Yu Hyun-mok (; July 2, 1925 – June 28, 2009) was a South Korean film director. Born in Sariwon, Korea, Empire of Japan (now in North Korea), 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 in 1963, where Variety called Obaltan a "remarkable film", and praised Yu's "[b]rilliantly 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' [are] just 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's 1976 animated film, Robot Taekwon V. A retrospective of Yu's career was held at the 4th Pusan International Film Festival in 1999.
Yu died from a stroke on June 28, 2009.Yu, pioneering filmmaker, passes away The Korea Herald Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
Filmography TitleOriginal titleTransliterationyearThe Crossroad 교차로Gyocharo1956The Lost Youth잃어버린 청춘Irobeorin Cheongchun 1957The Life Seized인생차압Insaeng Chaab 1958Forever With You 그대와 영원히Geudae-wa Yeongwon-hi1958Beautiful Woman아름다운 여인Areumda-un Yeo-in1959Even the Clouds Are Drifting구름은 흘러가도Gureum-un Heulleogado 1959The Aimless Bullet오발탄Obaltan 1961To Give Freely아낌 없이 주련다Akkim Eobsi Juryeonda 1962Great hero, Yi Sun-Sin성웅 이순신Seong-ung Yi Sun-sin1962Daughters of Pharmacist Kim김약국집 딸들Kim Yakkuk Jip Ttaldeul 1963The Blue Dream shall Shine푸른 꿈은 빛나리Pureun Ggum-eun Bitnari1963Extra Human Being잉여인간Ingyeo Ingan 1964Wife's Confession아내는 고백한다 Anae-neun Gobaekhanda1964Sleep Under The Blue Star푸른 별아래 잠들게 하라Pureun Byeolarae Jamdeul-ge Hara1965An Empty Dream춘몽Chunmong1965Martyr순교자Sungyoja 1965Secret Marriage Operation특급 결혼작전Teukgeup Gyeolhon Jakjeon1966Sun will rise again태양은 다시 뜬다 Taeyang-eun Dasi Ddeunda1966Guests Who Arrived on the Last Train막차로 온 손님들Makcharo On Son-nim-deul 1967Three Henpeck Generations공처가 삼대Gongcheoga Samdae1967Han한Han1967Arirang 아리랑Arirang1968Han 2한 2Han1968Descendants of Cain카인의 후예Kain-ui Huye 1968I'll Give You Everything몽땅 드릴까요Mongddang Deuril Kkayo1968Yeo여A Woman 1968Nightmare악몽Akmong1968School Excursion 수학여행Suhak Yeohaeng1969I Would Like to Become a Human나도 인간이 되련다Nado Ingan-i Doe-Ryeonda 1969Two husbands두여보Du Yeobo1970Bun-Rye's Story분례기Bunlyegi 1971Flame불꽃Bulkkot 1975The Gate문Mun 1977Once upon a time, Hweo-oi Hweo-i옛날 옛적에 훠어이 훠이Yetnal Yetjeok-e, Hweo-oi Hweo-i1978Rainy Days장마Jangma 1979A Song Everyone Wants to Sing Together다함께 부르고 싶은 노래Dahamggye Bureugo Sipeun Norae1979Son of Man사람의 아들Saram-ui Adul 1980Ruinded Reeds상한 갈대Sanghan Galdae1984Mommy, Star, and Sea Anemone 말미잘 Malmijal1995
Awards Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Picture/Best Director (Descendant of Cain) (1968) Grand Bell Awards 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) Samil Prize (1999) Order of Cultural Merit, Korean government - Geumgwan (Gold Crown), 1st Class (2009) Pusan International Film Festival Award for Artistic Contribution (2003)
References
External links
The Yu Hyun-mok Page at koreanfilm.org