View source for Lee Chang-dong

{{Short description|South Korean film director (born 1954)}}
{{family name hatnote|Lee||lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lee Chang-dong
| image              = Lee Chang-dong 2010.jpg
| caption            = Lee at 2010 [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1954|7|4}}
| birth_place        = [[Daegu]], South Korea
| years_active       = 1997–present
| occupation         = Film director, screenwriter
| alma_mater         = [[Kyungpook National University]] (1981)
| spouse             = 
| children           = 
| honours            = [[File:Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|40px]] [[Legion of Honour]] - Knight (2006)
| module             = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes
| hangul       = %이창동
| hanja        = 李滄東
}}
| signature          = Lee Chang-Dong.svg
}}

'''Lee Chang-dong''' ({{Korean|hangul=이창동}}; born July 4, 1954)<ref name=":0" /> is a South Korean [[film director]], [[screenwriter]], and [[novelist]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Korean Writers The Novelists|publisher=Minumsa Press|year=2005|page=156}}</ref> He has directed six [[feature film]]s: ''[[Green Fish]]'' (1997), ''[[Peppermint Candy (film)|Peppermint Candy]]'' (1999), ''[[Oasis (2002 film)|Oasis]]'' (2002), ''[[Secret Sunshine]]'' (2007), ''[[Poetry (film)|Poetry]]'' (2010), and ''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]'' (2018). ''Burning'' became the first Korean film to make it to the [[91st Academy Awards]]' final nine-film shortlist for [[Best Foreign Language Film]]. ''Burning'' also won the [[International Federation of Film Critics#FIPRESCI Award|Fipresci International Critics' Prize]] at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival|71st Cannes Film Festival]], [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] in [[2018 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association]], and [[Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] in [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2018|Toronto Film Critics Association]].

Lee has won [[Silver Lion]] for Best Director and [[International Federation of Film Critics#FIPRESCI Award|Fipresci International Critics' Prize]] at the [[59th Venice International Film Festival|2002 Venice Film Festival]] and the [[Best Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Screenplay Award]] at the [[2010 Cannes Film Festival]]. He also won the award for Achievement in Directing at the 4th [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]] in 2017,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-nominees-winners?nomination-winner-name=nominee&apsa-year-name=2017|title=APSA Nominees and Winners|work=[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]|date=November 23, 2017|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215230622/https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-nominees-winners?nomination-winner-name=nominee&apsa-year-name=2017|url-status=live}}</ref> [[APSA Jury Grand Prize|Jury Grand Prize]] at the 2018 [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]], [[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[13th Asian Film Awards]] in 2019,<ref name="Chow">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/shoplifters-wins-best-picture-asian-film-awards-1203165194/|title='Shoplifters' Wins Best Picture at Asian Film Awards|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Vivienne|last=Chow|date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 17, 2019|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130214433/https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/shoplifters-wins-best-picture-asian-film-awards-1203165194/|url-status=live}}</ref> and he has been nominated for the [[Golden Lion]] and the [[Palme d'Or]]. Lee served as South Korea's [[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea)|Minister of Culture and Tourism]] from 2003 to 2004.

==Early life==
Lee Chang-dong was born in [[Daegu]], South Korea. He graduated in 1981 with a degree in Korean Literature from [[Kyungpook National University]] in Daegu, where he spent much of his time in the theater, writing and directing plays. He went on to teach high school Korean and established himself as a novelist with his first novel ''Chonri'' in 1983.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
Lee had no formal training in filmmaking. He was approached by [[Park Kwang-su]] to write the screenplay for ''[[To the Starry Island]].'' Lee negotiated an [[assistant director]] (AD) position as part of the deal and was promoted to first AD on the first day of the shoot when the original first AD failed to show up. The film was released in 1993.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="역사속의 오늘 이창동 베니스영화제 감독상">{{cite web|url=http://news.imaeil.com/NewestAll/2008090806531160170|script-title=ko:[역사속의 오늘] 이창동 베니스영화제 감독상|date=September 8, 2008|work=[[Maeil Shinmun]]|language=ko|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108113031/http://news.imaeil.com/NewestAll/2008090806531160170|url-status=live}}</ref> He later wrote ''[[A Single Spark]]'' in 1995, which won Best Film at the 1995 [[Blue Dragon Film Awards]].<ref name="역사속의 오늘 이창동 베니스영화제 감독상"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=015&aid=0000547041|title=['오아시스' 베니스 영화제 감독상 쾌거] 수상소감 : 감독상 이창동|date=September 9, 2002|work=[[The Korea Economic Daily]]|language=ko|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>

After his contemporaries encouraged him to finally step behind the director's chair, Lee made ''[[Green Fish]]'', a "critique of Korean society told through the eyes of a young man who becomes enmeshed in the criminal underworld",<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news|url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=191510|title=Director Profile|publisher=NY Times/Allmovie|access-date=2006-10-07|first=A. O.|last=Scott|archive-date=2003-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030827171637/http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=191510|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1997. ''Green Fish'' won Best Film at [[Blue Dragon Film Awards]], [[Dragons and Tigers Award]] at the [[Vancouver International Film Festival]] and [[NETPAC Award]]'s Special Mention at the [[Rotterdam International Film Festival]].

