Ryoo Seung-wan
Birth dateDecember 15, 1973 (age 52)
Birth placeOnyang, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
OccupationFilm director · producer · screenwriter · actor
Years active1996–present
SpouseKang Hye-jung (m. 1997)
FamilyRyoo Seung-bum (brother)
EmployerFilmmaker R&K
Ryoo Seung-wan
Headercolortransparent
Hangul%류승완
Hanja柳昇完

Ryoo Seung-wan (Korean: 류승완; born December 15, 1973) is a South Korean filmmaker. He made his debut in 1996 with the short film Dangerous Head, then worked as a director under director Park Chan-wook, took film lessons, and made his feature film debut with Die Bad (2000). He received the Blue Dragon Film Awards for Best New Director, drawing attention from the film industry. Ryoo Seung-wan is called Korea's "action kid" for his unique action and rough life style.

He has directed films such as Crying Fist (2005), The Unjust (2010), The Berlin File (2013), Veteran (2015), Escape from Mogadishu (2021), and Smugglers (2023).

Early life

Ryoo Seung-wan was born in 1973 in Onyang, a small town in South Chungcheong Province. With the choice of domestic films mostly limited to propaganda and hostess films due to extreme government censorship, young Ryoo often opted for the more kinetic and free-spirited action films from the Shaw Brothers canon. Watching Jackie Chan's Drunken Master turned him into a lifelong fan, and Ryoo spent his youth building his knowledge of and love for Hong Kong-style action films. Dreaming of becoming a film director someday, he took taekwondo lessons and saved lunch money for three years during middle school to buy an 8mm camera, with which he shot short films.[1][2]

Career

Early years

Ryoo became his family's sole breadwinner after he lost his parents while in middle school.[3] He later dropped out of high school in 1992 and worked for six months to raise enough money to cover a year's worth of basic living expenses for his family. After that he joined a private film workshop, and paid his tuition through several part-time jobs: as a construction worker, hotel janitor, vegetable cart driver, and even an instructor at an illegal driving school. Ryoo, a fan of a young unknown director named Park Chan-wook's 1992 debut The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream and his work as a critic, went to meet Park and the two quickly became friends. Those formative years also saw Ryoo's debut as a 'real' director, with the 1996 short Transmutated Head. The 19-minute short's DP was Jang Joon-hwan (then a young film academy student), and it featured many familiar faces in the Korean indie scene, including character actor Heo Jong-soo and Lee Mu-young (future director of The Humanist).[1]

With a few years of experience as assistant director on Whispering Corridors and Park's 1997 film Trio, Ryoo was ready to jumpstart his own career. Ryoo's debut was initially planned as a full-fledged feature film, but various issues forced him to instead shoot separate short films sharing common characters and themes. In 1998 his short film Rumble won him the Best Film at the 1998 Busan Short Film Festival, and a year later he signed a contract to develop a feature film out of Rumble and three following sequels, one of which was his short Modern Man, which was not only the audience's favorite, but also won Best Film at a Short Film Festival in 1999.

From 1996 to 1999, Ryoo shot four low-budget short films starring himself, his younger brother Seung-bum, and several friends. In strikingly diverse styles but with a common narrative, these shorts were re-edited, combined and released in 2000 as Ryoo Seung-wan's feature directorial debut Die Bad. The four shorts, shot on an ultra-low budget of around , became Ryoo's first feature film: Die Bad.[1] In an era when blockbusters like Shiri and Joint Security Area were the rage in Korean cinema, the action dramedy became an instant sensation. Starring in the film himself along with some industry friends and even his little brother Ryoo Seung-bum, Ryoo became an instant cult hit, praised left and right for his masterful debut.[2] Critically acclaimed as powerfully visceral, gut-wrenching, and searingly angry, the film became an instant cult hit, earning attention for the Ryoo brothers.[4] One review described Ryoo Seung-bum's acting debut as "a startling, naturalistic turn,"[5] and he won Best New Actor at the Grand Bell Awards. With his directorial debut, Ryoo became known as the "Action Kid."

