View source for Park Chan-wook

{{Short description|South Korean filmmaker (born 1963)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Park||lang=Korean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Park Chan-wook
| image              = 박찬욱 - 어쩔수가없다.jpg
| caption            = Park in 2025
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1963|08|23|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| other_names        = Bakridamae ({{lang|ko|박리다매}})
| alma_mater         = [[Sogang University]], Seoul, South Korea
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|producer|screenwriter}}
| works              = {{flatlist|
* [[#Bibliography|Bibliography]]
* [[Park Chan-wook filmography|Filmography]]
}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|Kim Eun-hee|1990}}
| children           = 1
| relatives          = {{ubl|[[Park Chan-kyong]] (brother)}}
| years_active       = 1988–present
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Park Chan-wook|Full list]]
| honours            = [[File:ROK Order of Cultural Merit Bo-gwan (3rd Class) ribbon.PNG|border|23px]] [[Order of Cultural Merit (South Korea)|Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit]] (2002)<br>[[File:ROK Order of Cultural Merit Eun-gwan (2nd Class) ribbon.PNG|border|23px]] [[Order of Cultural Merit (South Korea)|Eun-gwan Order of Cultural Merit]] (2022)
| module             = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes|headercolor=transparent
 | hangul       = %박찬욱
 | hanja        = 朴贊郁
 }}
}}
'''Park Chan-wook''' ({{korean/auto|hangul=박찬욱|ko_ipa=pak̚ tɕʰanuk̚}}; born 23 August 1963) is a South Korean [[filmmaker]] and former [[film critic]]. Widely regarded as a leading figure in [[Cinema of South Korea|South Korean]] and 21st-century [[world cinema]],{{efn|Multiple references:<ref>{{cite news | last=Chee | first=Alexander | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/t-magazine/park-chan-wook.html | title=Park Chan-wook, the Man Who Put Korean Cinema on the Map | work=The New York Times | date=16 October 2017 | access-date=9 December 2022 | archive-date=1 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401080942/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/t-magazine/park-chan-wook.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-01 |title=Park Chan-wook. Two History Lessons |url=https://harvardfilmarchive.org/programs/park-chan |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Harvard Film Archive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Tolentino |first=Jia |date=2024-04-08 |title=Park Chan-wook Gets the Picture He Wants |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/04/15/park-chan-wook-profile |access-date=2025-09-24 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=AnOther |date=2021-02-02 |title=Five Park Chan-Wook Films That Chart South Korea's Filmmaking Revolution |url=https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/13085/five-park-chan-wook-films-that-chart-south-korea-s-filmmaking-revolution |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=AnOther |language=en}}</ref>}} he is known for films that blend [[Crime film|crime]], [[Mystery film|mystery]], and [[Thriller film|thriller]] elements with other genres, noted for their cinematography, framing, [[Black comedy|black humor]], and often brutal subject matter.{{efn|Multiple references:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Christy |date=2024-01-04 |title='Oldboy' director Park Chan-wook on the new age of K-cinema |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/director-park-chan-wook-korean-cinema |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Noh |first=Jean |title=Park Chan-wook unravels the journey of making twisted black comedy 'No Other Choice' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/park-chan-wook-unravels-the-journey-of-making-twisted-black-comedy-no-other-choice/5208966.article |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Screen Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/watch-bold-beautiful-7-minute-supercut-tribute-to-the-films-of-park-chan-wook-260524/|title=Watch: Bold, Beautiful 7-Minute Supercut Tribute To The Films Of Park Chan-Wook|website=Indiewire.com|date=25 August 2015|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053808/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/08/watch-bold-beautiful-7-minute-supercut-tribute-to-the-films-of-park-chan-wook-260524/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://theplaylist.net/cannes-09-park-chan-wooks-thirst-is-20090517/|title=Cannes 09: Park Chan-Wook's 'Thirst' Is An Absurdist Treat That Becomes Muddled; Overstays Its Welcome|website=Theplaylist.net|date=17 May 2009 |access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053610/http://theplaylist.net/cannes-09-park-chan-wooks-thirst-is-20090517/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

After two unsuccessful films in the 1990s which he has since largely disowned, Park came to prominence with his acclaimed third directorial effort, ''[[Joint Security Area (film)|Joint Security Area]]'' (2000), which became the [[List of highest-grossing films in South Korea|highest-grossing film in South Korean history]] at the time and which Park himself prefers to be regarded as his directorial debut.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |date=2020-09-29 |title=Why Park Chan-wook Has Disowned His Debut The Moon Is The Sun's Dream |url=https://screenrant.com/moon-suns-dream-movie-park-chan-wook-disowned/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lah |first=Je-gi |date=29 January 2017 |title= |script-title=ko:박찬욱 "여배우 강압 노출? 노동현장 인권문제" |trans-title=Park Chan-wook: "Pressure on actresses for nudity? A human rights issue in the workplace." |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201701210411272026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123020832/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201701210411272026 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=23 January 2023 |publisher=[[Hankook Ilbo]] |language=ko}}</ref> Using his newfound creative freedom, he would go on to direct the films forming his unofficial ''[[The Vengeance Trilogy]]'': ''[[Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance]]'' (2002), a financial failure that polarized critics, followed by ''[[Oldboy (2003 film)|Oldboy]]'' (2003) and ''[[Lady Vengeance]]'' (2005), both of which received critical acclaim and were financially successful. ''Oldboy'' in particular is regarded as [[List of films considered the best|one of the greatest films ever made]], and helped establish Park as a well-known director outside his native country.{{efn||name=multiref1}}