In 2000, Lee made ''[[Peppermint Candy (film)|Peppermint Candy]]'', chronicling a single man in reverse chronology through 20 years of South Korean history—from the student demonstrations of the 1980s to the film's 2000 release. The movie won the Special Jury Prize at [[Bratislava International Film Festival]] and three awards at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] including the Don Quixote Award, Special Jury Prize and NETPAC Award. The film also won Best Film at the [[Grand Bell Awards]] of Korea.

In 2002, Lee released ''[[Oasis (2002 film)|Oasis]]'' about a mentally ill man and a woman with cerebral palsy, winning the [[Silver Lion]] for Best Director at the 2003 [[Venice Film Festival]]. ''Oasis'' was the Korean entry for [[Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[75th Academy Awards]]. In 2003, it got the Chief Dan George Humanitarian Award at the [[Vancouver International Film Festival]] and the [[Venice International Film Festival]]'s Special Director's Award, [[FIPRESCI Prize]] and [[SIGNIS]] Award. Lee won the [[Baeksang Arts Award]] for Best Director. ''Oasis'' was nominated at the 2005 [[Independent Spirit Awards]] for Best Foreign Film.

From 2003-04, Lee was his country's minister of culture and tourism. On the political appointment, he said:
{{cquote|text=At the time of President [[Roh Moo-hyun]]'s election campaign, one of the things he promised was that his Minister of Culture would be selected from the field of culture and art rather than a professional politician. Well, he got elected, and a lot of people recommended me as this new Minister of Culture. I never thought that this was an outfit that suited me particularly well, but had to accept it as one of those bitter cups one has to accept in the course of life.<ref name="Firecracker">{{cite web|url=http://www.firecracker-media.com/interviews/interview1002.shtml |title=Yes, Minister: Lee Chang-dong Interviewed |publisher=Firecracker/UK Film Council |date=10 September 2005 |access-date=2006-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123052224/http://www.firecracker-media.com/interviews/interview1002.shtml |archive-date=November 23, 2007 }}</ref>}}

In October 2006, Lee was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) order of the [[Legion d'Honneur]] (Legion of Honor) by the [[France|French]] government for "his contribution to maintaining the [[Screen Quotas|screen quota]] to promote cultural diversity as a cultural minister." It was delivered to the French Embassy in Seoul by French Minister of Culture [[Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres]] during an official visit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/008034.html|title=Former Culture Minister Lee Honored By French|publisher=[[Twitch Film]]|date=29 October 2005|access-date=2006-10-29|url-status=dead|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420183837/http://twitchfilm.net/archives/008034.html|archive-date = 20 April 2008}}</ref>

Lee's fourth film, ''[[Secret Sunshine]]'' about a grieving mother who loses her son, was completed in 2007. At the [[2007 Cannes Film Festival|60th Cannes Film Festival]], the film was in the competition category with lead actress [[Jeon Do-yeon]], winning the [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress|''Prix d'interprétation féminine'']].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4435113/year/2007.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Secret Sunshine |access-date=2009-12-20 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=2014-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018093110/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4435113/year/2007.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was released in South Korea in 2007 and served as the country's nominee for [[Best Foreign Language Film]] of the 2008 [[Academy Awards]]. ''Secret Sunshine'' won Best Feature Film at the [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]; Best Film and Best Director at the 2008 [[Asian Film Awards]]; Best Picture and Best Director at the [[Korean Film Awards]]; Best Director at the [[Director's Cut Awards]]; and Special Award at the [[Grand Bell Awards]].

In 2009, Lee was appointed to the jury of the international competition at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival|61st Cannes Film Festival]] along with [[Isabelle Huppert]], [[Shu Qi]] and [[Robin Wright]].

Released the following year, Lee's film ''[[Poetry (film)|Poetry]]'' tells a of a suburban woman in her 60s who begins to develop an interest in [[Korean poetry|poetry]] while struggling with [[Alzheimer's disease]] and her irresponsible grandson. It garnered positive critical reviews and won Best Screenplay at the [[2010 Cannes Film Festival]]. The starring role was played by [[Yoon Jeong-hee]], who returned to the screen after an absence of 16 years. For this film, Lee won Achievement in Directing at the [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]. ''Poetry'' also won Best Film and Best Screenplay at the 2010 [[Grand Bell Awards]] and Best Director at the 2011 [[Baeksang Arts Awards]].