With the country experiencing tremendous growth in high-speed Internet penetration, a few companies tried to bank on this momentum by producing online short films. In 2000 the now defunct Cine4M website released a short film by Ryoo alongside Jang Jin's A Terrible Day and Kim Jee-woon's Coming Out.[1] Ryoo Seung-wan's follow-up Dachimawa Lee, titled after industry slang ("tachimawari" is a part of Kabuki theater plays that involve spectacular action scenes), the short Dachimawa Lee was a wild and hilarious a 35-minute short film parodying films he grew up with: Korean action films of the 60s and 70s, Bruce Lee and Shaw Brothers flicks, the machismo kitsch Korean melodramas, and of course Jackie Chan. Coupling over-the-top voice dubbing with deliberately mistimed action, Dachimawa Lee was an enormous success online, making lead actor Im Won-hee a minor star and the Ryoo Brothers even bigger names.[2] Director Ryoo younger brother Seung-bum played Washington, a young thug with a heart of gold and a huge afro. The short, streamed on the now-defunct Cine4M website, was enormously popular online.[6]

Big expectations often lead to equally big disappointments, which is what industry insiders and critics felt about Ryoo's first real feature film, the gritty action noir No Blood No Tears. The film mixed big stars like Jeon Do-yeon with talented actors from the theater world like Jung Jae-young. Joining Director Ryoo once again was his younger brother Seung-bum, who was starting to make a name for himself in the industry independent of his brother. Misunderstood as a Guy Ritchie or Quentin Tarantino clone, Ryoo's film was an exhilarating mix of all the elements that made Die Bad one of the best debuts films in Chungmuro's recent history, but it also added a nasty streak of ultra-realism. The latter was contributed by Jung Doo-hong, occasionally an actor, but better known as the best action choreographer in the country, whose extreme realism balanced Ryoo's more fantasy-oriented cinematic sensibilities. With No Blood No Tears a flop at the box office, it was a difficult period for Ryoo, who clearly felt betrayed by the same people who had put impossible expectations on his shoulders.[2]

After that disappointment, Ryoo collaborated again with Jung Doo-hong and brother Seung-bum, along with newcomer Yoon So-yi. The four embarked on Arahan, part modern-day wuxia and part local comedy. Despite its commercial success, critics still weren't pleased, continuing to lament the loss of Chungmuro's enfant prodige.[2]

It took another two years for Ryoo to come back, but 2005's Crying Fist was in many ways proof he had matured beyond easy labels and traditional genre boundaries. Ryoo was more than just an action kid. Starring acclaimed veteran actor Choi Min-sik, the film saw the official birth of a new star, Ryoo Seung-bum.[7] Steadily impressing critics and audiences since his debut in 2000, Ryoo displayed amazing energy and range in the film, such that he often overshadowed his older, more prestigious colleague. But the real star of Crying Fist was none other than Ryoo Seung-wan. Finally stripping himself from genre tropes, he was able to draw an incredible emotional portrayal of two people winning the most important boxing game of their life: the match against their own inner demons. More a story of survival than a simple sports drama, Crying Fist opened on April 1, 2005, against Ryoo's old friend Kim Jee-woon's A Bittersweet Life, offering one of the best double-headers of 2005. The two films garnered excellent reviews, but ended up canceling each other at the box office, selling a little over a million tickets a piece.[2] [8][9][10][11][unreliable source?]

In 2005, Ryoo established Filmmaker R&K with his wife Kang Hye-jeong.[12][unreliable source?]

After the success of 2003's If You Were Me, South Korea's National Commission on Human Rights commissioned a second omnibus film in 2006, If You Were Me 2. Five directors — Park Kyung-hee, Jang Jin, Jung Ji-woo, Kim Dong-won and Ryoo — contributed short films on a human rights issue of their choosing. Ryoo's short Hey Man! is almost one complete take of a man (Kim Su-yeon) with multiple prejudices that lead him to cast off every one of his "friends" and fellow patrons who are sharing the communal space of a late night restaurant.[13][14]

In 2006 Seoul Art Cinema organized a special program "Anatomy of Violence: Ryoo Seung-wan's Action School" wherein Ryoo selected 10 films to screen and discuss with participants, including five of his own works. The program aimed to better understand the art of action filmmaking.[3]

Waiting to secure funding for his first zombie film Yacha, Ryoo decided to take his friend Jung Doo-hong for another challenge, making one last salute to the pure action flicks he grew up with and gave him his nickname. The two had some acting experience, Jung mostly in Ryoo's films and Ryoo with Die Bad, a supporting role in Lee Chang-dong's Oasis, and a couple of cameos in Park Chan-wook films. But this was another story: for the first time, Jung and Ryoo would be the stars. Produced under CJ Entertainment, The City of Violence is a low-budget HD action film meant to show the potential of the new technology. As Ryoo described it, The City of Violence is like a Jackie Chan-style pure action film with characters from a Chang Cheh film in a world similar to that of Roman Polanski's Chinatown. The film brings to a final duel the two conflicting philosophies of the longtime partners (the Korean title of the film, Jjakpae, means partner). Fantasy and realism, outlandish technique and brutally raw streetfight-style action, combine to form pure cinematic flow.[2][15][unreliable source?]