Most of Park's work following ''The Vengeance Trilogy'' was also commercially and critically successful both in South Korea and internationally, such as ''[[Thirst (2009 film)|Thirst]]'' (2009), ''[[The Handmaiden]]'' (2016), which earned Park the [[BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language]], and ''[[Decision to Leave]]'' (2022), which won the [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director|Best Director]] award at the [[2022 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="The Handmaiden">{{cite web |title=The Handmaiden |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thehandmaiden.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-date=27 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060322/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thehandmaiden.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He directed the English-language miniseries ''[[The Little Drummer Girl (TV series)|The Little Drummer Girl]]'' (2018) and ''[[The Sympathizer (miniseries)|The Sympathizer]]'' (2024). His 2025 film titled ''[[No Other Choice]]'' has been nominated for the Golden Globes and has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

==Early life and education==
[[Park Chan-wook]] was born in [[Seoul]] on August 23, 1963. He comes from a prominent, multi-generational local family. His father, Park Don-seo, was an architecture professor and dean at [[Ajou University]], and his mother is a poet. Although Park originally dreamed of becoming a painter, he later shifted his aspirations toward becoming an art critic, believing that while he shared his brother's aesthetic sensibility, he lacked the technical drawing skills that his brother possessed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2004-05-27 |script-title=ko:히치콕이 내 인생 바꿨다 |trans-title=Hitchcock changed my life |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=028&aid=0000061311 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210221712/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=028&aid=0000061311 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Hankyoreh |language=ko |via=[[Naver News]]}}</ref><ref>Chan-wook, Park. (10 December 2005). ''Park's Montage'' (essay). 마음 산책. "Introduction about the author, and the prologue". {{ISBN|89-89351-81-2}}.</ref><ref name="BOMB">{{Cite web |last=Chae |first=Esther K. |date=July 1, 2006 |title=BOMB Magazine {{!}} Park Chanwook by Esther K. Chae |url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/2006/07/01/park-chanwook/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=BOMB Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

His passion for cinema developed in his youth, influenced by foreign films he watched on his family black-and-white TV, broadcast by AFKN (American Forces Korea Network). As these programs were intended for U.S. personnel, they were mostly aired without Korean subtitles, requiring him to interpret the films purely through their cinematic elements and narrative structure. Park also credits his early experiences watching the [[James Bond|James Bond franchise]] in theaters as an influence.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2017-10-16 |title=Park Chan-wook, the Man Who Put Korean Cinema on the Map (Published 2017) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/t-magazine/park-chan-wook.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115001722/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/t-magazine/park-chan-wook.html |archive-date=2025-01-15 |access-date=2025-12-16 |language=en}}</ref>

Aiming to become an art critic, Park enrolled in the Department of Philosophy at [[Sogang University]]. However, the university did not have a formal arts program, so he joined the campus photography and film clubs.<ref name="New Yorker 2024">{{cite magazine |last1=Tolentino |first1=Jia |title=Mr. Vengeance |magazine=The New Yorker |date=April 15, 2024 |pages=46–47}}</ref> In the film club, screenings of foreign films from [[VHS tapes]] became a significant turning point in his life. After watching [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]'' (1958), Park decided to pursue a career in [[filmmaking]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000511737|title=Dialogue: Park Chan-wook|date=14 May 2004|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=14 July 2007|archive-date=30 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224459/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000511737|url-status=live}}</ref> 

==Career==

=== Beginning in 1990s ===
After graduating, he began a career in film criticism and wrote articles on the subject for various publications. In 1988, he gained experience as an assistant director on Yu Yeong-jin's film ''Kkamdong''. It was followed by 1989 film ''[[Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day]]'', directed by [[Kwak Jae-yong]] (who later gained fame for ''[[My Sassy Girl]]'').<ref>{{cite book |last=Kim |first=Young-jin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1GX4CAAAQBAJ&q=%22analytic+philosophy%22&pg=PT144 |title=PARK Chan-wook |date=2007 |publisher=Seoul Selection |isbn=9788991913943 |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721210909/https://books.google.com/books?id=1GX4CAAAQBAJ&q=%22analytic+philosophy%22&pg=PT144 |archive-date=21 July 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Park's feature film debut, ''[[The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream]]'' was released in 1992. Five years later, he directed his second film, ''[[Trio (1997 film)|Trio]],'' but neither film performed well at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/park-chan-wook-1798217399|title=A.V. Club interview with Park Chan-wook|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=6 August 2009|access-date=28 August 2009|archive-date=10 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810105821/http://www.avclub.com/articles/park-chanwook%2C31394/|url-status=live}}</ref> Park supported himself by working as a film critic across television and radio platforms.<ref name="BOMB" />

=== Breakthrough ===
In 1999, Park was given the opportunity to create a short film titled ''Judgement'', inspired by the [[Sampoong Department Store collapse]]. He collaborated with stage actors and held his first script reading, realizing that actors are not just "puppets." He appreciated the creative dialogue with them, acknowledging it as a luxury that novelists do not have.<ref name=":5" />

