1. Life
Kwak Ji-kyoon's life was marked by his dedication to filmmaking, but also by personal struggles that ultimately led to his untimely death.
1.1. Birth and Background
Kwak Ji-kyoon was born Kwak Jung-kyoon on November 10, 1954, in Daejeon, South Korea.
1.2. Death
Kwak Ji-kyoon died on May 25, 2010, at his home in Daejeon, South Korea, at the age of 55. His death was reported as a suicide, caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from burning briquettes. According to reports, he had been suffering from depression for approximately 10 years prior to his death. A suicide note found on his laptop expressed his distress, stating, "I am troubled and difficult because I have no work." His passing highlighted the significant mental health challenges faced by individuals in the film industry, often exacerbated by periods of unemployment and professional uncertainty.
2. Education
Kwak Ji-kyoon pursued his education with a focus on film, laying the groundwork for his future career. He graduated from Daejeon High School as part of its 52nd class. Following high school, he furthered his studies at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, where he majored in the Film Department.
3. Career
Kwak Ji-kyoon's career in the film industry spanned several decades, during which he contributed as an assistant director, screenwriter, and director, leaving a notable mark on South Korean cinema.
3.1. Early Career and Debut
Kwak Ji-kyoon began his involvement in the film industry in the late 1970s, initially working as an assistant director on various projects. His early assistant director credits include So Close Yet Far (1978), When Sadness Takes Over a Wave (1978), Yeosu (The Loneliness of the Journey) (1979), Tomorrow After Tomorrow (1979), The Divine Bow (1979), Mrs. Speculator (1980), The Hidden Hero (1980), Mandala (1981), Tears of the Idol (1982), As Firm As A Stone (1983), and Deep Blue Night (1985). He also worked as part of the production staff for That Winter Was Warm (1984) and contributed as a screenwriter for Deer Hunting (1984). His directorial debut came in 1986 with the film Winter Wanderer.
3.2. Major Directing and Screenplay Works
Kwak Ji-kyoon made significant contributions as both a director and screenwriter throughout his career. His directorial works often explored themes of youth, love, and societal issues.
His major directorial works include:
- Winter Wanderer (1986)
- The Home of Two Women (1987)
- Wound (1989)
- Long After That (1989)
- Portrait of the Days of Youth (1991)
- The Woman Who Won't Divorce (1992)
- Rosy Days (1994)
- Deep Blue (1997)
- Plum Blossom (2000)
- Fly High (2006)
Kwak Ji-kyoon also held screenwriting or adaptation credits for several films, including:
- Tanya (1982) - adaptation
- Deer Hunting (1984) - screenplay
- Woman Who Held the Pole (1984) - adaptation
- The Home of Two Women (1987) - screenplay
- Walk to the Sky (1992) - adaptation
- Deep Blue (1997) - screenplay, adaptation
- Plum Blossom (2000) - screenplay
- Fly High (2006) - screenplay, adaptation
4. Awards and Honors
Kwak Ji-kyoon's talent and contributions to South Korean cinema were recognized with several prestigious awards:
- 1986: 6th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards - Best New Director for Winter Wanderer
- 1986: 25th Grand Bell Awards - Best New Director for Winter Wanderer
- 1991: 29th Grand Bell Awards - Best Director for Portrait of the Days of Youth
- 1991: 29th Grand Bell Awards - Best Film for Portrait of the Days of Youth
- 1992: 30th Grand Bell Awards - Best Adapted Screenplay for Walk to the Sky