In 2018, Lee returned after an eight-year hiatus with the [[psychological drama]] [[mystery film]] ''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]'', based on one of [[Haruki Murakami]]'s 17 short stories in ''[[The Elephant Vanishes]]'', "Barn Burning".<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Chang-dong Lights Up Haruki Murakami Adaptation 'Burning'|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/lee-chang-dong-haruki-murakami-adaptation-burning-1202547129|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=29 September 2017|date=5 September 2017|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231304/http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/lee-chang-dong-haruki-murakami-adaptation-burning-1202547129/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What makes Haruki Murakami's books so alluring, yet near-impossible to adapt|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/4/18055958/haruki-murakami-books-movie-adaptations-burning|first=Cian|last=Maher|work=Polygon|date=November 4, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=November 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105121352/https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/4/18055958/haruki-murakami-books-movie-adaptations-burning|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cannes 2018 Review: Lee Chang Dong's Burning turns Haruki Murakami Into A Frothy Page Turner|url=https://thefilmstage.com/reviews/cannes-review-lee-chang-dongs-burning-turns-haruki-murakami-into-a-frothy-page-turner|first=Rory|last=O'Connor|work=The Film Stage|date=May 16, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508205210/https://thefilmstage.com/reviews/cannes-review-lee-chang-dongs-burning-turns-haruki-murakami-into-a-frothy-page-turner/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival|71st Cannes Film Festival]], winning the [[International Federation of Film Critics#FIPRESCI Award|Fipresci International Critics' Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-burning-fipresci-prize-1202816760/|title=Cannes: 'Burning' Wins Fipresci Top Prize|first=John|last=Hopewell|date=May 19, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815154214/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-burning-fipresci-prize-1202816760/|url-status=live}}</ref> It became the highest-rated film in the history of [[Screen International]]'s Cannes jury grid.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/burning-sets-record-score-in-history-of-screens-cannes-jury-grid/5129480.article|title='Burning' sets record score in history of Screen's Cannes jury grid|date=May 17, 2018|first=Ben|last=Dalton|website=[[Screen Daily]]|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405160516/https://www.screendaily.com/news/burning-sets-record-score-in-history-of-screens-cannes-jury-grid/5129480.article|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Burning'' was selected as Korea's nominee for [[Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[91st Academy Awards]],.<ref name="SouthKorea">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-selects-burning-as-foreign-language-oscar-candidate-1140786 |title=Oscars: South Korea Selects 'Burning' for Foreign-Language Category |first=Scott |last=Roxborough |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=7 September 2018 |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092645/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-selects-burning-as-foreign-language-oscar-candidate-1140786 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first Korean film to make it to the shortlist of the final nine of the award.<ref name="Dec18">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/academy-unveils-2019-oscar-shortlists-1168394/item/best-documentary-feature-1168386|title=Academy Unveils 2019 Oscar Shortlists|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last=Park|first=Soomee|date=17 December 2018|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218094215/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/academy-unveils-2019-oscar-shortlists-1168394/item/best-documentary-feature-1168386|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Burning'' also won the [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[2018 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association]], [[Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] in [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2018|Toronto Film Critics Association]], and runner-up of the [[National Board of Review]]'s [[National Board of Review Awards 2018|Top Five Foreign Language Film]]. For this film, Lee won Best Director at the 2018 [[Buil Film Awards]] and 2019 KOFRA Film Awards. In addition to international acclaim, "Burning won the 2018 [[Grand Bell Awards]] for Best Film and FIPRESCI Award at the [[Korean Association of Film Critics Awards]].

In March 2019, Lee won the [[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for ''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]'' and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[13th Asian Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hong-kong-film-festival-korean-director-lee-chang-dong-get-honor-1191065|title=Hong Kong Film Fest: South Korean Director Lee Chang-dong to Get Lifetime Honor|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Hyowon|last=Lee|date=27 February 2019|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065738/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hong-kong-film-festival-korean-director-lee-chang-dong-get-honor-1191065|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chow"/> In 2021, he was appointed to head the jury of the international competition at the [[15th Asian Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/asian-film-awards-nominations-1235059694/|title=Asian Film Awards Nominations Favor Titles From China, Japan and Korea|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=September 9, 2021|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909095055/https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/asian-film-awards-nominations-1235059694/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also worked with Jason Yu's first film "Sleep" along with [[Bong Joon-ho]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2023-05-19 |title=Cannes Hidden Gem: Jason Yu Learned From Bong Joon-ho to Craft Heartfelt Horror 'Sleep' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-hidden-gem-sleep-jason-yu-1235495290/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2025, Lee's next movie ''Possible Love'' was announced with [[Netflix]] boarding as the film's distributor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thefilmstage.com/lee-chang-dong-plans-fall-shoot-for-next-film-possible-love/|title=Lee Chang-dong Plans Fall Shoot for Next Film Possible Love|last=Raup|first=Jordan|work=The Film Stage|date=May 19, 2025|accessdate=July 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/possible-love-romantic-netflix-k-drama-film-lead-cast-confirmed-what-we-know-so-far/|title=‘Possible Love’ Romantic Netflix K-Drama Film: Lead Cast Confirmed & What We Know So Far|last=Robinson|first=Jacob|work=What's on Netflix|date=June 24, 2025|accessdate=July 10, 2025}}</ref>

