Jo Sang-gyeong (; born March 20, 1973) is a South Korean art director and costume designer. She is known as a costume designer, for films such as Oldboy, Tazza: The High Rollers, The Host, and Modern Boy.
Career Beginnings and transition to film Before specializing in cinema, Jo maintained a diverse freelance portfolio that included commercial installation art, interior design, stage art, and tutoring. She has cited her time in theater as foundational to her understanding of lighting and costume interaction.
While working on stage design at the Korea National University of Arts, Jo met art director Ryu Seong-hie, who had recently returned from the United States. At the time, the role of "art director" was still an emerging concept in the Korean film industry. Ryu recruited Jo to handle costumes for the action-noir film No Blood No Tears (2002). The success of this collaboration led to Jo receiving offers from prominent "Korean New Wave" directors, including Ryoo Seung-wan, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Kim Jee-woon. Jo initially viewed costume design as a hobby rather than a formal career path, a mindset she credits for her professional longevity and lack of burnout. Although she was offered the costume design role for Memories of Murder (2003), she had to decline due to her pregnancy.
Continued career While she briefly contemplated retiring to focus on childcare, she found domestic life unfulfilling and decided to return to work. Following a positive encounter with director Bong Man-dae, she accepted the costume design role for The Sweet Sex and Love and continued her career through her pregnancy. This was followed by her work on Park Chan-wook's Oldboy (2003). Her career continued to ascend with high-profile productions such as The Host (2006), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Modern Boy (2008).
Jo established Studio Gomgom, in Dongdaemun Seoul. In 2014, the studio was moved to Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Her team includes costume designers Kwak Jong-ae, Son Na-ri, and Yoon Jeong-hee. Jo mentioned Oldboy, Modern Boy, The Front Line, and The Concubine as the defining projects that shifted her professional philosophy. Expanding her repertoire in 2017, she also designed the costumes for the musical Arirang.
Personal life Jo met Oh Man-seok when both were students at the Korea National University of Arts. After dating for a year and half, they married in 2001. The couple divorced in May 2007 but remain friends.Radio Star. Episode 460. January 6, 2016. MBC. They have a daughter named Oh Young-joo.
Filmography Film +Film creditsYearTitleDirectorNoteEnglishKorean 2002 No Blood No Tears 피도 눈물도 없이Ryoo Seung-wandebut project2003Oldboy 올드보이 Park Chan-wook The Sweet Sex and Love맛있는 섹스 그리고 사랑Bong Man-dae 2004얼굴 없는 미녀Kim In-sikThree... Extremes쓰리, 몬스터Park Chan-wookThe Big Swindle범죄의 재구성Choi Dong-hoon2005Lady Vengeance친절한 금자씨 Park Chan-wook Boy Goes to Heaven소년, 천국에 가다 Yoo A Bittersweet Life달콤한 인생Kim Jee-woon2006The City of Violence짝패Ryoo Seung-wan The Host괴물Bong Joon-ho200 Pounds Beauty미녀는 괴로워Kim Yong-hwaThe Fox Family구미호 가족Lee Hyung-gonI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK싸이보그지만 괜찮아Park Chan-wookTazza: The High Rollers 타짜 Choi Dong-hoon 2007 Hansel and Gretel 헨젤과 그레텔 Yim Pil-sung 2008 Modern Boy 모던 보이 Jung Ji-woo 2009Thirst박쥐Park Chan-wookPrivate Eye 그림자 살인 Park Dae-min 2010 Midnight FM 심야의 FM Kim Sang-man 2011Late Autumn 만추 Kim Tae-yong The Front Line Jang Hoon 2012Day Trip 영화 Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong 2012The Concubine 후궁: 제왕의 첩 Kim Dae-seung 2013Mr. Go 미스터 고Kim Yong-hwa 2014 Kundo: Age of the Rampant 군도: 민란의 시대 Yoon Jong-bin 2014The Royal Tailor 상의원 Lee Won-suk 2015The Priest 검은 사제들 Jang Jae-hyun 2015Assassination 암살 Choi Dong-hoon Veteran 베테랑 Ryoo Seung-wanThe Tiger Park Hoon-jung 2016The Handmaiden아가씨Park Chan-wook2016 The Age of Shadows 밀정Kim Jee-woon 2017V.I.P. Park Hoon-jung 2017 The Battleship Island 군함도 Ryoo Seung-wan 2017 Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds 신과함께: 죄와 벌 Kim Yong-hwa A Taxi Driver 택시 운전사 Jang HoonThe Witch: Part 1. The Subversion Park Hoon-jung 2018 Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days 신과함께: 인과 연 Kim Yong-hwa 2018 Illang: The Wolf Brigade 인랑Kim Jee-woon2019Bring Me Home나를 찾아줘Kim Seung-woo 2022The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Park Hoon-jungHunt헌트Lee Jung-jaeA Man of Reason보호자 Jung Woo-sungDecision to Leave헤어질 결심Park Chan-wookAlienoid 외계+인 1부 Choi Dong-hoon2023Hopeless화란Kim Chang-hoon 2023The Moon 더 문 Kim Yong-hwa 2024Alienoid: Return to the Future외계+인 2부Choi Dong-hoonRevolver 프랑스 중위의 여자Oh Seung-ukUprising전,란 Kim Sang-man 2025 Virus 바이러스 Kang Yi-kwan The Match 승부 Kim Hyung-joo Mantis 사마귀 Lee Tae-sungNo Other Choice 어쩔수가없다Park Chan-wook
Television +Television creditsYearTitleDirectorNote English Korean 2018 Mr. Sunshine Lee Eung-bok 2020It's Okay to Not Be Okay Park Shin-woo 2021 Dr. Brain Kim Jee-woon 2020, 2023, 2024Sweet Home Lee Eung-bok Season 1, 2, 3 2022Squid Game Hwang Dong-hyukSeason 1, 2, and 3 2022, 2023Alchemy of Souls Park Joon-hwa Part 1 and 2 2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Jung Ji-in 2026 Can This Love Be Translated? Yoo Young-eun The Art of Sarah Kim Jin-min Perfect Crown Portraits of Delusion Han Jae-rim
Awards and nominations +Awards and nominations received by JoAwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)Result Asian Film Awards 2017 Best Costume DesignThe Handmaiden 2025 Exhuma 57th Baeksang Arts Awards 2021 Best Costume Design It's Okay to Not Be Okay Blue Dragon Film Awards2008 Best Technology Modern BoyBest Art DirectionModern Boy2015Best Costume DesignAssassination2025Best Costume DesignNo Other ChoiceBuil Film Awards2009Best Art DirectionModern BoyCostume Designers Guild Awards2022Excellence in Contemporary TelevisionSquid GameGrand Bell Awards2005Best Costume Design 2007Best Costume DesignTazza: The High Rollers2009 Best Art Direction Modern Boy Best Costume Design Modern Boy 2014 Kundo: Age of the Rampant 2015 The Royal Tailor Assassination2018Illang: The Wolf Brigade Korean Film Awards 2008 Best Art Directing Modern Boy Korean Film Critics Association Awards 2008 Best Technology Modern Boy 2007Best Technology 200 Pounds Beautyrowspan="2" I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
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