In 2009 Ryoo directed four mini-movies for the Korea Tourism Organization targeted at the Chinese market. Each movie tells a story that represents the beauty of Korea's travel locations through four themes: Hallyu (Korean movies and dramas), food, shopping and trendy places to visit like Hongdae or Cheongdam-dong. The tourism commercials starred Gao Yuanyuan and Li Guangjie as a Chinese couple, with cameos by Song Seung-heon, Park Hae-jin and Park Eun-hye.[16][17][18]

Then to promote the release of Motorola's new model MOTO Klassic, Ryoo wrote and directed a 22-minute short film starring American-born Japanese martial arts star Kane Kosugi and action choreographer Jung Doo-hong. Titled Timeless and set at Jung's stunt school, the mockumentary-style short eschews the use of CGI in fight scenes and advances the return to old school action.[19][20][unreliable source?]

2010–present

His 2010 film The Unjust, a tale about corruption among policemen and prosecutors, received rave reviews for its seamless storytelling interspersed with action sequences, social commentary and powerhouse performances from Hwang Jung-min and brother Seung-bum.[21][22] It was successful at the box office with more than 2.7 million tickets sold, landing it on that year's top ten box office list.

Ryoo's next movie The Berlin File was an espionage thriller about a North Korean spy who is betrayed and cut loose when a weapons deal is exposed. While preparing for the film, Ryoo met with several North Korean defectors and shot the documentary Spies for Korean broadcaster MBC as part of a special series that aired in 2011, intending "to make a realistic, fast-paced, Korean-style espionage action film about South Korean agents discovering North Korea's secret accounts and how political dynamics between the two Koreas get involved." Ryoo said he wanted the film to be reminiscent of The Bourne Identity, and on an emotional level, to focus on the solitude and sorrow of those who live as secret agents.[23] It was shot almost 100% on location in Europe, namely in Berlin, Germany, and Riga, Latvia. The film attracted 7.17 million admissions in early 2013 to become the all-time highest-grossing Korean action film.[24] But because of its big budget, it barely broke even commercially. Ryoo later said that the picture failed to fully connect with younger audiences which know little of the Cold War era, and that "after making such an expensive film, (his) take-away was that (he) needed to make a cheaper one."[25]

In 2015, Ryoo wrote and directed Veteran, an action film about an amoral and powerful third-generation business tycoon doggedly pursued by a detective investigating the mysterious injuries of a truck driver.

Ryoo said, "Because (the movie) is about the world I know and the story about people I know, it was comfortable for me. [...] But my feeling comfortable doesn't mean that the work is easy. It just means that I'm comfortable (working out the troubles). [...] I didn't want the movie to be based on personal revenge, and I want it to show how a person gets justice through the legal system."[26]
Made with a modest budget of , Veteran became a huge blockbuster at the South Korean box office, attracting 13.3 million admissions and earning US$89.7 million. It is the biggest hit of Ryoo's career and currently the 5th all-time highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history.[27]

His next project was The Battleship Island, set on Hashima Island, an outlying island abandoned by Japan off the coast of Nagasaki, where countless Koreans were drafted into forced labor during World War II. The film follows a group of American OSS agents and Korean independence fighters on a mission to evacuate a key Korean figure from the island.[28]

In 2021, Ryoo directed Escape from Mogadishu, a film based on real events of the Somali Civil War in the 1990s. It depicted details of perilous escape attempt made by North and South Korean embassy personnel stranded during the conflict.[29] The film made with production cost of ₩24 billion was entirely shot in Morocco.[30] It was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[31]

Filmmaking

Ryoo Seung-wan is called Korea's 'action kid' for his unique action and rough life style. Ryoo has cited 1970s American cinema as a primary inspiration for his work, specifically naming Martin Scorsese and Brian De Palma as major influences. He has expressed particular admiration for De Palma’s thriller and gangster films, including Sisters (1972), Scarface (1983), Raising Cain (1992), and Carlito's Way (1993). His appreciation for the era extends to the "tough guy" films of Lee Marvin, such as Point Blank (1967) and Prime Cut (1972), as well as the classical work of John Boorman, specifically Deliverance (1972). Within South Korean cinema, Ryoo views Park Chan-wook as both a mentor and a frequent collaborator. He also credits directors Lee Chang-dong and Bong Joon-ho as significant influences. He has highlighted Lee Doo-yong’s 1980 film The Last Witness as a particularly impactful work.[32]

Ryoo frequently collaborated with film editor Nam Na-yeong. She has edited films Arahan, The City of Violence, and Crying Fist.

Ryoo is known for frequently casting the same actors, including his brother Ryoo Seung-bum, Hwang Jung-min, and Zo In-sung.