==Political beliefs==
Lee Chang-dong was born in [[Daegu]], the most conservative and [[rightist]] city in Korea, to lower middle-class parents, who were [[Left-wing politics|left]]-leaning, particularly his father. His family came from noble class of the old Korea. This contradiction of growing up in an ex-noble family with [[socialist]] ties shaped his character, and subsequently his film style.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/lee-chang-dong-retrospective-the-realistically-melodramatic-cinema-of-the-marginalized--part-1-117860.html|title=Lee Chang-dong Retrospective: The Realistically Melodramatic Cinema of the "Marginalized" - Part 1|work=[[HanCinema]]|first=Panos|last=Kotzathanasis|language=en|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=March 3, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043326/https://www.hancinema.net/lee-chang-dong-retrospective-the-realistically-melodramatic-cinema-of-the-marginalized--part-1-117860.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lee supported [[Roh Moo-hyun]]'s candidacy since 2002, and after he won the elections, Lee served in the office as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2004. During his term, Lee proposed a [[screen quota]] for independent film but his proposal met with fierce opposition by the Korean movie industry. However, in October 2006, he was rewarded for his efforts with the Chevalier (Knight) order of the [[Legion d'Honneur]] (Legion of Honor) by the French government for "his contribution to maintaining the screen quota to promote cultural diversity as a cultural minister".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/lee-chang-dong-retrospective-the-realistically-melodramatic-cinema-of-the-marginalized--part-2-117862.html|title=Lee Chang-dong Retrospective: The realistically melodramatic cinema of the "marginalized" - Part 2|work=[[HanCinema]]|first=Panos|last=Kotzathanasis|language=en|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=March 3, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111539/https://www.hancinema.net/lee-chang-dong-retrospective-the-realistically-melodramatic-cinema-of-the-marginalized--part-2-117862.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lee has been boycotting and refusing to attend the [[Blue Dragon Film Awards]] ceremony since 2002 due to political conflicts with [[The Chosun Ilbo]], a conservative South Korean newspaper which hosts the awards. Consequently, since 2002 his films have never been submitted to the competition and were excluded from the nomination for the award's best picture and best director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/koreas-blue-dragon-award-nominees-43817|title=Korea's Blue Dragon Award Nominees Announced|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=November 10, 2010}}</ref>

For nearly a decade until 2017, during the [[Lee Myung-bak]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yoon |first1=Min-sik |title=Celebrity muzzling in Korea dates back to Lee Myung-bak administration |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170912000728 |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> and [[Park Geun-hye]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kil |first1=Sonia |title=Top Filmmakers Call for Korean Government to Come Clean on Blacklist |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/filmmakers-on-korean-government-blacklist-1201895182/ |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=Variety |date=October 20, 2016 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613220134/https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/filmmakers-on-korean-government-blacklist-1201895182/ |url-status=live }}</ref> presidential administrations, Lee Chang-dong was blacklisted by the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/lee-chang-dong-burning-cannes-1202812485/|title='Burning' Director Lee Chang-dong: Still Angry After All These Years|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=March 1, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301201549/https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/lee-chang-dong-burning-cannes-1202812485/|url-status=live}}</ref> Artists such as Lee that were put on the blacklist were subject to investigations and denial of subsidies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Hoo-ran |title=Culture Ministry requests prosecution probe of officials over blacklist scandal |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180913000526 |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=September 13, 2018}}</ref> Lee recalls of his eight-year-hiatus:

{{cquote|During these eight years, I questioned myself a lot: what kind of films I want to make and what kind of films am I going to make for my audience? Actually, it wasn't necessary to catch up for such a long time: I just could've easily made films that people wanted to see, with a touch of my personal style so they could be critically acclaimed, but I was looking for my own films, that's all I can speak and talk about. At the time I was thinking about people's anger: everybody I knew back then was angry, no matter their religion or nationality or differences. ([[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]) original story put me in connection with my own questions and story.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Lee Chang-Dong: 'Burning' and the Matter of Reality|url=https://www.theitalianreve.com/interview-lee-chang-dong-burning-and-the-matter-of-reality/|work=The Italian Reve|first=Eleonora|last=Pilastro|date=6 November 2018}}</ref>}}