This collaborative spirit continued with his third feature film, [[Joint Security Area (film)|''Joint Security Area'']], which tells the story of four soldiers from both North and South Korea who develop an unexpected friendship, leading to tragic consequences. During filming, Park and the actors formed strong bonds, often working late into the night and socializing afterward. Released in 2000, ''[[Joint Security Area (film)|Joint Security Area]]'' became a major commercial and critical success, surpassing [[Kang Je-gyu|Kang Je-gyu's]] ''[[Shiri (film)|Shiri]]'' as the most-watched film in South Korea at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yellow Sea Rising: The Resurrection of South Korean Cinema |url=http://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/block-cinema/day-for-night-magazine/spring08/yellowsea.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609092628/http://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/block-cinema/day-for-night-magazine/spring08/yellowsea.html |archive-date=9 June 2010 |access-date=30 August 2009 |website=Blockmuseum.northwestern.edu}}</ref> Quentin Tarantino praised it of "the top twenty films made since 1992."<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Vogels |first=Pim |date=2020-08-03 |title=10 Great Thriller Movies Recommended By Quentin Tarantino |url=http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2020/10-great-thriller-movies-recommended-by-quentin-tarantino/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218215558/http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2020/10-great-thriller-movies-recommended-by-quentin-tarantino/ |archive-date=18 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists |language=en-US}}</ref> In a 2017 interview, Park reflected on this, stating, "Many people think my directorial debut film is JSA, but I want to keep it that way".<ref>{{cite web |last=Lah |first=Je-gi |date=29 January 2017 |title= |script-title=ko:박찬욱 "여배우 강압 노출? 노동현장 인권문제" |trans-title=Park Chan-wook: "Coercion of actresses for nudity? A human rights issue in the workplace." |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201701210411272026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123020832/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201701210411272026 |archive-date=23 January 2023 |access-date=23 January 2023 |publisher=[[Hankook Ilbo]] |language=ko}}</ref>

=== Moho Film and ''Vengeance Trilogy'' ===
The success of ''Joint Security Area'' granted Park the independence to pursue more personal projects, leading him to establish his own production company, Moho Film, in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KoBiz - Korean film, news, actor, movie, cinema, location & Korean Film Archive |url=https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/company.jsp?companyCd=20100357 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=Korean Film Biz Zone |language=en}}</ref> Leveraging this newfound creative freedom, he directed a series of films that would become his unofficial "[[The Vengeance Trilogy|Vengeance Trilogy]]": ''Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance'' (2002), ''Oldboy'' (2003), and ''Lady Vengeance'' (2005). Though not originally intended as a set, the films are linked by their exploration of the futility of revenge and the havoc it wreaks on those involved.<ref>{{cite web |last=McConkey |first=Rachael |title=Contemporary South Korean Auteurs |url=http://www.traumafilm.com/korean.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427045435/http://www.traumafilm.com/korean.htm |archive-date=27 April 2009 |access-date=7 May 2008 |website=Traumafilm.com}}</ref> 

The trilogy began with ''[[Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance]]'' (2002), a financial failure that polarized critics. However, the second film of the trilogy, ''Oldboy'' (2003), was a breakout success''.''{{efn|Multiple references:<ref name="Film's Top 100 Movies Of All Time">{{Cite web |date=22 May 2023 |title=/Film's Top 100 Movies Of All Time |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1287713/best-movies-ever-made/ |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=/Film |language=en-US |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801140308/https://www.slashfilm.com/1287713/best-movies-ever-made/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite web |title=The 100 greatest foreign-language films |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20181029-the-100-greatest-foreign-language-films |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=www.bbc.com |date=30 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=25 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225005824/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20181029-the-100-greatest-foreign-language-films |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="empireonline.com">{{Cite web |date=18 March 2020 |title=The 100 Greatest Movies Of The 21st Century |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230233/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century/ |archive-date=17 August 2021 |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref><ref name="timeout.com">{{Cite web |date=6 February 2022 |title=The 100 best films of the 21st century (so far) |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321185008/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Empire Magazine's 500 Greatest Movi">{{cite web |last=Sciretta |first=Peter |title=Empire Magazine's 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/500872/empire-magazines-500-greatest-movies-of-all-time/ |website=/Film |access-date=23 February 2022 |date=5 October 2008 |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223170912/https://www.slashfilm.com/500872/empire-magazines-500-greatest-movies-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|name=multiref1}} American director [[Quentin Tarantino]], an avowed fan of Park's work, served as the jury president at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]]. Tarantino personally lobbied for ''Oldboy'' to be awarded the [[Palme d'Or]], though the honor eventually went to [[Michael Moore]]'s ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 October 2008 |title=The New Cult Canon: Oldboy |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-new-cult-canon-oldboy-1798214907 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001052038/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-cult-canon-oldboy%2C2484/ |archive-date=1 October 2009 |access-date=28 August 2009 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> ''Oldboy'' instead garnered the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]], the festival's second-highest honor.<ref name=":3" /> Completing the trilogy, ''Lady Vengeance'' was later distributed by Tartan Films for its United States theatrical release in April 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palisades Tartan unleashes the 8-Disc VENGEANCE TRILOGY Box |url=https://neurologist.uk.com/|access-date=6 November 2017 |website=neurologist.uk.com}}</ref> 

In 2006, Park was a member of the official jury section at the [[63rd Venice International Film Festival]]. In February 2007, Park won the [[Alfred Bauer Prize]] at the 57th [[Berlin International Film Festival]]. The award, named after the festival's founder and in praise of works that introduce new perspectives, went to Park for his film, ''[[I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/China_s_Tuya_s_Marriage_wins_Berlin_02172007.html|title=China's Tuya's Marriage wins Berlin film festival|access-date=7 May 2008|date=17 February 2007|website=Rawstory.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408141315/http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/China_s_Tuya_s_Marriage_wins_Berlin_02172007.html|archive-date=8 April 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Chan-wook Park - Sitges.JPG|left|thumb|Park at the Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya 2009]]
In 2009, Park directed the vampire film ''[[Thirst (2009 film)|Thirst]]'', starring [[Song Kang-ho]], which won the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Festival)|Prix du Jury]] (alongside ''[[Fish Tank (film)|Fish Tank]],'' directed by [[Andrea Arnold]]) at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival]]. He considered directing ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)|Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]]'' but ultimately turned it down.<ref name="kjd120329">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Rachel |date=29 March 2012 |title=Park Chan-wook stalks a thriller with 'Stoker' |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2012/03/28/artsDesign/Park-Chanwook-stalks-a-thriller-with-Stoker/2950611.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418235625/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2950611 |archive-date=18 April 2012 |access-date=1 April 2012 |work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]}}</ref> 