Personal life

Ryoo met Kang Hye-jung in the Independent Film Council workshop. Ryoo was working as a workshop assistant, and they started dating after collaborating on a project.[33] In 1997, Ryoo married Kang after 4 years of dating. They have three children together. As of 2017, their eldest daughter is in the third grade of high school, while their two sons are in the second grade of middle school and the sixth grade of elementary school.[34]

Filmography

Feature films

Feature films credits
YearTitleCredited asRef.
EnglishKoreanDirectorWriterProducer
1997Trio3인조
1998Whispering Corridors여고괴담
1999Dr. K닥터 K
2000Die Bad죽거나 혹은 나쁘거나[35]
2002No Blood No Tears피도 눈물도 없이[36]
2004Arahan아라한 장풍대작전[37]
2005Crying Fist주먹이 운다[38]
2006The City of Violence짝패[39]
2008Dachimawa Lee다찌마와 리: 악인이여 지옥행 급행열차를 타라![40]
2010Troubleshooter해결사[41]
The Unjust부당거래[42]
2013The Berlin File베를린[43]
2015Veteran베테랑[44]
2017The Battleship Island군함도[45]
2021Escape from Mogadishu모가디슈[46]
2023Smugglers밀수[47]
2024I, the Executioner베테랑2[48]
2026Humint휴민트[49]

Short films

YearTitleCredited asRef.
EnglishKoreanDirectorWriterProducerCameo
1996Transmutated Head변질헤드[50]
1999Rumble패싸움[51]
Our Contemporaries현대인[52]
2000Dachimawa Lee다찌마와 LEE[53]
2006Hey Man
short film from If You Were Me 2		남자니까 아시잖아요?[54]
2009Come to Korea
KTO mini-movie
tourism commercials		한국 놀러오세요[55]
Timeless
MotoKlassic short film		[56]
2011Spies
MBC documentary
2013Behind the Camera
2014Ghost
short film from Mad Sad Bad		신촌좀비만화[57]

Producing credits

YearTitleDirectorNotesRef.
EnglishKorean
2013TASTEmakers Film ProjectShort film
2014One Summer Night인생은 새옹지마Kim Tae-yongShort film[58]
2019Svaha: The Sixth Finger사바하Jang Jae-hyun[59]
Exit엑시트Lee Sang-geun[60]
Start-Up시동Choi Jung-yeol[61]
2023Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman천박사 퇴마 연구소: 설경의 비밀Kim Seong-sik
2025Pretty Crazy악마가 이사왔다Lee Sang-geun[62]

Cameos

YearTitleRole
EnglishKorean
1997Trio3인조Musical instrument store clerk
2000Die Bad죽거나 혹은 나쁘거나Seok-hwan
2002Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance복수는 나의 것Chinese restaurant delivery man
Oasis오아시스Hong Jong-se
2005Lady Vengeance친절한 금자씨Passerby
2006The City of Violence짝패Yoo Seok-hwan
2008Dachimawa Lee다찌마와 리: 악인이여 지옥행 급행열차를 타라!Voice only
2010Battlefield Heroes평양성Commando captain 1
2011Mama마마Musical director
2013Top Star톱스타Jeonju Film Festival VIP Role
2014Gyeongju경주Teacher Kang

Music videos

YearTitleArtistCredited as DirectorRef.
2002"Dust"Dragonfly
2007"Ballerino"Leessang
2009"The Girl Who Can't Break Up, The Boy Who Can't Leave"

Recurring cast members

Ryoo frequently re-casts actors whom he has worked with on previous films.

Recurring cast members in Ryoo's directed works
Die Bad
No Blood No Tears
Arahan
Crying Fist
The City of Violence
Dachimawa Lee
The Unjust
The Berlin File
Veteran
The Battleship Island
Escape from Mogadishu
Smugglers
I, the Executioner
Humint