==Film and directing style==
{{over-quotation|section|date=October 2021}}
Lee Chang-dong describes his creative process as one of utter despair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6185-big-bad-world-a-conversation-with-lee-chang-dong|title=Big Bad World: A Conversation with Lee Chang-dong|first=Andrew|last=Chan|website=Criterion|date=February 6, 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/cannes-interview-lee-chang-dong/|title=Interview: Lee Chang-dong|work=Film Comment|first=Dennis|last=Lim|date=October 25, 2018|language=en}}</ref> All his films are dark stories of innocence lost, suffering and alienation. His key themes have been consistently about [[psychological trauma]]. Rather than allowing his characters simply to wallow in their misery, Lee draws them into situations that make them search, often futilely, for the meaning of life. Memory has often been an important theme for Lee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2014/great-directors/lee-chang-dong/|title=Great Directors: Lee Chang-dong|work=Sense of Cinema|first=Joseph|last=Pomp|year=2014|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05|archive-date=2020-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026074846/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2014/great-directors/lee-chang-dong/|url-status=live}}</ref> His work can be defined by the [[tragedy]] genre and his stories almost always involve his characters experiencing some degree of suffering.

His films are the reflection of the repressive social and political climate of the South Korea, and depictions of marginalized blue-collar Koreans. His characters are characteristically anti-heroic, but he seems to justify them due to their background.<ref name=":0" /> Through realistic portraits of troubled characters, Lee asks the audience to examine themselves and to look at what society pushes under the rug. However, he shies away from masking his themes with bold [[surrealism]]. Instead, he's more driven by [[Realism (arts)|naturalism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brooklynrail.org/2008/05/film/the-unseen-and-the-unspoken-the-films-of-lee-chang-dong|title=The Unseen and the Unspoken: The Films of Lee Chang Dong|work=The Brooklyn Rail|first=David|last=Wilentz|year=2008|access-date=March 6, 2019|language=en}}</ref>

Lee doesn't give too specific direction when he works with actors. He believes that an actor's reaction is more important than the action.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinema-scope.com/cinema-scope-online/burning-lee-chang-dong-south-korea-special-presentations/|title=Burning (Lee Chang-dong, South Korea) — Special Presentations|work=Cinema Scope|first=Jordan|last=Cronk|year=2018|language=en|access-date=2019-03-06|archive-date=2019-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220233541/http://cinema-scope.com/cinema-scope-online/burning-lee-chang-dong-south-korea-special-presentations/|url-status=live}}</ref> He doesn't have a particular method of directing. He doesn't tell the actors to act or be in a certain way. Instead, he tells them to become the persona, the character in the film. He said, <blockquote>"What I try to have them do is become the character, to feel like the character. I do not try to be very specific in how I direct my actors, for instance I will not say things like 'Use this expression' or 'Speak this way', or 'Can you please raise the pitch of your voice a bit higher' or anything like that." And, "Sometimes, actors expect from me a bit more detail, to give them specific advise but I don't do that. But what I DO sometimes is to tell them different stories, or speak about other things that do not seem to have anything in common with what the actors should be playing, but indirectly might help them feel the same way as the character feels so that they become the character."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2011/08/iffr-2011-an-interview-with-lee-chang-dong.html|title=IFFR 2011: An interview with LEE CHANG-DONG|first=Ard|last=Vijn|website=[[Screen Anarchy]]|date=August 22, 2011|access-date=March 6, 2019|language=en|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306234954/https://screenanarchy.com/2011/08/iffr-2011-an-interview-with-lee-chang-dong.html|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>It was talked about that there is a lot of pressure on a Lee Chang-dong set. In response to the pressures felt by [[Moon So-ri]] and [[Sul Kyung-gu]] on his film set, Lee said, <blockquote>"[...] I've never raised my voice, and I'm never really about giving any sort of strict direction, especially when it comes to working with the actors. When it comes to acting, I really prefer the actors to find themselves in the character, and find themselves living in the situations, themselves. I'm not someone to tell them, or to instruct them how to express whatever in a certain sort of situation." And, "[...] One of the things that I say a lot to my actors is, 'Don't act'. That be a bit flabbergasting to actors, because, 'Wait, I'm an actor, I'm supposed to act. What do you mean? What does that mean?' That can come as a confusing statement."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2019/02/interview-lee-chang-dong-at-moma-part-2-of-2---on-actors-and-advice-to-future-filmmakers.html|title=Interview: Lee Chang-dong at MoMA, Part 2 of 2 - On Actors and Advice to Future Filmmakers|first=Diva|last=Vélez|website=[[Screen Anarchy]]|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2019|language=en|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329085905/https://screenanarchy.com/2019/02/interview-lee-chang-dong-at-moma-part-2-of-2---on-actors-and-advice-to-future-filmmakers.html|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

