Korean Film Council appoints Park Ki-yong as new head

KOFIC Chairman Park Ki-yong / Courtesy of KOFIC

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has appointed Park Ki-yong, an academic and director, as its new chairman. Park was chosen through a vote by the nine KOFIC committee members during its first regular meeting on Friday. He replaces Kim Young-jin, who completed his one-year term on Jan. 3.

Park previously worked a producer on director Park Kwang-su’s 1993 historical war drama “To The Starry Island.” He subsequently directed the award-winning films “Motel Cactus” (1997), which won the New Currents Award at the 1998 Busan International Film Festival, and “Camel(s)” (2001), which won the Regard d’Or at the 2002 Fribourg International Film Festival.

He was also the head of the Korean Academy of Film Arts (2003-09) and head of the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (2006-12). He is currently a professor at Dankook University’s Graduate School of Cinematic Content. Park’s term will run until Jan. 8, 2024.

“We will communicate more actively with film industry officials to become a trustworthy committee. We will respond to the challenges of COVID-19 to adapt quickly to the changing environment,” Park said in a statement.

Kim Sun-ah, who produced hit Korean films “One Fine Spring Day” (2001) and “Save the Green Planet” (2003), succeeded Choi Jae-won as vice director of KOFIC. Kim’s term will run until Jan. 3, 2025.

Founded in 1973, KOFIC is a self-administered organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The public institution was established to improve the quality of Korean films and promote them and the film industry.

Korean Film Council appoints Park Ki-yong as new head
Source: Buhay Kapa PH