Accolades

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2000Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest New DirectorDie Bad
201013th Director's Cut AwardsBest DirectorThe Unjust[63][64]
20112nd Seoul Art and Culture AwardsBest Film Director[65][66][67]
47th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Film
Best Director
20th Buil Film AwardsBest Film[68][69][unreliable source?]
Best Director
44th Sitges Film FestivalBest Film (Casa Asia section)[70][71]
48th Grand Bell AwardsBest Film
Best Director
32nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Film[72][73][74][75]
Best Director
201349th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest FilmThe Berlin File[76][77]
Best Director
22nd Buil Film AwardsBest Director
Best Screenplay
34th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Film
Best Director
201548th Sitges Film FestivalCasa Asia Award
(Asia Focus - Best Film)		Veteran[70][78]
35th Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest Film[79][80]
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Top 10 Films of the Year
15th Korea World Youth Film FestivalMost Favorite Film Director
52nd Grand Bell AwardsBest Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
36th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Film[81]
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Cine 21 Movie AwardsBest Director
2nd Korean Film Producers Association AwardsBest Director
20167th KOFRA Film AwardsBest Director
11th Max Movie AwardsBest Film
Best Director
Best Poster
10th Asian Film AwardsBest Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
52nd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Film
Best Director (Film)
Best Screenplay (Film)
25th Buil Film AwardsBest Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
n1st The Seoul AwardsBest FilmThe Battleship Island[82][83]
Sitges Film FestivalBest Feature-length Film[84]
37th Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsTop 10 Films[85]
23rd Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest Director[86]
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest FilmEscape from Mogadishu[87][88]
Best Director
Best Screenplay[a]
42nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Film[89][90][91][92]
Best Director
Best Screenplay[a]
Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest Director[93]
8th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest Film[94]
202258th Baeksang Arts AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang)– Film[b][95][96][97]
Best Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay[a]
FantasportoBest Orient Express Film[98][99]
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2022Best Director[100][101][102]
Best Screenplay[a]
202332nd Buil Film AwardsBest DirectorSmugglers[103][full citation needed]
Best Film
44th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Film[104]
Best Director
59th Grand Bell AwardsBest Film[105][full citation needed]
Best Director
202460th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Director[106]

State honors

Name of country, year given, and name of honor
CountryCeremonyYearHonor Or AwardRef.
South KoreaKorean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[c]2013Presidential Commendation[107]

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
PublisherYearListiclePlacementRef.
Cine212015Film Director of the Year1st[108]

Notes

  1. ^ Ryoo Seung-wan and Lee Ki-cheol
  2. ^ A Daesang (), which translates to "Grand Prize", is the highest honor given out at South Korean award ceremonies.
  3. ^ Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[109][110] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[111]

