Director Kim Ki-duk Dies of COVID-19 in Latvia (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Film director Kim Ki-duk passed away from COVID-19 on the 11th (local time) in Latvia, according to foreign media reports.

According to TASS news agency citing local Baltic media, Director Kim reportedly died early that morning at a local hospital due to worsening COVID-19 symptoms.

Director Kim arrived in Latvia on the 20th of last month but was reportedly out of contact since the 5th of this month.

Local media reported that Director Kim had purchased a villa in Jurmala, a northern resort city in Latvia, and planned to obtain Latvian permanent residency. However, after losing contact with those around him, colleagues searched local hospitals and found Director Kim.

Regarding this, Jeon Yang-jun, Executive Director of the Busan International Film Festival, wrote on his social network service (SNS) on the same day, "I received shocking news from Kyrgyzstan critic Gulbara Tolomushova that Director Kim Ki-duk, who had migrated from Kazakhstan to Latvia and was active there, passed away from COVID-19 just one week before his 60th birthday on December 20. It is said that he died today, just two days after being admitted to a Baltic hospital. This is an irreplaceable great loss and sorrow for the Korean film industry. I pray for the deceased’s soul."

Director Kim was a master of cinema who won awards at the three major film festivals: Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. In 2012, he received the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for his film Pieta.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.