Blockbuster film producer Kang Hye-jung & indie film producer Kim Ji-yeon

Kim Ji-yeon, the CEO of Crankup Film, has been chosen as the winner of the Choon-yun Award, which is bestowed as part of the Busan International Film Festival to recognize the contribution of producers to the development of Korean cinema. This is only the second year this award is being given, after Baek Jae-ho in 2022, and the fact a woman is being rewarded this time should come as no surprise considering the important part female producers have played since the emergence of Korean cinema as a global powerhouse. This week we look into the works of one of the most influential producers, Kang Hye-jung who as the head of film studio Filmmaker R & K, has produced some of the biggest hits, as well as those of Kim Ji-yeon, who made a name for herself in the indie film world.  

National Security (2012) by Chung Ji-young

As Myung Films CEO Jamie Shim said of Kim, “She is a filmmaker who has contributed to the production of Korean films by taking experimental and venturous endeavors.” No other film she produced over the years could better illustrate this than National Security. Helmed by Chung Ji-young, a director known for his political engagement, this project was tricky for more than one reason. Not only was it set against one of the most somber chapters in Korea’s modern history, ie. the brutal repression against pro-democracy demonstrators in the 1980s, but the narrative is mostly comprised of the recreation of the 22 days of torture one such activist endured in the hands of the KCIA, making it a hard sell for the large audience. The director himself called the making of this film “the most painful experience” in his career.

A Girl at My Door (2014) by July Jung

The debut feature of July Jung immediately drew attention for being produced by renowned director Lee Chang-dong and generated raved reviews upon its first presentation in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. A police officer woman is transferred to a small seaside village and finds out about a teenage girl victim of abuse from her stepdad and her grandmother. When she tries to shelter her in her home, the abusive father uses a secret he learned about her to threaten her. Dealing with domestic violence, alcoholism, and even homosexuality and exploitation of migrant workers, this was another daring work that Kim helped become a success.

Next Sohee (2022) by July Jung

Selected as the closing film of the 75th Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week, Jung’s follow-up feature kept the socially heavy themes, Bae Doona as a member of the police force, as well as Kim in charge of production duties. Bae plays a detective who is investigating the mysterious circumstances that led to the death of a high school student who was doing a field training at a call center. The film earned several awards not only in Korea but also abroad, like the Cheval Noir for Best Director from Fantasia International Film Festival, and is ultimately what led Kim to earn the Choon-yun Award.

The City of Violence (2006) by Ryoo Seung-wan

Kang Hye-jung has been Ryoo Seung-wan’s partner in films as well as in life for close to 25 years. They were already married when the two made their debuts as producer and director, respectively, in the drama film “Die Bad” (2000). In 2005, as the two failed to find any production company interested in investing in their project of a pure action flick that would put veteran stunt coordinator Jung Doo-hong in a starring role for the first time, Kang and Ryoo decided to found their own studio, Filmmaker R & K, in 2005. The City of Violence is therefore a key title in Kang’s filmography as it was the first time she was in full control of a production.

The Unjust (2010) by Ryoo Seung-wan

After three films released, Filmmaker R & K was in a difficult financial situation and was in dire need of a success that could turn things around. That fateful title came in the form of The Unjust, a slick thriller that managed to earn the favors of the audience as well as rave reviews for its smart script which had a lot to say about corruption. Its 2.7 million admission haul meant that the project broke even, and it even won Best Picture at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Ryoo was reappraised as a great cinema author.

Veteran (2015) by Ryoo Seung-wan

The Unjust was only the beginning. Just five years later, Filmmaker R & K hit the elusive milestone of 10 million admissions that all producers dream of achieving thanks to the crime action comedy Veteran and its 13.4 million tickets sold, which amounts to around a quarter of Korea’s whole population. Its story about a cop determined to take down the heir of a powerful conglomerate who believes he stands above the law found special resonance and turned Filmmaker R & K into one of the leading production companies. 

Svaha : The Sixth Finger (2018), by Jang Jae-hyun

With the increased average gross of its titles, Filmmaker R & K managed to operate a successful turn to not only be known as the exclusive production company of Ryoo’s films but use its money leverage to invest in new talents. Svaha : The Sixth Finger was among the first titles to result from that change of strategy. The director Jang Jae-hyun had already been noticed with his debut, the exorcism drama The Priest (2015), and naturally his follow-up project was eagerly anticipated.

EXIT (2019), by Lee Sang-geun

This project already seemed audacious considering that it was the debut feature by a rookie director, but its never-seen-before mix of comedy and disaster film might have led many to think that Filmmaker R & K was tempting fate. And yet, defying all expectation, this story about a jobless man who has to team up with his former college crush to put into practice the skills they learn in their mountaineering club to survive from a gas that is submerging downtown Seoul was a commercial success. It accumulated 9,4 million admissions, and the director Lee Sang-geun was named Best New Director at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

START-UP (2019), by Choi Jeon-gyeol

This film adaptation of a webtoon was the second feature film of director Choi Jeon-gyeol also turned to be a profitable output for Filmmaker R & K, albeit to a lesser extent than EXIT. The chemistry between Don Lee and Park Jung-min was a hit with the local audience in the end of 2019. 

Hostage: Missing Celebrity (2019), by Pil Gam-seong

The latest of Filmmaker R & K’s releases to date was a Korean remake of the Chinese action thriller Saving Mr. Wu, whose premise is the kidnapping of an actor known for action movies who now has to resort to what he used to fake in order to survive. Hwang Jung-min lent himself to the role, but the Covid-19 pandemic limited its success when it released in 2001.