See also

References

  1. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 다찌마와 리 (Dajjimawa Lee)". Twitch Film. 7 March 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  2. ^ "Ryoo Seung Wan: Korea's Action Kid". YesAsia. October 5, 2006. Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. ^ Park, Soo-mee (27 April 2006). "Film director teaches art of action genre". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived January 27, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  4. ^ "Ryoo Seung Wan: Korea's Action Kid". YesAsia. 5 October 2006. Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  5. ^ Kim, Kyu Hyun. "Die Bad". Koreanfilm.org. Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  6. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 다찌마와 리 (Dajjimawa Lee)". Twitch Film. 7 March 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  7. ^ Rowland, Sarah (30 June 2005). "Ring leader". Montreal Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  8. ^ Noh, James (19 February 2005). "Crying Fist to Premiere in April: Two Ordinary Men on the Brink Fight for Their Lives". The Seoul Times. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  9. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (17 March 2005). "'Crying Fist' Depicts Fight for Hope". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  10. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 주먹이 운다 (Crying Fist)". Twitch Film. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  11. ^ Kim, Kyu Hyun (7 February 2006). "Crying Fist". OhmyNews International. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  12. ^ "ko:류승완 감독의 오늘을 있게 한 이 영화, 기억하시나요" (in Korean). OhmyStar. 2023-11-28. Archived 2024-02-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  13. ^ "If You Were Me 2". IndieStory. Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  14. ^ Hartzell, Adam. "If You Were Me 2". Koreanfilm.org. Archived 2011-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  15. ^ Kim, Kyu Hyun (5 February 2008). "City of Violence: Lean and Mean". OhmyNews International. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  16. ^ Lee, Joo-hee (16 September 2009). "Mini promo movies hit China". The Korea Herald via FilmContact. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  17. ^ Kang, Seung-hun (22 September 2009). "Hallyu star Song to promote Korean tourism". Asiae. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  18. ^ "Gao Yuanyuan: Follow Me in South Korea". CriEnglish. 5 August 2009. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  19. ^ "Ryu Seung-Wan's Timeless is Online!". Twitch Film. 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  20. ^ Valentin, Albert (29 July 2010). "TIMELESS (2009)". The Martial Connection. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  21. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (18 November 2010). "INTERVIEW: Director Ryoo Seung-wan - Part 1". Asiae. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  22. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (18 November 2010). "INTERVIEW: Director Ryoo Seung-wan - Part 2". Asiae. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  23. ^ Ju, Sung-chul (9 November 2011). "Four leading Korean directors working on overseas projects". Korea Cinema Today. Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  24. ^ "The Berlin File Becomes Korea's Top Action Movie". The Chosun Ilbo. 5 March 2013. Archived 2013-03-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  25. ^ Frater, Patrick (2 October 2015). "Busan: Ryoo Seung-wan Lines up Sequels to Veteran and The Berlin File". Variety. Archived 2015-10-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  26. ^ Kim, Yeon-ji (6 August 2015). "Director has hope for film industry". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived 2018-10-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  27. ^ "Veteran Keeps Setting New Records". The Chosun Ilbo. 5 October 2015. Archived 21 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  28. ^ Lim, Jeong-yeo (30 September 2015). "Gunhamdo, director Ryoo's next film, to begin shooting next summer". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  29. ^ Kim Ji-hye (June 14, 2021). "'모가디슈' 기대감 높은 이유…류승완의 연출력X덱스터의 기술력" [Reasons for high expectations for 'Mogadishu'... Ryoo Seung-wan's directing ability X Dexter's technology]. SBS Entertainment News. Naver. Archived October 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  30. ^ Jo Ji-young (June 14, 2021). "[SC초점] '발신제한'→'블랙 위도우'→'모가디슈'까지 여름 텐트폴 완성, 극장 떠난 관객 돌아올까" [[SC Focus] Summer tent poles from 'Send Restriction' → 'Black Widow' → 'Mogadishu', will the audience return from the theater?] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Naver. Archived October 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  31. ^ 스타뉴스 (2021-10-05). "'모가디슈' 아카데미 국제장편영화 韓영화 대표 선정 [공식]" (in Korean). 스타뉴스. Archived 2022-04-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  32. ^ "KOFFLA 2010: Interview with Ryoo Seung-Wan". ScreenAnarchy. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  33. ^ Kang Min-jung. "ko:최동훈·안수현, 류승완·강혜정..'암살'·'베테랑'이 터트린 부부의 잭팟" [Choi Dong-hoon, Ahn Soo-hyun, Ryu Seung-wan, Kang Hye-jung..' The couple's jackpot exploded by the 'Assassination' and 'Veteran'] (in Korean). E-daily. Retrieved 2024-01-29. – via Naver
  34. ^ Kim, Si-kyun (2017-08-02). "ko:"영화로 자주 다퉈도 서로에게 버팀목 아이가 셋이라 각방 쓸 공간 없어요"" ["Even if we often arressed about movies, there is no room for each room because there are three children who support each other."] (in Korean). Maeil Business. Retrieved 2024-01-29. – via Naver