In 2011, brothers Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong collaborated under the creative brand PARKing CHANce to co-write, direct, and produce the fantasy-horror short film ''Paranmanjang'' (also known as ''[[Night Fishing (film)|Night Fishing]]).'' Featuring singer-actress [[Lee Jung-hyun]], the film was entirely shot using [[iPhone 4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/01/11/horror.film.iphone.mashable/index.html|title='Oldboy' director shoots new horror film on iPhone 4|access-date=11 January 2011|date=11 January 2011|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-date=13 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113045930/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/01/11/horror.film.iphone.mashable/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 January 2011 <!-- 15.12 GMT --> |title=Oldboy director Park Chan-wook shoots new film on iPhone |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jan/10/iphone-park-chan-wook-paranmanjang |work=[[The Guardian]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Jaeyeon Woo |date=January 10, 2011<!-- 7:27 PM KST--> |title=A Novel Way of Using iPhone 4: Filmmaking |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2011/01/10/a-novel-way-of-using-iphone-4-film-making/ |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref>. This project emerged from a strategic partnership with [[KT Corporation|KT]], South Korea's exclusive iPhone distributor, which provided 150 million won (approximately $133,447) in funding. The film was presented to over 100 reporters on January 11, 2011, before its public release on January 27. It garnered a nomination for Berlinale Shorts at the [[61st Berlin International Film Festival]] and won the [[Short Film Golden Bear|Golden Bear for Best Short Film]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-19 |title=The Awards / Die Preise |url=http://www.berlinale.de/media/pdf_word/pm_1/61_berlinale/61_IFB_Awards_2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113161728/http://www.berlinale.de/media/pdf_word/pm_1/61_berlinale/61_IFB_Awards_2011.pdf |archivedate=2011-11-13 |accessdate=2011-02-20 |work=Berlinale.de |publisher=[[Berlin International Film Festival]]}}</ref>

PARKing CHANce's second short film, ''[[Day Trip (film)|Day Trip]]'' (2012), released in late December 2012, marked the first collaboration between Park Chan-wook and his close friend [[Song Kang-ho]]. In this film, Song portrayed a long-haired, immortal master while incorporating [[pansori]], a traditional Korean musical genre, which created considerable anticipation. The film received praise for elevating the artistic quality of a short film initially intended for commercial advertisement.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=임수연 |date=2017-06-14 |title=[스페셜] 파킹찬스의 작품들 짚어보기 |url=https://cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=87434 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=씨네21 |language=ko}}</ref>

In 2013, Park directed his first film in English-language, ''[[Stoker (film)|Stoker]]''.<ref name="screendailybegin">{{cite news |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=1 September 2011 |title=Shooting begins on Stoker for Scott Free, Searchlight, Indian Paintbrush |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/shooting-begins-on-stoker-for-scott-free-searchlight-indian-paintbrush/5031460.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010151923/http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/shooting-begins-on-stoker-for-scott-free-searchlight-indian-paintbrush/5031460.article |archive-date=10 October 2012 |access-date=2 September 2011 |work=[[Screen Daily]]}}</ref> He said he learned to accelerate the production process and completed filming in 480 hours.<ref name="kjd120329" /> Although Park does speak English, he used an interpreter on set.<ref name="kjd120329" /> On why the script attracted his attention, Park said: "It wasn't a script that tried to explain everything and left many things as questions, so it leads the audience to find answers for themselves, and that's what I liked about the script... I like telling big stories through small, artificially created worlds".<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu5wu1iC4bE |title=STOKER Featurette: "Director's Vision" |date=5 March 2013 |publisher=FoxSearchlight |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mu5wu1iC4bE |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="kjd120329" /> On 2 March 2013, Park appeared on a panel discussion about the film ''Stoker'' held at the Freer Gallery of Art in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 February 2013 |title=Korean Film Festival DC 2013 |url=http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/brd/m_4497/view.do?seq=691721&srchFr=&srchTo=&srchWord=&srchTp=&multi_itm_seq=0&itm_seq_1=0&itm_seq_2=0&company_cd=&company_nm=&page=40 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025812/http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/brd/m_4497/view.do?seq=691721&srchFr=&srchTo=&srchWord=&srchTp=&multi_itm_seq=0&itm_seq_1=0&itm_seq_2=0&company_cd=&company_nm=&page=40 |archive-date=11 April 2018 |access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref>

Following this, PARKing CHANce released a music video in late July 2013. Starring Lee Jung-hyun, a well-known singer-actress and a pioneer of Hallyu in China, the music video was described as cinematic and disrupted conventional music video norms. It was lauded for its artistic merit and commercial appeal, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.<ref name=":4" />

=== International acclaim with ''The Handmaiden'' ===
In 2014, Park directed a short film ''A Rose Reborn,'' commissioned by luxury brand [[Ermenegildo Zegna Group|Ermenegildo Zegna]], co-written by himself, [[Ayako Fujitani]], Chung Chung-hoon and Michael Werwie, scored by [[Clint Mansell]], and starring [[Jack Huston]] and [[Daniel Wu]]. It screened at the [[Rome International Film Festival]] and the [[Busan International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Akande |first=Zainab |date=23 October 2014 |title=Watch: Park Chan-wook's Fashionista Thriller Starring Jack Huston and Jason Wu – IndieWire |url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-park-chan-wooks-fashionista-thriller-starring-jack-huston-and-jason-wu-20141023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053209/http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-park-chan-wooks-fashionista-thriller-starring-jack-huston-and-jason-wu-20141023 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=www.indiewire.com}}</ref>