==Literature==

In 1987, Lee Chang-dong published his first short story, "Possession", followed by the novella ''There's a Lot of Shit in Nokcheon'' in 1992 which won him ''[[The Korea Times]] Literary'' Prize, and then ''Tenaciousness'' in 1996.<ref>{{cite book |last=Taylor-Jones |first=Kate E. |year=2013 |title=Rising Sun, Divided Land: Japanese and South Korean Filmmakers |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-2318-5044-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfaEAAAAQBAJ |chapter=Lee Chang-dong and the Trauma of History |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfaEAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1790 |via=[[Google Books]] |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Han'guk Munhak |last=Pŏnyŏgwŏn |translator-first=Ryu (Korean Literature Translation Institute) |translator-last=Suk-Hee |title=Korean Writers: The Novelists |publisher=Minumsa Press |location=Seoul |year=2005 |isbn=978-89-374-2542-4 |chapter=Lee Chang-dong |url=https://archive.org/details/koreanwritersnov0000unse/page/n5/mode/2up |page=157 |via=[[Internet Archive#Text collection|Internet Archive text collection]] |url-access=limited |access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2014/great-directors/lee-chang-dong/ |title=Great Directors: Lee Chang-dong |first=Joseph |last=Pomp |year=2014 |website=sensesofcinema.com |access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref>

Lee said about his writing style, <blockquote>"I always wrote for one person, for this person who thought and felt the same way as I do. It almost felt like I was writing a love letter to this very specific person who would understand what I'm writing and share the same feelings and thoughts."<ref>{{cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=October 12, 2018 |title=Oscars: South Korea's Lee Chang-dong on the Many Mysteries of 'Burning' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-interview-lee-chang-dong-burning-1167869 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107084541/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-interview-lee-chang-dong-burning-1167869 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>In 2007, Lee's short story, "The Dreaming Beast" (translated by [[Heinz Insu Fenkl]]), was published in the journal ''AZALEA''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Dreaming Beast |translator=[[Heinz Insu Fenkl]] |year=2007 |publisher=Azalea |doi=10.1353/aza.0.0033 |last1=Lee |first1=Chang-Dong |last2=Fenkl |first2=Heinz Insu |journal=Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture |volume=1 |pages=317–337 |s2cid=191498053 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.heinzinsufenkl.net/caf/narratography.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721193924/http://www.heinzinsufenkl.net/caf/narratography.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=On the Narratography of Lee Chang-dong: A Long Translator's Note|author=Heinz Insu Fenkl|author-link=Heinz Insu Fenkl|year=2007|publisher=The Korea Institute, [[Harvard University]]}}</ref> In 2018, his short story, "On Destiny" (translated by Soyoung Kim), was published in the journal ''Asymptote''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.asymptotejournal.com/special-feature/lee-chang-dong-on-destiny/|title=On Destiny. Lee Chang-dong|translator=Soyoung Kim|year=2018|publisher=Asymptote|archive-date=2021-01-17|access-date=2019-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117004423/https://www.asymptotejournal.com/special-feature/lee-chang-dong-on-destiny/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, Lee's short story, "Snowy Day" (translated by [[Heinz Insu Fenkl]] and Yoosup Chang), was published in the March 6th, 2023 issue of ''The New Yorker''. In 2024, Lee's short story, "The Leper" (translated by [[Heinz Insu Fenkl]]) was also published in the December 30th, 2024 and January 6, 2025 double issue of ''The New Yorker''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Leyshon |first=Cressida |date=2024-12-22 |title=Lee Chang-dong on South Korea in the Nineteen-Eighties and Today |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/this-week-in-fiction/lee-chang-dong-12-30-24 |access-date=2025-01-05 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lee |first=Chang-dong |date=2024-12-22 |title="The Leper," by Lee Chang-dong |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/30/the-leper-fiction-lee-chang-dong |access-date=2025-01-05 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=2025-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105113049/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/30/the-leper-fiction-lee-chang-dong |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lee's first collection of short stories in English, ''Snowy Day & Other Stories'' (translated by [[Heinz Insu Fenkl]] and Yoosup Chang), was published to acclaim by Penguin Random House in early 2025. The collection includes four short stories and three novellas taken from his two original Korean collections, ''There's a Lot of Shit in Nokcheon'' (1992) and ''Burning Paper'' (1987).

==Personal life==
Lee Chang-dong is the third son out of four brothers. He said that they were very close, and called themselves fraternity brothers. His youngest brother, Lee Joon-dong, is a film producer for Lee's films. Lee hoped to become a painter growing up, but he could not afford art supplies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.imaeil.com/NewestAll/2008042607330997572|script-title=ko:장관시절을 묻자 그는, 한참을 망설였다…영화감독 이창동|website=[[Maeil Shinmun]]|date=April 26, 2008|access-date=March 13, 2019|language=ko|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126101050/http://news.imaeil.com/NewestAll/2008042607330997572|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vop.co.kr/A00001548386.html|script-title=ko:국정원 불법 사찰문건 받은 '버닝' 제작자 이준동 "얼마나 더 있는지...안 내놓으면 개혁 의지 없는 것"|website=VOP|date=February 16, 2021|language=ko}}</ref> Lee and the president of [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] television and radio network company, {{ill|Choi Seung-ho|ko|최승호 (언론인)}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/822687.html|title=Dismissed producer returns as new president of MBC after nearly 2,000 day absence|website=[[Hankyoreh]]|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111174141/http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/822687.html|url-status=live}}</ref> are old friends and [[Kyungpook National University]] alumni. He personally asked Choi to appear in ''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]'' playing as Jong-su's father. He is also a close friend of his frequent collaborator, actor [[Moon Sung-keun]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=34139|script-title=ko:'버닝' 이창동 문성근 최승호, 진보인사 3인방의 '반갑다 친구야'|website=Single List|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019|language=ko|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126101008/http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=34139|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Filmography==
[[File:Lee Chang-dong (2018).jpg|thumb|Lee Chang-dong at the French Cinematheque, August 2018]]

