Na Hong-jin (, born 20 July 1974) is a South Korean filmmaker. His films are characterized by the incorporation of violent thriller and horror elements.
Na's emergence in the film industry began with his feature film debut, The Chaser (2008), which achieved both critical and commercial success, ranking as the third-highest-grossing film in South Korea for its release year. His subsequent film, The Yellow Sea (2010), was presented in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The Wailing (2016) further contributed to Na's critical and commercial standing, earning accolades that included the Best Director award at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards and recognition at the Bucheon International Film Festival. Na's fourth film, Hope (2026), was screened at the main competition section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Early life Na Hong-jin was born on 20 July 1974 in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from Hanyang University ERICA Campus Department of Crafts studying industrial arts and, at first, started in the advertisement industry, until he decided to pursue his dream as a filmmaker. He then enrolled in Korea National University of Arts.
Career Early work Na began making short films before he would go on to make his large feature films. Na's debut short film was titled 5 Minutes (2003). It was until his second short film, A Perfect Red Snapper Dish (2005), that Na started to gain recognition. Na won best film in The Extreme Nightmare section at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. He would then go on to make his third short film, Sweat (2007) that would win the best short film director prize at the Grand Bell Awards and jury prize at the Bucheon International Film Festival awards.
Feature films
Na's debut feature film was titled The Chaser (2008), which was met with critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The Chaser became one of the most watched films in Korea, peaking at the third highest grossing film of 2008. The film was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival where reviewers hailed it as an "instant classic" in Korean thrillers. The film took home many awards such as the 16th Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
The Yellow Sea (2010) was released and entailed a more ambitious vision from Na. The Yellow Sea became the first Korean film to ever have a Hollywood studio collaboration, with the 20th Century Fox studio. Na's second film achieved positive reviews but "lacking" compared to The Chaser. The film was screened under the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and received positive critical reviews on Metacritic.
Na's critically acclaimed third feature film, The Wailing (2016). The film encompasses a deep weave of many themes such as religion, perception, comedy, and horror. The Wailing succeeded commercially and critically, again winning Na many film wards such as Best Director at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards, Best of Bucheon award at the Bucheon international fantastic film festival, the top film of the year of the 36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, and many more. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was shortly released onto streaming services.
His fourth feature film, Hope (2026), started production in 2023, and spent nearly three years in post-production. It had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Other projects Na acted as the producer and screenwriter for Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun's The Medium, a supernatural horror mockumentary. The film premiered at the 25th Bucheon international fantastic film festival on 11 July 2021. When writing the story, Na explained in an interview that The Medium was initially a sequel to The Wailing with Hwang Jung-min's shaman character. However, this rendition did not come to light. As quoted by Na himself, "The Medium has no relation to The Wailing."
In 2025, Na served as the president of the Competition jury at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
Filmography Feature film YearTitle 2008 The Chaser 2010 The Yellow Sea 2016 The Wailing 2026 Hope
Only writer YearTitleNotes2021The MediumAlso producer
Short film YearTitleCredited as NotesDirectorScreenplayProducer 2004 River Side as cinematographer, editor, storyboard 2005 A Perfect Red Snapper Dish also sound2007 Sweat also editor Carnival Cameo (Food stall owner) 2023 Faith
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2005 The 6th Korea Video Contest Encouragement Award5 Minutes 2005 The 4th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival Absolute Nightmare Best Film AwardA Perfect Red Snapper Dish 2007 11th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Jury Prize 8th Respest Digital Film Festival Audience Award 8th Korea Video Contest Excellence Award 44th Grand Bell Awards Best Short Film Director 2008Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival New Visions Award (New Director)Han 61st Cannes Film Festival Caméra d'Or The Chaser 44th Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Best Film Best Director Best New Director Best Screenplay 16th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest New Director Best Screenplay 9th Busan Film Critics AwardsBest Screenplay 17th Buil Film Awards Best Film Best Director Best New Director Best Screenplay Buil Readers' Jury Award 45th Grand Bell Awards Best Film "The Chaser - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 25 September 2008.Best Director Best New Director Best Screenplay 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Best Screenplay 7th Korean Film Awards Best Film Best Director Best New Director Best Screenplay 11th Director's Cut AwardsBest New Director Cine 21 Awards Best New Director Best Screenplay 12th Bucheon International Fantastic Film FestivalBest of Puchon EFFFF Asian Award 20093rd Asian Film AwardsBest Screenplay Deauville Asian Film Festival Lotus Action Asia Award 201148th Grand Bell AwardsBest FilmThe Yellow Sea Best Director 47th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Film Best Director 5th Asian Film Awards Best Director 5th Asia Pacific Screen AwardsAchievement in Directing 64th Cannes Film FestivalUn Certain Regard 15th Puchon International Fantastic Film FestivalBest Director Best of Puchon Chicago International Film FestivalGold Hugo 201625th Buil Film AwardsBest Film The WailingBest Director37th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest FilmBest DirectorBest ScreenplayBucheon International Fantastic Film FestivalAudience AwardBest of Bucheon Award16th Director's Cut AwardsBest DirectorFantasia International Film FestivalPrix AQCCAudience Award for Best Asian Feature53rd Grand Bell AwardsBest FilmBest Director36th Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsTop Films of the YearKorean Film Actor's Association AwardsTop Director AwardKorean Film Producers Association AwardsBest DirectorPhoenix Critics CircleBest International FilmSitges Film FestivalFocus Asia AwardBloodGuts UK Horror AwardsBest International FilmBest DirectorMolins de Rei Horror Film FestivalBest FilmSaskatoon Fantastic Film FestivalHonourable MentionCPH:PIXPolitiken's Audience Award201711th Asian Film AwardsBest FilmBest DirectorCentral Ohio Film Critics Association AwardsBest Foreign Language Film8th KOFRA Film AwardsBest FilmBest DirectorSeattle Film Critics AwardsBest Foreign Language FilmKorea Cable TV AwardsCable VOD Grand Prize (Film) Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Foreign-Language Film53rd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Film Best Director Best Screenplay22nd Chunsa Film AwardsBest DirectorBest ScreenplayAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror FilmsBest DVD/Blu-Ray ReleaseiHorror AwardsBest Foreign Horror2021Bucheon Choice Features Best Film The MediumManiatic Fantastic Film FestivalSan Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Week 2026 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'OrHope New York Asian Film Festival Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema 35th Buil Film Awards Best Film Best Director
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