Yu Hyun-mok (July 2, 1925 – June 28, 2009) was a South Korean film director. Born in Sariwon, Hwanghae,

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republi ...

(

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and ...

today), he made his film debut in 1956 with ''Gyocharo'' (''Crossroads''). According to the website koreanfilm.org, his 1961 film '' Obaltan'' "has repeatedly been voted the best Korean film of all time in local critics' polls." Yu attended the

San Francisco International Film Festival The San Francisco International Film Festival (abbreviated as SFIFF), organized by the San Francisco Film Society, is held each spring for two weeks, presenting around 200 films from over 50 countries. The festival highlights current trends in in ...

in 1963, where '' Variety'' called ''Obaltan'' a "remarkable film", and praised Yu's " illiantly detailed camera" and the film's "probing sympathy and rich characterizations." His dedication to the intellectual side of film and interest in using film to deal with social and political issues led him to have difficulties both with box-office-oriented producers, and with Korea's military government during the 1960s and 1970s. Korean critics have said his directing style is "in the tradition of the Italian Neorealists," yet "the terms 'modernist' or 'expressionistic' rejust as applicable to his works." Besides his directing activities, he has taught film, and made a significant contribution to Korean animation by producing

Kim Cheong-gi Kim Cheong-gi (born April 4, 1941) is a South Korean director of animated, fantasy, and science fiction films. His most well known work, ''Robot Taekwon V'' (1976), is considered one of the milestones of Korean animation. With actor Shim Hyung- ...

's 1976 animated film, ''

Robot Taekwon V ''Robot Taekwon V'' (로보트 태권 V) is a South Korean animated film directed by Kim Cheong-gi and produced by Yu Hyun-mok, the prominent director of such films as ''Obaltan'' (오발탄) (Aimless Bullet) (1960). It was released on July 24, 19 ...

''. A retrospective of Yu's career was held at the 4th

Pusan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festiv ...

in 1999. Yu died from a stroke on June 28, 2009.Yu, pioneering filmmaker, passes away
'' Korea Herald'' Retrieved on 2009-06-29.

Filmography

Awards

*Blue Dragon Film Awards **Best Picture/Best Director (''Descendant of Cain'') (1968) *

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

**Best Director (''To Give Freely'') (1962) **Best Director (''Martyr'') (1965) **Best Director (''Bun-Rye's Story'') (1971) **Best Picture (''Flame'') (1975) **Honorary Director Award (1995) * Korean Film Critics Awards **Best Director (''Son of Man'') (1980) * Order of Cultural Merit, Korean government - Geumgwan (Gold Crown), 1st Class (2009) *

**Award for Artistic Contribution (2003)

References

* * *

External links

*
The Yu Hyun-mok Page
at koreanfilm.org 1925 births 2009 deaths South Korean film directors Recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit (Korea) People from Sariwon Dongguk University faculty {{SouthKorea-film-bio-stub