In September 2014, it was announced that Park would adapt ''[[Fingersmith (novel)|Fingersmith]]'', a historical crime novel by Sarah Waters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/park-chan-wook-to-shoot-sexy-crime-story-fingersmith-1201296579/|title=Park Chan-wook to Shoot Sexy Crime Story 'Fingersmith'|first=Nemo|last=Kim|date=3 September 2014|website=Variety.com|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012100025/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/park-chan-wook-to-shoot-sexy-crime-story-fingersmith-1201296579/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film entered production in mid-2015 and ended on 31 October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=FIRST LOOK AT PARK CHAN-WOOK'S FINGERSMITH ADAPTATION THE HANDMAID|url=http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/first-look-at-park-chan-wooks-fingersmith-adaptation-the-handmaid-248|access-date=3 November 2015|newspaper=JoBlo|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113095403/http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/first-look-at-park-chan-wooks-fingersmith-adaptation-the-handmaid-248|url-status=live}}</ref> That film ended up becoming ''[[The Handmaiden]]'' and premiered in competition to rave reviews at the [[2016 Cannes Film Festival]], where Artistic Director [[Ryu Seong-hie]] won the Vulcain Prize for the Technical Arts, and the film was nominated for both the Palme d' Or and Queer Palm.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4016934/awards|title=Ah-ga-ssi|access-date=6 November 2017|website=IMDb.com|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810145020/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4016934/awards|url-status=live}}</ref> The film holds a 95% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], and saw box office success in several countries, including South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Handmaiden (Ah-Ga-Ssi) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_handmaiden |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812122521/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_handmaiden// |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Handmaiden" />

[[File:Park Chan Wook.jpg|thumb|Park presenting ''[[The Handmaiden]]'' at the 2016 [[Lumière Film Festival]]]]
In October 2014, it was announced that Park had signed on to direct the sci-fi body-swap film, ''Second Born''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screencrush.com/park-chan-wook-signs-on-for-body-swapping-sci-fi-thriller/|title=Park Chan-wook Signs On For Body-Swapping Sci-Fi Thriller|website=ScreenCrush|date=13 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030001/http://screencrush.com/park-chan-wook-signs-on-for-body-swapping-sci-fi-thriller/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2018, it was stated that Park would direct a [[The Little Drummer Girl (TV series)|TV miniseries adaptation]] of ''[[The Little Drummer Girl]]'', a novel by [[John le Carré]]. It aired on [[BBC One]] in October of that year and stars [[Michael Shannon]], [[Florence Pugh]] and [[Alexander Skarsgård]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/michael-shannon-the-little-drummer-girl-series-cast/#park-chan-wook|title=Michael Shannon Joins Park Chan-Wook's AMC Series 'The Little Drummer Girl'|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=25 January 2018|access-date=29 May 2018|archive-date=29 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529204320/http://collider.com/michael-shannon-the-little-drummer-girl-series-cast/#park-chan-wook|url-status=live}}</ref> 

At the [[24th Busan International Film Festival]], Park said that he is writing scripts for feature films, for theater and for TV, including a new installment in the ''Vengeance Trilogy'', and an adaptation of [[Donald E. Westlake]]'s novel ''[[The Ax (novel)|The Ax]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brzeski |first1=Patrick |last2=Scott |first2=Matthew |title=Busan: Park Chan-wook Reveals Plans for New Film Projects |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/park-chan-wook-reveals-plans-new-film-projects-1246736 |website=hollywoodreporter.com |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=10 August 2019 |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208082819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/park-chan-wook-reveals-plans-new-film-projects-1246736 |url-status=live }}</ref> Park had first discussed adapting the book in 2009, when he received approval from [[Costa-Gavras]] who owned the rights and directed a [[The Axe (film)|previous rendition]] of the novel.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Park pushes for 'Couperet' remake |url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/park-pushes-for-couperet-remake-1118009836/ |last=Han |first=Sunhee |date=2009-10-12 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/busan-park-chan-wook-to-remake-casta-gavras-film-the-ax-1203360642/ |title=Busan: Park Chan-wook to Remake Costa Gavras' Dark Comedy 'The Ax' |website=Variety |last=Kil |first=Sonia |date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913003507/https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/busan-park-chan-wook-to-remake-casta-gavras-film-the-ax-1203360642/ |archive-date=2022-09-13}}</ref>

