Veteran Master Yu Hyun-mok Dies at 83

Actor Park Shin-yang carries the portrait of deceased director Yu Hyun-mok.

One of Korea’s greatest director’s in the first golden age of Korean cinema, Yu Hyun-mok passed away June 28, days away from his 84th birthday. The director is perhaps known best for his early milestone “The Aimless Bullet” (1961), often hailed by local critics as the best Korean film of all time. Yu died from a cerebral infarction.

Other classics of the 60s for which his is known include the literary adaptations “Daughters of the Kim Pharmacy” (1963), “Martyr” (1965) and “The Guests Who Came on the Last Train” (1967). Yu’s intellectual approach to filmmaking and his astute critical eye resulted in a rich filmography that still has contemporary relevance.

Thirst director Park Chan-wook and actor Song Kang-ho attended the funeral procession.

He was a director capable of a range of styles from neo-realist to expressionist and modernist. Beginning his career in the 50s with his debut feature “The Crossroad” (1956), Yu remained active into the 70s and 80s, producing some 40 films including acclaimed gems such as “A Flame” (1975), “Rainy Days” (1979) and “Son of Man” (1980).

Besides his directing activities, he has taught film, and made a significant contribution to Korean animation by producing Kim Cheong-gi’s 1976 animated film, Robot Taekwon V. A retrospective of Yu’s career was held at the 4th Pusan International Film Festival in 1999.

His final film was “Mommy, Star and Sea Anemone” (1995). He is remembered along with fellow film artists who made their debut in the 50s, Kim Ki-young and Shin Sang-ok. Yu was born in 1925 in Sariwon, Hwanghae Province, in what is now North Korea. He is survived by wife and artist Park Geun-ja.

Source:  KOFIC , Wikipedia

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