Lee Tae-won, Pioneer of Korean Film Globalization, Passes Away (Comprehensive)

'Seopyeonje', 'Taebaeksanmaek', 'Chunhyangjeon' and 37 Other Works Produced
Highlighted in the Turbulent Youth of 'Haryuinsaeng'
Entered Cannes and Venice International Film Festivals... Awarded the Okgwan Cultural Medal

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Tae-won, former CEO of Taeheung Film Company in Itaewon, who produced thirty-seven films including 'Seopyeonje (1993)', 'Taebaek Mountains (1994)', and 'Chunhyangjeon (2000)', passed away on the 24th at the age of 83. He suffered a fall accident in May last year. He had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, in an unconscious state, and closed his eyes that afternoon. He is survived by his wife Lee Han-sook, sons Cheol-seung, Hyo-seung, Ji-seung, and daughter Sun-hee. The funeral is being held at Severance Hospital, with the funeral service scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 26th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Born in 1938 into a wealthy family in Pyongyang, he was separated from his family due to the outbreak of the Korean War and grew up in hardship. He earned tuition and living expenses by selling goods at the marketplace. He was also involved with a gang in Myeongdong. In 1959, he entered film production upon the recommendation of a trader he met by chance. The film 'Yujeongcheonri' produced then failed at the box office. After working in military supplies and construction-related businesses, he reconnected with the film industry in 1973 by acquiring a theater in Uijeongbu. Using the profits from distributing films in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions, he purchased the nearly bankrupt Taechang Film Company in 1984 and established Taeheung Film Company. Until the mid-1980s, he mainly produced adult erotic films such as 'Between the Knees (1984)', 'Ppong (1985)', and 'Eoudong (1985)'. He expanded his scope with challenging themes in works like 'The Road to the Racetrack (1991)' and 'Hwaeomgyeong (1993)', becoming a prominent producer.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

His turbulent youth was later highlighted in director Im Kwon-taek's film 'Lower Depths (2004)'. Together with director Im and cinematographer Jeong Il-seong, he left several masterpieces that remain significant in Korean film history. His first film, 'Nun (1984)', was canceled due to opposition from the Buddhist community, but subsequent works achieved both commercial success and artistic merit. These include 'Aje Aje Bara Aje (1989)', 'General's Son (1990)', 'Seopyeonje', 'Taebaek Mountains', 'Chunhyangjeon', and 'Chihwaseon (2002)'. Kang Soo-yeon, who starred in 'Aje Aje Bara Aje', won the Best Actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival. 'General's Son' and 'Seopyeonje' attracted over 680,000 and 1 million viewers respectively in Seoul. 'Taebaek Mountains', based on the novel by writer Jo Jung-rae, is still regarded as an outstanding work that confronts the turbulent history of Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The three also laid the foundation for the overseas expansion of Korean cinema. 'Chunhyangjeon' was the first Korean film invited to the main competition at the Cannes International Film Festival. Two years later, director Im won the Best Director award at Cannes with 'Chihwaseon'. 'Lower Depths', which depicts the autobiographical life of Lee Tae-won, was also invited to the Venice International Film Festival and received acclaim. From the mid-2000s, he stepped away from film production, managing copyrights owned by Taeheung Film Company and enjoying a peaceful retirement. He was recognized for his contributions to Korean cinema with awards including the Order of Cultural Merit (Ok-gwan and Eun-gwan), the Grand Bell Awards for Film Development, the Korean Film Critics Association Special Producer Award, and the Baeksang Arts Awards Special Prize.

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