Technical Art Studio Cell () is a prominent South Korean technical art and special effects makeup company. Established on June 25, 2003, by CEOs Hwang Ho-gyun and Kwak Tae-yong, the studio provides a wide range of services including special effects makeup, the creation of dummies, animatronics, and specialized props and set work. Known for their collaborative work with influential Korean directors such as Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Kim Jee-woon, Ryoo Seung-wan, Park Hoon-jung, Choi Dong-hoon, Kim Yong-hwa, Yeon Sang-ho and Na Hong-jin, Technical Art Studio Cell has contributed to over 170 productions, including internationally acclaimed films like The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale (2015), Train to Busan (2016), Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017), Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018), Okja (2017), Parasite (2019), 12.12: The Day (2023), Exhuma (2024).
History Technical Art Studio Cell was founded on June 25, 2003, by Hwang Hyo-gyun and Kwak Tae-yong. The two CEOs chose the name "Cell," referencing the basic biological unit and likening it to the smallest energy unit in a battery, symbolizing their fundamental role in production.
The company's first project was the short film "Cut" (2004), which was part of director Park Chan-wook's anthology feature Three, Monsters.
Cell gained significant recognition in 2005 for their complex work on Park Chan-wook's Lady Vengeance. For the film, they created the intricate, half-man, half-animal creature that appears in Geum-ja's (Lee Young-ae) illusion. Mr. Baek (Choi Min-sik), combination of a specialized dummy, animatronics, and animal component, was noted by Hwang Hyo-gyun as a project that significantly elevated Cell's technical capabilities and status in the industry.
In 2012, Cell made a robot for a lead role in the science fiction film Doomsday Book (2012) directed by Kim Jee-woon.
The company was formally incorporated on July 17, 2015.
In 2017, Cell reunite with Bong Joon Ho in his film Okja.
Extreme Job.
Cell was responsible for creating several key props and practical effects for Parasite (2019), including the scholar's rock (pebble) and the peach. Kwak stated, "When we were filming the movie, it wasn't the season for peaches, and more than anything, special production was inevitable in order to realistically express the scene where Ki-jeong (Park So-dam) peels the peach fuzz with a box cutter." Cell also created a critical makeup effect: in the scene where the mood shifts from comedy to thriller, when the displaced housekeeper Moon-gwang (Lee Jung-eun) rings the doorbell in the pouring rain, Moon-gwang's swollen face was a practical effect created by Cell.
In 2019, Cell moved its operations to a new, dedicated three stories building.
Since 2017, Cell has been involved in the production of Netflix originals such as "Okja" (2017), "Kingdom," "Sweet Home" and "The Silent Sea" (2021).
Team + Team Members and Filmography Name Specialty Role Selected Filmography (Chronological) Ref. Co-CEO Hwang Hyo-gyun Special effects makeup and dummies (majored in painting). Mother (2009), Thirst (2009), I Saw the Devil (2010), Human Destruction Report (2010), Howling (2011), The Thieves (2012), Berlin Files (2012), Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King (2012), A Werewolf Boy (2012), Love Poem (2012), The Face Reader (2013), Cold (2013), Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), Mr. Go (2013), Gyeongseong School: The Lost Girls (2014), Kundo: Age of Rampant (2014), Veteran (2014), Assassination (2015). Kwak Tae-yong Animatronics, special props, and interactive mechanics. The Host (2006), The Cut (2007), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Thirst (2009), I Saw the Devil (2010), The Yellow Sea (2010), Howling (2011), Deranged (2012), Berlin (2012), Flu (2013), Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2013). Director Lee Hee-eun Dummy expert Manager Park Young-moo Special effects Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island, Gangnam 1970, The Silenced, Chronicle of a Blood Merchant, The Treacherous, Assassination, Inside Men, The Priests, The Tiger, Veteran, The Age of Shadows, Asura, SORI: Voice from the Heart, Train to Busan, Tunnel (2016), The Battleship Island, Fabricated City, Seven Years of Night, The Villainess (all 2017). Park Shin-youngspecial effects makeup Lee Hyo-eungspecial effects makeup Team leader Lee Go-woonspecial effects makeup Park So-yeonspecial effects makeup Team Member Kim Yu-seon special effects makeup Choi Joo-hyung special effects makeup Parasite, Extreme Job, Along with the Gods, Kingdom, The Witch: Part 1