  35. ^ "KMDb - Die Bad (Jukkeona Hogeun Nappeugeona)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  36. ^ Elley, Derek (2002-05-15). "No Blood No Tears". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  37. ^ "KMDb - Arahan (Arahan Jangpung Dae-jakjeon)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  38. ^ "KMDb - Crying Fist (Jumeog-i Unda)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  39. ^ "KMDb - The City of Violence (Jjak-pae)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  40. ^ "KMDb - Dachimawa Lee (Dajjimawa Ri : Aginiyeo Jiokhaeng Geuphaengyeolchareul Tara)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  41. ^ "KMDb - Troubleshooter (Haegyeolsa)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  42. ^ "KMDb - The Unjust (Budanggeorae)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  43. ^ "KMDb - The Berlin File (Be-reul-rin)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  44. ^ "KMDb - Veteran". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  45. ^ "KMDb - The Battleship Island (Gun-ham-do)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  46. ^ "KMDb - Escape from Mogadishu (Mo-ga-di-shu)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  47. ^ "KMDb - Smugglers (Milsu)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  48. ^ "The films of the Official Selection 2024". Festival de Cannes. 2024-04-11. Archived 2024-04-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  49. ^ Jo Yeon-kyung (December 23, 2025). "ko:류승완 감독 신작 등판…조인성·박정민 '휴민트' 2월 11일 개봉" [Director Ryoo Seung-wan's new film, "Humint," starring Zo In-sung and Park Jung-min, opens on February 11th] (in Korean). Nate. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  50. ^ "KMDb - Transmutated Head (Byeonjil hedeu)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  51. ^ "KMDb - Rumble (Paessaum)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  52. ^ "KMDb - Our Contemporaries (Hyeondaein)". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  53. ^ "KMDb - Dachimawa Lee". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  54. ^ "KMDb - Hey Man (Namja-nikka Ah-shi-janayo)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  55. ^ "KMDb - A". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  56. ^ "KMDb - Time". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  57. ^ "KMDb - MAD SAD BAD (sin-chon-jom-bi-man-hwa)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  58. ^ "KMDb - One Summer Night (Insaeng-eun Saeohngjima)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  59. ^ "KMDb - Svaha : The Sixth Finger (Sa-ba-ha)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  60. ^ "KMDb - Exit". Korean Movie Database. Archived 2024-01-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  61. ^ "KMDb - Start-Up (Si-dong)". Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  62. ^ Bae Hyo-joo (May 21, 2024). "ko:임윤아-류승완 감독, 칸에서 깜짝 만남 왜? "'베테랑2'X'악마가 이사왔다'"" [Why did Lim Yoon-ah and director Ryu Seung-wan meet in Cannes? "'Veteran 2'X'The Devil Has Moved In'"] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived June 13, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  63. ^ "ko:류승완, 감독들이 주는 감독상 수상 "날 뽑고 싶었다" 소감" (in Korean). Newsen. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  64. ^ "ko:감독의, 감독에 의한, 감독을 위한 영화 시상식! 제13회 디렉터스 컷 어워즈" (in Korean). Movist. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  65. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (15 February 2011). "Rain, Girls Generation win Seoul Art Awards". The Korea Times. Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  66. ^ Kim, Heidi (15 February 2011). "Rain, Girls' Generation, Lee Beom-soo to receive arts & culture award". 10Asia. Archived 2022-05-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  67. ^ "Rain, Jeon Do Yeon, and Lee Bum Soo to Win at Seoul 2011 Art Awards". KBS Global. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  68. ^ "ko:수상작 소개". Busan Ilbo
  69. ^ "Ryu Seung Bum and Jung Yoo Mi Win Best Actor and Actress at 20th Buil Film Awards". Soompi. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  70. ^ Hong, Lucia (17 October 2011). "Several Korean movies score wins at Spain film festival". 10Asia. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  71. ^ "2011 Awards: Red State, Best motion picture". Sitges News. 15 October 2011. Archived 2011-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  72. ^ Lee, Claire (27 November 2011). "The Unjust Best picture at Blue Dragon Awards". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  73. ^ Lee, In-kyung (26 November 2011). "The Unjust Wins Top Honors at Blue Dragon Film Awards". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  74. ^ Hong, Lucia (28 November 2011). "Korean pic The Unjust wins big at the 32nd Blue Dragon Awards". 10Asia. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  75. ^ "The Unjust takes top prize at Blue Dragon Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. 29 November 2011. Archived 2023-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  76. ^ Conran, Pierce (9 April 2013). "49th PaekSang Arts Awards Nominations Revealed". Korean Film Council. Archived 2023-10-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  77. ^ Hicap, Jonathan M. (5 April 2013). "49th Baeksang Arts Awards nominees revealed". Manila Bulletin. Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  78. ^ "Veteran Wins Award at Sitges Fest in Spain". The Chosun Ilbo. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  79. ^ Park, So-jung (28 October 2015). "The Throne rakes in three film critics' awards". Yonhap. Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  80. ^ Conran, Pierce (2 November 2015). "THE THRONE Tops Korean Association of Film Critics Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  81. ^ Kil, Sonia (26 November 2015). "Korea's Blue Dragon Spreads Awards Heat Between Hit Movies and Indie Titles". Variety. Archived 12 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  82. ^ "ko:‘[더서울어워즈] '비밀의 숲'·'박열', 대상 수상…반박 불가 ★들의 잔치(종합) 본문듣기 설정" (in Korean). Archived 2017-10-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  83. ^ "ko:'서울어워즈' 송강호·나문희·지성·박보영 주연상…·'박열'·'비숲' 대상[종합]" (in Korean). TV Report. October 27, 2017. Archived October 28, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  84. ^ "The Battleship Island wins award in Spain's Sitges Film Festival". October 15, 2017. Archived 2017-10-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  85. ^ "THE FORTRESS Dominates 37th Korean Film Critics Association Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. October 30, 2017.