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ {{sronly|Lee Chang-dong's film credits}}Film credits
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Year
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Title
! scope="col" colspan=3 | Credited as
! scope="col" rowspan=2|  Notes
|-
! width=65| [[Film director|Director]]
! width=65| [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width=65| [[Film producer|Producer]]
|-
| 1993
| ''[[To the Starry Island]]''
| {{partial|[[Assistant Director]]}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| 
|-
| 1995
| ''[[A Single Spark]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| 
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Green Fish]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Peppermint Candy (film)|Peppermint Candy]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Oasis (2002 film)|Oasis]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[75th Academy Awards]] submission for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] 
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007
| ''[[Secret Sunshine]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[80th Academy Awards]] submission for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] 
|-
| ''[[Never Forever]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2009
| ''[[A Brand New Life (2009 film)|A Brand New Life]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Poetry (film)|Poetry]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| 
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Hwayi: A Monster Boy]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2014
| ''[[A Girl at My Door]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Collective Invention]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The World of Us]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| [[91st Academy Awards]] shortlisted for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] 
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Birthday (2019 film)|Birthday]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2022
| ''Heartbeat''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Short film
|-
| 2026
| ''Possible Love''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| 
|}

== Accolades ==

=== International awards ===
{{see also|List of accolades received by Burning}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:60%"
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Nominated work
!Result
|-
|1997
|[[Vancouver International Film Festival]]
|[[Dragons and Tigers Award]]
|rowspan=2|''[[Green Fish]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|1998
|[[Rotterdam International Film Festival]]
|[[NETPAC Award]]
| style="background: pink" align= "center" |Special Mention
|-
|rowspan=4|2000
|[[Bratislava International Film Festival]]
|Special Jury Prize 
|rowspan=4|''[[Peppermint Candy (film)|Peppermint Candy]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]]
|Don Quijote Award 
| {{won}}
|-
|[[NETPAC Award]] 
| style="background: pink" align= "center" |Special Mention
|-
|Special Jury Prize
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=6|2003
|Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema
|Three Castles Award
|rowspan=7|''[[Oasis (2002 film)|Oasis]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|Gardanne Film Festival
|Audience Award
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Vancouver International Film Festival]]
|Chief Dan George Humanitarian Award
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[2003 Venice Film Festival|Venice International Film Festival]]
|[[FIPRESCI Prize]]
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Silver Lion|Silver Lion for Best Direction]]
| {{won}}
|-
|Special Director's Award
| {{won}}
|-
|2005
|[[Independent Spirit Awards]]
|Best Foreign Film
| {{nom}}
|-
|2007
|[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]
|Best Feature Film
|rowspan=3|''[[Secret Sunshine]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|rowspan=2|[[Asian Film Awards|2nd Asian Film Awards]]
|[[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Asian Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2010
|[[Cannes Film Festival]]
|Best Screenplay
|rowspan=4|''[[Poetry (film)|Poetry]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]
|Achievement in Directing
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2012
|rowspan=2|[[Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films]]
|Best Movie
| {{nom}}
|-
|Best Original Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=18|2018
|[[Cannes Film Festival]]
|[[FIPRESCI Prize]]
| rowspan="29" |''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]''
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Cinephile Society]] Cannes Awards
|Palme d'Or
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Adana Film Festival]]
|Golden Boll International Best Feature
| {{won}}
|-
|[[National Board of Review]]
|Top Five Foreign Language Film
| {{runner-up}}
|-
|[[2018 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2018|Toronto Film Critics Association]]
|[[Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
|Tour du Cinéma Français
|Etoile du Cinéma Award
| {{won}}
|-
|ShinFilm Art Film Festival
|[[Shin Sang-ok]] Director Award
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Pingyao International Film Festival]]
|Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon East-West Award
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Films from the South|Oslo Film from the South Festival]]
|Silver Mirror Award
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|New Mexico Film Critics Awards
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|Key West Film Festival
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|Greater Western New York Film Critics Association
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|London Film Week
|Best Film
| {{won}}
|-
|Best Director
| {{won}}
|-
|Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]
|[[APSA Jury Grand Prize|Jury Grand Prize]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="11" |2019
|Club Média Ciné
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Cinephile Society]]
|Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|[[91st Academy Awards]]
|[[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
|{{shortlisted}}
|-
|Latino Entertainment Film Awards
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|[[Austin Film Critics Association]]
|Best Foreign Language Film
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Cinephile Society]]
|Best Adapted Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[13th Asian Film Awards]]
|[[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{won}}
|-
|Lifetime Achievement Award
| style="background: orange" align= "center" |Recipient
|-
|MOOOV Film Festival
|[[Ousmane Sembène|Sembène]] Award
|{{won}}
|-
|[[45th Saturn Awards]]
|[[Saturn Award for Best International Film|Best International Film]]
|{{won}}
|-
|Asian Film Critics Association Awards
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|}