=== Further acclaim ===
In May 2020, it was announced that he was working on his next film, tentatively titled ''Heeojil gyeolsim'' (''The Decision to Break Up''). It is described as a [[melodrama]] and stars [[Tang Wei]] and [[Park Hae-il]].<ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2020 |title= |script-title=ko:[단독]박찬욱 감독 신작 '헤어질 결심' 박해일·탕웨이 호흡 |trans-title=[Exclusive] Director Park Chan-wook's new film *Decision to Leave* stars Park Hae-il and Tang Wei. |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002863955 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622160635/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002863955 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=Star News|via=[[Naver News]]|publisher=[[Naver]]|language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Raup |first=Jordan |date=19 May 2020 |title=Park Chan-wook's Next Film is a Melodrama Starring Tang Wei and Park Hae-il |url=https://thefilmstage.com/park-chan-wooks-next-film-is-a-melodrama-starring-tang-wei-and-park-hae-il/ |website=thefilmstage.com |publisher=The Film Stage |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913003505/https://thefilmstage.com/park-chan-wooks-next-film-is-a-melodrama-starring-tang-wei-and-park-hae-il/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2020, the title of the film was revealed as ''[[Decision to Leave]]'', with the story described as a murder mystery romance. The film was set to begin shooting later that month.<ref>{{cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |title=Park Chan-wook Set to Start Shooting Next Movie 'Decision to Leave' |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/park-chan-wook-to-shoot-decision-to-leave-1234802471/ |website=variety.com |date=13 October 2020 |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=6 February 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303022125/https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/park-chan-wook-to-shoot-decision-to-leave-1234802471/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Noh |first=Jean |title=Park Chan-wook's First Movie Since 'Handmaiden' Is a Murder Mystery Romance Filming This Month |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/park-chan-wook-set-to-start-shooting-decision-to-leave-for-cj-moho/5154053.article |website=indiewire.com |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119184506/https://www.screendaily.com/news/park-chan-wook-set-to-start-shooting-decision-to-leave-for-cj-moho/5154053.article |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2021, [[A24]] optioned [[Viet Thanh Nguyen]]'s 2015 novel ''[[The Sympathizer]]'' for a TV adaptation, with Park directing.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/park-chan-wook-to-direct-tv-adaptation-of-the-sympathizer.html|title = Park Chan-wook to Direct TV Adaptation of the Sympathizer|date = 6 April 2021|access-date = 9 April 2021|archive-date = 7 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210407182311/https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/park-chan-wook-to-direct-tv-adaptation-of-the-sympathizer.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/park-chan-wook-a24-television-sympathizer-1234628538/|title=Park Chan-wook Joins A24 for 'The Sympathizer,' His TV Return After 'Little Drummer Girl'|date=7 April 2021|access-date=9 April 2021|archive-date=8 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408023114/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/park-chan-wook-a24-television-sympathizer-1234628538/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was awarded [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director|Best Director]] at the [[2022 Cannes Film Festival]] for his work on ''Decision to Leave''.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Cronenberg, Park Chan-wook, Kelly Reichardt Set for Cannes Competition|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-cannes-lineup-film-festival-1235128080/|website=[[Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=14 April 2022|date=14 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416034452/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-cannes-lineup-film-festival-1235128080/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CannesWinners">{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=28 May 2022|title=Cannes Film Festival Winners Announced – Live|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/cannes-film-festival-2022-winners-full-list-1235035036/|access-date=28 May 2022|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528183125/https://deadline.com/2022/05/cannes-film-festival-2022-winners-full-list-1235035036/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2024, Park began filming his adaptation of ''The Ax'', titled ''[[No Other Choice]]'' ({{Korean|hangul=어쩔수가없다|labels=no}}).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thefilmstage.com/first-teaser-poster-for-park-chan-wooks-i-cant-help-it-which-begins-shooting-this-week/ |title=First Teaser Poster for Park Chan-wook's I Can't Help It, Which Begins Shooting This Week |date=2024-08-13 |website=The Film Stage |last=Raup |first=Jordan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/park-chan-wook-film-i-cant-help-it-1235976703/ |title=Park Chan-wook to Begin Shooting Violent Comedy-Thriller 'No Other Choice' |date=2024-08-16 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |access-date=16 August 2024 |archive-date=16 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816104433/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/park-chan-wook-film-i-cant-help-it-1235976703/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Park wrote the screenplay with previous collaborators [[Lee Kyoung-mi]], [[Don McKellar]] & Lee Ja-hye. The film would also see Park reunite with actors [[Lee Byung-hun]] and [[Cha Seung-won]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2024-08-16 |title=Park Chan-wook to Begin Shooting Violent Comedy-Thriller 'I Can't Help It' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/park-chan-wook-film-i-cant-help-it-1235976703/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

In August 2025, Park and writing partner [[Don McKellar]] were expelled from the [[Writers Guild of America]] for work performed on ''The Sympathizer'' during the union's [[2023 Writers Guild of America strike|2023 strike.]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Park Chan-wook, Don McKellar Expelled From WGA for Breaking Strike Rules on 'The Sympathizer' |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/park-chan-wook-expelled-wga-breaking-strike-1236482956/ |access-date=9 August 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=9 August 2025}}</ref> According to Park, a jury of WGA members determined that the violations were unintentional and stemmed from a misunderstanding of their roles during post-production. He claims the jury recommended only issuing a confidential warning, but the WGA Board of Directors voted to expel the duo for unspecified reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=2025-08-12 |title=Park Chan-wook Responds To WGA Expulsion, Says Strike Violations On 'The Sympathizer' Were "Unintentional" |url=https://deadline.com/2025/08/park-chan-wook-response-wga-expulsion-1236484878/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Filmmaking ==
In a May 2004 interview with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Park cited [[Sophocles]], [[Shakespeare]], [[Kafka]], [[Dostoevsky]], [[Balzac]] and [[Kurt Vonnegut]] as primary career influences.<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> Additionally, he has identified [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' as a "monument of film history" and one of his favorite films.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWZHkrAj2Yk |title=Park Chan-wook à propos de Taxi Driver de Martin Scorsese |date=2023-05-11 |last=LaCinetek |access-date=2024-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523144257/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWZHkrAj2Yk |archive-date=23 May 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}</ref> His selection of 61 favorite films for LaCinetek features multiple works by [[Luchino Visconti]], [[Abel Ferrara]], [[Michelangelo Antonioni]], [[Mikio Naruse]] and [[Alfred Hitchcock]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Chan-wook's list |url=https://www.lacinetek.com/fr-en/director-list/park-chan-wook |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=LaCinetek |language=en-US |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127232126/https://www.lacinetek.com/fr-en/director-list/park-chan-wook |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Park Chan-wook's filmography is characterized by a focus on precise cinematography, framing, black humor, and violent subject matter.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> 