  86. ^ "ko:제23회 춘사영화제 5월18일 개최..홍상수·김민희 참석하나" (in Korean). Newsen. May 3, 2018. Archived April 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  87. ^ Jo Young-mi (August 26, 2021). "모가디슈' ·'자산어보' 13개 부문 중 8개 부문 후보에 올라" [Mogadishu’ and ‘Jasaneobo’ were nominated for 8 out of 13 categories] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo. Naver. Archived August 29, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  88. ^ Kim No-eul (October 7, 2021). "'모가디슈' 작품상 포함 6관왕→유아인·전종서 주연상 쾌거(종합)[2021 부일영화상]" ['Mogadishu' 6 awards including Best Picture → Yoo Ah-in and Jeon Jong-seo's Best Leading Achievement (Comprehensive) [2021 Buil Film Awards]] (in Korean). Newsen. Naver. Archived October 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  89. ^ Jeong Hyung-hwa (November 1, 2021). "42회 청룡영화상 11월26일 개최..'모가디슈' 최다 후보" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards held on November 26th... Most nominations for 'Mogadishu'] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  90. ^ Kim Nara (November 1, 2021). "ko:[제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식]" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Naver. Archived November 1, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  91. ^ Jina Son (November 26, 2021). "구교환·송중기·전여빈·임윤아, 인기상 수상 [제42회 청룡영화상]" [Koo Gwan-hwa, Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-bin, Lim Yoon-ah, Popularity Award [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards]] (in Korean). MK Sports. Naver. Archived October 13, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  92. ^ Han Hyun-jung (November 26, 2021). "'모가디슈', '청룡' 작품상 등 5관왕…설경구·문소리 주연상[종합]" [5 crowns including Best Picture for 'Mogadishu' and 'Blue Dragon'... Seol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri Best Leading Actor [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Star Today. Naver. Archived July 3, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  93. ^ Kim Yu-jin (November 10, 2021). "설경구·문소리, 제41회 영평상 남녀주연상…'자산어보' 최우수작품상 [종합]" [Seol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri, 41st Youngpyeong Awards Best Actress... 'Jasaneobo' Best Picture [General]] (in Korean). Export News. Naver. Archived September 24, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  94. ^ Lee Jae-Hoon (December 6, 2021). "'모가디슈', 영화제작가협회상 작품상…고두심·설경구 주연상" ['Mogadishu' wins Best Picture at the Film Producers Association... Go Doo-shim and Seol Kyung-gu Best Actor] (in Korean). Newsis. Naver. Archived December 6, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  95. ^ "제 58회 백상예술대상" [58 Nominees · Works] (in Korean). Baeksang Arts Awards. April 11, 2022. Archived April 28, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  96. ^ Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). "58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개…영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Naver. Archived May 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  97. ^ Park Seo-yeon (May 6, 2022). "[제58회 백상]'모가디슈' 류승완-'오겜' 대상 영예..이준호X김태리 '2관왕'(종합)" [[58th Baeksang] 'Mogadishu' Ryu Seung-wan - 'Ogem' Grand Prize ... Jun-ho Lee X Tae-ri Kim 'Two Crowns' (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Naver. Archived October 13, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  98. ^ Oh Bo-ram (translation by Kim Sun Min) (April 13, 2022). "'Escape from Mogadishu' wins Best Orient Express Film award at Fantasporto International Film Festival". Yonhap News Agency. K-Odyssey. Archived April 13, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  99. ^ Oh Bo-ram (April 13, 2022). "'모가디슈', 판타스포르토 국제영화제 아시아 작품상" ['Mogadishu' wins Best Asian Picture at Fantasporto International Film Festival] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Naver. Archived April 14, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  100. ^ "ko:후보자(후보작) 리스트" [Candidate (Nominations) List] (in Korean). Chunsa Film Festival. August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  101. ^ "ko:후보자(후보작) 리스트" [Chunsa International Film Festival Award/Invited List] (in Korean). Daum. October 1, 2022. Archived December 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  102. ^ "ko:수상자(수상작) 리스트" [List of winners (award winners)] (in Korean). Chunsa Film Festival. October 1, 2022. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  103. ^ Nam, Yoo-jung & Lee, Woo-young (2023-08-27). "ko:누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?] (in Korean). Naver News. Archived 2023-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  104. ^ "ko:'제44회 청룡영화상' 최종 후보작 및 후보자 발표…'밀수', '콘크리트 유토피아' 최다 노미네이트 - 한국사진방송 대한민국예술-" ['44th Blue Dragon Film Award' finalist and candidate announcement... 'Smilk', 'Concrete Utopia' most nominations - Korea Photo Broadcasting Korea Arts-]. koreaarttv.com. 2023-10-06. Archived 2023-11-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  105. ^ Ha-neul Lee (October 24, 2023). "ko:제59회 대종상영화제, 남우주연상→여우주연상 후보 및 각 부문별 선정" [59th Grand Bell Awards, Best Actor → Best Actress Award nominations and selection in each category] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Naver. Archived November 1, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  106. ^ Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). "ko:60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개" [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived April 8, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 23, 2024. – via Naver
  107. ^ "ko:대중문화예술상 2013년" [2013 Popular Culture and Arts Awards] (in Korean). Korea Creative Content Agency. Archived 2022-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  108. ^ "ko:올해의 영화감독" [Film Director of the year] (in Korean). Cine21. 2015-12-28. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  109. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (October 18, 2018). "BTS, Red Velvet win at Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived October 18, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  110. ^ Yeo, Ye-rim (October 25, 2018). "BTS gets award upon their return home". Yonhap News Agency. Archived November 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2021. – via Korea JoongAng Daily
  111. ^ Lee, Sang-won (October 25, 2016). "Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announces winners". The Korea Herald. Archived September 29, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2021.