=== Local awards ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:60%"
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Nominated work
!Result
|-
|1995
|[[Blue Dragon Film Awards]]
|rowspan=3|Best Film
|''[[A Single Spark]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|1997
|[[Blue Dragon Film Awards]]
|''[[Green Fish]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|2000
|[[Grand Bell Awards]]
|''[[Peppermint Candy (film)|Peppermint Candy]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|2003
|[[Baeksang Arts Awards]]
|Best Director
|''[[Oasis (2002 film)|Oasis]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2007
|rowspan=2|[[Korean Film Awards]]
|Best Picture
|rowspan=4|''[[Secret Sunshine]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Director's Cut Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Grand Bell Awards]]
|Special Award
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2010
|rowspan=2|[[Grand Bell Awards]]
|Best Film
|rowspan=3|''[[Poetry (film)|Poetry]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Screenplay
|{{won}}
|-
|2011
|[[Baeksang Arts Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=5|2018
|[[27th Buil Film Awards|Buil Film Awards]]
|Best Director
|rowspan=7|''[[Burning (2018 film)|Burning]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[55th Grand Bell Awards|Grand Bell Awards]]
|Best Film
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Korean Association of Film Critics Awards]]
|[[FIPRESCI Award]]
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Cine21 Film Awards]]
|Best Film
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|2019
|KOFRA Film Awards
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|}

=== State honors ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|+Name of country, year given, and name of honor
! scope="col" |Country
! scope="col" |Award Ceremony
! scope="col" |Year
! scope="col" |Honor
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row" |France
| [[Legion d'Honneur]] - [[Jacques Chirac]] Administration
| style="text-align:center" | 2006
| the Chevalier (Knight) order
| style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-27 |title= |script-title=ko:이창동 전 장관 프랑스 최고훈장 |trans-title=Former Minister Lee Chang-dong Receives France's Highest Medal |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/culture_general/167793.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" |South Korea
| Korean Culture and Arts Awards{{NoteTag|Since 1973, honors are given at Cultural Day (문화의 날), 3rd Saturday in October by the [[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea)|Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]]}}
| style="text-align:center" | 2002
| Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Order of Cultural Merit
| style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-10-15 |script-title=ko:[영화]이창동-문소리-명계남씨 영화발전공로 문화훈장 받아 |trans-title= [Movie] Lee Chang-dong, Moon So-ri, and Myung Gye-nam receive the Cultural Medal for their contribution to the development of film |url=https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20021015/7872561/1 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=[[Dong-A Ilbo]] |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=문화체육관광부 열린장관실 |url=https://www.mcst.go.kr/usr/minister/intro/pop/profile.jsp?pSeq=40&pMenuCD=9103010000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321025314/https://www.mcst.go.kr/usr/minister/intro/pop/profile.jsp?pSeq=40&pMenuCD=9103010000 |archive-date=2025-03-21 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.mcst.go.kr |language=ko |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Republic of Korea Order of Civil Merit
| style="text-align: center;" |2005
|Blue Stripes Order of Civil Merit
| style="text-align: center;" |
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Korean film directors]]
*[[Cinema of Korea]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}

{{Lee Chang-dong}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Lee Chang-dong
|list =
{{Asian Film Award for Best Director}}
{{Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Director}}
{{Blue Dragon Film Award Best Director}}
{{Buil Film Awards for Best Director}}
{{Prix du scénario}}
{{Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Director}}
{{Grand Bell Awards for Best Director}}
{{Paeksang Arts Award Best Director Film}}
{{Paeksang Arts Award Best New Director Film}}
{{Silver Lion for Best Director}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Chang-dong}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Daegu]]
[[Category:South Korean film directors]]
[[Category:South Korean screenwriters]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Venice Best Director Silver Lion winners]]
[[Category:Best Director Asian Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kyungpook National University alumni]]
[[Category:Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay winners]]
[[Category:Culture ministers of South Korea]]
[[Category:Tourism ministers of South Korea]]
[[Category:Asia Pacific Screen Award winners]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Korea National University of Arts]]
[[Category:Best Director Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Screenplay Asian Film Award winners]]