Park maintains consistent technical partnerships, most notably with editor [[Kim Sang-bum (film editor)|Kim Sang-bum]], who has edited nearly all of Park's features since ''[[Joint Security Area (film)|Joint Security Area]]'' (2000).<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-12-10 |script-title=ko:[씨네멘터리] "서울의 봄"은 이렇게 편집됐다 |trans-title=[Cinementary] "Spring in Seoul" was edited like this. |url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1007456360 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]] |language=ko |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102083831/https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1007456360 |url-status=live }}</ref> Park's debut film, ''[[The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream]]'' was edited by Kim's father, Kim Hee-soo. Park first met them as a college student, when he joined the production staff of a directing project under editor [[Kim Sang-bum (film editor)|Kim Sang-bum]]''.''<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2016-04-26 |script-title=ko:김상범, 류승완, 류성희, 정서경, 오달수가 박찬욱 감독과 나눈 거침없는 대화 |trans-title=Sang-beom Kim, Seung-wan Ryu, Seong-hee Ryu, Jeong Seo-kyung, and Oh Dal-su have an open conversation with director Park Chan-wook. |url=http://m.cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=83865 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=[[Cine21]] |language=ko |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321163004/http://m.cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=83865 |url-status=live }}</ref> For his editing work in Park's latest film ''[[Decision to Leave]],'' Kim Sang-bum won the José Salcedo Award for Best Editing at the [[Valladolid International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FilmAffinity |url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/mx/award-edition.php?edition-id=seminci_2022 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=FilmAffinity |language=es-mx |archive-date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101020058/https://www.filmaffinity.com/mx/award-edition.php?edition-id=seminci_2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another notable collaborator of Park's is cinematographer [[Chung Chung-hoon]]. The pair first met during the production of ''[[Oldboy (2003 film)|Oldboy]]''. The two have since worked on several other projects together, including ''[[Lady Vengeance]]'', ''[[I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK]]'', [[Thirst (2009 film)|''Thirst'']], and ''[[The Handmaiden]]''. Chung is known for his exceptional use of lighting and camera work, and his visual style has been a strong match for Park's films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinematography Style: Chung-hoon Chung |url=https://www.indepthcine.com/videos/cinematography-style-chung-hoon-chung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101021013/https://www.indepthcine.com/videos/cinematography-style-chung-hoon-chung |archive-date=1 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=In Depth Cine |language=en-US}}</ref>

He has frequently collaborated with screenwriter [[Jeong Seo-kyeong]] on several projects, such as ''[[Lady Vengeance]]'', ''[[I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK]]'', [[Thirst (2009 film)|''Thirst'']], ''[[The Handmaiden]]'', and ''[[Decision to Leave]]''.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |script-title=ko:박찬욱의 버디라이터에서 마침내, 작가 '정서경'으로[플랫][2022 올해의 여성] |trans-title=From Park Chan-wook's buddywriter, finally to the writer 'Jeong Seo-kyung' [flat][2022 Woman of the Year] |url=https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/032/0003195962 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Kyunghyang Shinmun |language=ko |via=[[Naver News]]}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-01-06 |script-title=ko:정서경 각본에서 박찬욱 영화까지 |trans-title=From Jeong Seo-kyeong's screenplays to Park Chan-wook's films |url=http://www.vogue.co.kr/2017/01/06/정서경-각본에서-박찬욱-영화까지-2/ |access-date=2019-01-12 |website=Vogue Korea |language=ko-KR}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2023-01-13 |title='Decision to Leave' Co-Screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung Reflects on 20 Years of Collaboration With Director Park Chan-wook |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/decision-to-leave-co-screenwriter-interview-chung-seo-kyung-1235297240/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031085953/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/decision-to-leave-co-screenwriter-interview-chung-seo-kyung-1235297240/ |archive-date=31 October 2023 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

Park has also maintained a close collaboration with art director [[Ryu Seong-hie]], whom he recruited for ''[[Oldboy (2003 film)|Oldboy]]'' while she was working on ''[[Memories of Murder]]''. Since then, Ryu has served as art director for several of Park's films, including ''[[I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK]]'', ''[[Thirst (2009 film)|Thirst]]'', ''[[The Handmaiden]]'', ''[[Decision to Leave]]'', and ''[[No Other Choice]]''.<ref name=":7" /> Park has also collaborated with music director [[Jo Yeong-wook]] since [[Joint Security Area (film)|''Joint Security Area'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Ki-chang |date=July 28, 2004 |title= |script-title=ko:[대담한 문화읽기]''듣는 영화'' 묘미를 아십니까 |trans-title=[Bold Culture Reading] Do You Know the Beauty of "Listening to Movies"? |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=022&aid=0000044094 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Segye Ilbo |language=ko |via=[[Naver News]]}}</ref> The two have since worked on several other projects together, including [[Oldboy (2003 film)|''Oldboy'']], ''[[Lady Vengeance]]'', ''[[The Handmaiden]]'', and ''[[Decision to Leave]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=25 September 2014 |title=Cho Young-wuk (Film Music Composer) |url=http://www.hangulcelluloid.com/choyoungwukinterview.html |access-date=2014-10-07 |website=Hangul Celluloid |archive-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213022157/http://www.hangulcelluloid.com/choyoungwukinterview.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=30 September 2014 |title=KCC UK Year of the Professionals: Jo Yeong-wook 조영욱 |url=http://koreanclassmassive.com/2014/09/30/kcc-uk-year-of-the-professionals-jo-yeong-wook-%EC%A1%B0%EC%98%81%EC%9A%B1/ |access-date=2014-10-07 |website=Korean Class Massive |archive-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009100640/http://koreanclassmassive.com/2014/09/30/kcc-uk-year-of-the-professionals-jo-yeong-wook-%EC%A1%B0%EC%98%81%EC%9A%B1/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  

