean actress. Chae made her acting debut in 2002 with ''Champion'', and has since played leading roles in horror film '' The Wig'' and the indies ''Loner'' (2008), ''Vegetarian Veg ...

- Lee Kyeong-mi *Yun Seung-won - Kim, Hyeon-ji *

Jung Doo-hong Jung Doo-hong (born December 14, 1966) is a South Korean action director, martial arts choreographer, stunt coordinator, and actor. Early life Jung Doo-hong was born in 1966 in Chilsan-ri, Imcheon-myeon, Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Provin ...

- Lee Sang-bok *Kim Byeong-seo - Park Jong-pal *Ji Dae-han - Hwang Jun-seok *

Shin Jung-geun Shin Jung-geun (born September 26, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is most active as a supporting actor in films such as '' Running Turtle'' (2009), '' In Love and War'' (2011), ''The Grand Heist'' (2012), and '' The Five'' (2013), as well as ...

- Kim Yun-gu *

Kim Hyun-sook Kim Hyun-sook (born October 16, 1978) is a South Korean actress and comedian. She is best known for playing the title character in ''Ugly Miss Young-ae'', a long-running sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational com ...

- bus driver *Han Dae-gwan - man with evenly parted hair 3 *Matthew Ray Phillips - Ray “Boom-Boom” Mancini

References

External links

* 2002 films 2000s biographical films 2000s Korean-language films South Korean biographical films Films directed by Kwak Kyung-taek South Korean boxing films Biographical action films 2000s South Korean films {{sport-film-stub