Former Korea Film Council Chairman Kang Han-seop Passes Away at 63

Kang Han-seop, former Chairman of the Korean Film Council

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Professor Kang Hanseop of Seoul Institute of the Arts, who served as the chairman of the Korean Film Council, passed away on the afternoon of the 10th. He was 63 years old.

The late professor, who was active as a first-generation film critic, graduated from Gyeonggi High School and Kyung Hee University with a degree in French Language and Literature, and earned a master's degree from Sogang University with a thesis on "A Study of Melodrama Conventions." He then went to France for further studies, majoring in Communication and Visual Communication at Paris 2 University Graduate School, where he wrote a thesis analyzing the narrative structure of American classic films. He later served as president of the Film Education Society, editorial board member of the monthly magazine 'Emerge,' and advisory board member of the weekly 'Cine21.'

Professor Kang wrote extensively criticizing mainstream Korean film discourse. His candid and harsh critiques earned him both criticism and praise. He authored works such as "Create Korean Film Studies," "Kang Hanseop's Film Stories," as well as "The Third Wave of Korean Cinema," and "The Algorithm of Criticism."

He was appointed chairman of the Korean Film Council in May 2008 but resigned in June the following year. Since then, he had been nurturing future talents at the Seoul Institute of the Arts' Department of Film.

The news of his passing was met with condolences and tributes from the film community.

Won Dongyeon, CEO of Realize Pictures, which produced the film "Along with the Gods," wrote on his SNS, "After being discharged from the military and returning to school, a course called 'Introduction to Film Studies' was newly offered in the department. Perhaps taking that course was the starting point that led me to choose film as a profession and live by it. The person who taught that course was Professor Kang Hanseop. I hope he rests in peace and finds tranquility. My heart is heavy."

Film critic Kang Seongryul expressed his condolences on SNS, saying, "I admired how he stepped outside of film and then found his way back to it. He never escaped into difficult rhetoric. I pray he finds peace there."

The funeral is being held at Samsung Seoul Hospital Funeral Hall 5, Irwon-dong. The funeral procession will be on the 13th, and the burial site is Paju Nazareth Park. 1599-3114

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