Former team member: Pi Dae-seong (2006–2013) Kim Ho-sik
Filmography Film +Film credit of CellYearTitleDirectorNote English Korean 2004 Three... Extremes: Cut 쓰리, 몬스터 - '컷(Cut)' Park Chan-wook 2005 A Bittersweet Life 달콤한 인생 Kim Jee-woon Antarctic Journal 남극일기 Yim Pil-sung Lady Vengeance 친절한 금자씨 Park Chan-wookBoy Goes to Heaven소년, 천국에 가다Yoon Tae-yong 2006 The Host괴물Bong Joon Ho 2007 The Cut 해부학교실 Son Tae-woong 2008 The Good, the Bad, the Weird 좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈 Kim Jee-woon 2009 Thirst 박쥐 Park Chan-wook Mother 마더 Bong Joon Ho 2010I Saw the DevilKim Jee-woon 2012 Howling하울링Yoo HaDeranged연가시Park Jung-woo The Thieves도둑들Choi Dong-hoon Masquerade광해: 왕이 된 남자Choo Chang-min A Werewolf Boy늑대소년Jo Sung-hee Doomsday Book 인류멸망보고서 Kim Jee-woonYim Pil-sung 2013 The Berlin File 베를린 Ryoo Seung-wan The Face Reader 관상 Han Jae-rim Hwayi: A Monster Boy 화이: 괴물을 삼킨 아이 Jang Joon-hwanFlu감기Kim Sung-su Mr. Go 미스터 고 Kim Yong-hwa 2014 Kundo: Age of the Rampant 군도: 민란의 시대 Yoon Jong-bin 2015 Veteran 베테랑 Ryoo Seung-wan 2015 The Silenced경성학교: 사라진 소녀들Lee Hae-young2015 The Tiger Park Hoon-jungThe Himalaya히말라야Lee Seok-hoon Assassination 암살 Choi Dong-hoon 2016 The Age of Shadows 밀정 Kim Jee-woon Train to Busan 부산행 Yeon Sang-ho The Handmaiden 아가씨 Park Chan-wook 2017 The Battleship Island 군함도 Ryoo Seung-wanOkja옥자Bong Joon HoV.I.P.Park Hoon-jungAlong with the Gods: The Two Worlds신과함께: 죄와 벌Kim Yong-hwaFabricated City조작된 도시Park Kwang-hyunThe Villainess악녀Jung Byung-gil 2018 Illang: The Wolf Brigade 인랑 Kim Jee-woonAlong with the Gods: The Last 49 Days신과함께: 인과 연Kim Yong-hwaSeven Years of Night7년의 밤Choo Chang-min The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion Park Hoon-jung 2019 Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission 말모이 Eom Yu-na Parasite 기생충 Bong Joon-ho Extreme Job극한직업Lee Byeong-heon Exit 엑시트 Lee Sang-geun2020 Secret Zoo 해치지않아 Son Jae-gon The Man Standing Next 남산의 Woo Min-ho Peninsula 반도 Yeon Sang-ho2021Night in Paradise Park Hoon-jung 2022 The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Park Hoon-jung Decision to Leave 헤어질 결심 Park Chan-wook 2023 The Childe 귀공자 Park Hoon-jung Jung_E 정이 Yeon Sang-ho Smugglers 밀수 Ryoo Seung-wan 2024 I, the Executioner 베테랑2 Ryoo Seung-wan Uprising 전,란 Kim Sang-man12.12: The Day서울의 봄Kim Sung-suKill Boksoon길복순Byun Sung-hyunExhuma파묘Jang Jae-hyun 2025 Dark Nuns 검은 수녀들 Kwon Hyeok-jae Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy 전지적 독자 시점 Kim Byung-woo My Daughter Is a Zombie 좀비딸 Pil Gam-sung Yadang: The Snitch 야당 Hwang Byeong-guk Boss 보스 Ra Hee-chan No Other Choice 어쩔수가없다 Park Chan-wook Tristes Tropiques Park Hoon-jung
Series +Series creditYearTitleDirector English Korean 2019–2020 Kingdom 킹덤 Kim Seong-hun (Season 1)Park In-je (Season 2) 2020–2023 Sweet Home 스위트홈 2021 The Silent Sea 고요의 바다 Choi Hang-yong Hellbound Season 1 지옥 Yeon Sang-hoDr. BrainDr. 브레인Kim Jee-woon 2022 Connect 커넥트 Takashi Miike 2024 Hellbound Season 2 지옥 Yeon Sang-ho The Tyrant 폭군 Park Hoon-jung When the Stars Gossip 별들에게 물어봐 Park Shin-woo Parasyte: The Grey 기생수: 더 그레이 Yeon Sang-ho 2025 When Life Gives You Tangerines 폭싹 속았수다 Kim Won-seok Karma 악연 Lee Il-hyung Aema 애마 Lee Hae-young Mercy for None 광장 Choi Sung-eun Tempest 북극성 Kim Hee-won
Accolades +Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nominationAward ceremonyDate of ceremonyCategoryNominee / WorkResultBaeksang Arts Awards May 3, 2017 Technical Award Hwang Ho-kyun Blue Dragon Film AwardsNovember 25, 2016 Technical Award Kwak Tae-yong & Hwang Hyo-gyun(Special makeup)Train to Busan Chunsa Film Art Awards May 24, 2017 Technical Award Kwak Tae-yong & Hwang Hyo-gyun(Special makeup)Train to Busan Filmmakers' Night: Thank You, Korean Cinema! October 8, 2012 Gratitude Award from Audi Korea - Domestic Category Cell Grand Bell Awards 2013 Special Award for Advanced Technology Kwak Tae-yong (special makeup)The Face Reader 2016 Special Award for Advanced Technology Jo Yong-suk, Hwang Hyo-kyun, Kwak Tae-yong and Kim Tae-euiThe Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale Korean Association of Film Critics Awards November 24, 2016 Technical Award Train to Busan
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