Park Chan-wook (; born August 23, 1963) is a South Korean filmmaker and former film critic.
Park made his debut as director in 1992. However, he has largely disowned his first two films from the 1990s, considering the 2000 hit Joint Security Area to be his real debut. It was a massive turning point, not only did it break box office records in South Korea, but it also gave him the creative "blank check" he needed to make his famous The Vengeance Trilogy. While the first film in that series, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), was a bit of a tough sell for critics and audiences at the time, he struck gold with Oldboy (2003) and Lady Vengeance (2005). Oldboy in particular became a global sensation and is still cited as one of the best films ever made.
Park's career only gained momentum after his early success. Films like Thirst (2009) and The Handmaiden (2016) further solidified his reputation, with the latter even winning a BAFTA. By the time he won Best Director at Cannes Film Festival for Decision to Leave (2022), he had become a household name in world cinema.
In addition to his work as a director, Park has significantly influenced global media as a producer. He produced Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi epic Snowpiercer (2013) and later served as an executive producer for its American television adaptation, which ran from 2020 to 2024. He has further expanded into prestige television by directing English-language miniseries such as The Little Drummer Girl (2018) and The Sympathizer (2024).
"PARKing CHANce" is a collaborative directing brand founded by Park Chan-wook and his younger brother, media artist Park Chan-kyong. The brand has created several short films, including Night Fishing (2011), Odalslow (2011), Day Trip (2012), V (2013), Decades Apart (2017), and Believe It or Not(2018).
Films
Feature film YearTitleCredited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer 1988 Kkamdong 1989 Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day 1992 The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream 1997 Trio 2000 Anarchists Joint Security Area 2001 2002 Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance A Bizarre Love Triangle 2003 Oldboy 2005 Lady Vengeance Boy Goes to Heaven 2006 I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK 2008 Crush and Blush 2009 Thirst 2013 Stoker English-language film debut Snowpiercer 2014 Bitter, Sweet, Seoul Documentary 2016 The Handmaiden The Truth Beneath 2022 Decision to Leave 2024 Uprising 2025 No Other Choice co-produced with Back Jisun, Michèle Ray-Gavras, Alexandre Gavras; co-wrote with Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, Lee Ja-hye
Short films YearTitleCredited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer 1999 Judgment 2003 If You Were Me Segment: Never Ending Peace And Love 2004 Three... Extremes Segment: Cut 2011 Night Fishing 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero Segment: Cut Odalslow Commissioned by Cine21 2012 Day Trip 2013 V music video for Lee Jung-hyun 2014 A Rose Reborn for Ermenegildo Zegna 2017 Decades Apart for Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain 2022 Life Is But a Dream for Apple Inc.
Television YearTitleCredited as Notes Creator Director Writer ExecutiveProducer 2018 The Little Drummer Girl BBC One Original Series 2020–2024 Snowpiercer 2024 The Sympathizer HBO Original Series
Documentary appearances YearTitle Notes2005 The Nine Lives of Korean Cinema 2011 Ari Ari the Korean Cinema 2025 New-Oldboy Park Chan-wook SBS TV Special Chuseok Documentary
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