Park's casting choices frequently involve a recurring ensemble of prominent South Korean actors. [[Song Kang-ho]] has appeared in six of Park's feature length films. Other repeat performers include [[Shin Ha-kyun]], who has appeared in four films, [[Park Hae-il]], who has appeared in three films, and [[Lee Byung-hun]], who has appeared in one short film and two feature films. These partnerships, along with the contributions of other lead actors like [[Choi Min-sik]], [[Ha Jung-woo]], as well as actresses [[Lee Young-ae]], [[Moon So-ri]], [[Son Ye-jin]], and [[Kim Min-hee (actress, born 1982)|Kim Min-hee]], have been central to the critical and commercial reception of Park's work within the global film industry.

PARKing CHANce is a collaborative production brand founded by Park Chan-wook and his younger brother, media artist Park Chan-kyong. The name "Parking Chance" is a clever play on words combining the sounds of the brothers' surname Park and the syllable in their given names Chan, and can also be interpreted in English as "parking opportunity," reflecting their desire to explore creative projects that are challenging to secure. The brand has created several short films, including ''Night Fishing'' (2011), ''Odalslow'' (2011), ''[[Day Trip (film)|Day Trip]]'' (2012), ''V'' (2013), ''Decades Apart'' (2017), and ''Believe It or Not'' (2018).<ref>{{Cite web |title=파킹찬스 PARKing CHANce 2010-2018 |url=https://57studio.net/project/%ED%8C%8C%ED%82%B9%EC%B0%AC%EC%8A%A4-2010-2018/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=57STUDIO |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ASSOCIATED |url=https://magazine.sfac.or.kr/html/content_view.asp?PubDate=201707&CateMasterCd=300&CateSubCd=1318 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=magazine.sfac.or.kr |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=문화체육관광부 한국문화원 |url=https://www.korean-culture.org/kocc/view.do?seq=11377&page=797&pageSize=10&photoPageSize=6&totalCount=0&searchType=menu0023&searchText=&searchCondition=1&ctrcode= |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.korean-culture.org |language=ko}}</ref>

==Personal life==

=== Family and upbringing ===
Park was raised in a devout Catholic household in Seoul, a city his family has called home for five generations. While his upbringing was rooted in faith, he now identifies as an [[Agnosticism|agnostic]].<ref name="Dale-Variety">{{cite web |last=Dale |first=Martin |date=10 December 2015 |title=Park Chan-wook Talks About Next Pic ''The Handmaiden'' |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/global/park-chan-wook-next-pic-the-hand-maiden-1201658129/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135839/https://variety.com/2015/film/global/park-chan-wook-next-pic-the-hand-maiden-1201658129/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=23 November 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Mekado|title=Faith and Fangs: An Interview With Park Chan-wook|quote=Were there issues of faith in your own life that made you interested in creating this character?: I grew up in a very Catholic family. Up until puberty, I would go to a Catholic church every week. That is where I started to take an interest in religion, although currently I have no faith. But I had been made aware of a sense of guilt that is unique to Catholics.|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/faith-and-fangs-an-interview-with-park-chan-wook/|website=Artbeats|access-date=21 April 2019|date=30 July 2009|archive-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417152604/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/faith-and-fangs-an-interview-with-park-chan-wook/|url-status=live}}</ref> He grew up in an environment focused on intellectual and cultural pursuits; his father, Park Don-seo, was a professor of architecture and dean at Ajou University, and his grandfather, Park Seung-seo, served as president of the Korean Bar Association. His younger brother, [[Park Chan-kyong]], is a multimedia artist.<ref name="New Yorker 2024" />

Park met his wife, Kim Eun-hee, through a mutual friend while she was studying at [[Ewha Womans University]].<ref name=":2" /> He has since disclosed that when proposing, he misled his in-laws regarding his career by claiming to be a university professor. Park has frequently cited his wife's support as a cornerstone of his career, including during a 2015 tribute at the 15th [[Marrakech International Film Festival]].<ref name="Dale-Variety" /> Their daughter, Park Seo-woo, has followed the family's artistic path, studying at the [[Korea National University of Arts]] and later joining the art department for Park's film ''[[The Handmaiden]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-13 |title= |script-title=ko:박찬욱 감독, 아내와 딸 데리고 칸영화제 참석 |trans-title=Director Park Chan-wook attends the Cannes Film Festival with his wife and daughter. |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201605130889164062?t=20240107094042 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107012811/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201605130889164062?t=20240107094042 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=[[Hankook Ilbo]] |language=ko-KR}}</ref> The couple resides in [[Heyri Art Valley]] in a residence designed by architect Kim Young-joon. The house utilizes a modern-traditional aesthetic and is configured with separate living quarters to accommodate both Park's immediate family and his parents.<ref name=":5" />

=== Political views ===
In 2003, he shaved his head to protest the deaths of Hyosun and Misun in the [[Yangju highway incident]]. Ahead of the 2004 general election, he joined 226 other filmmakers in publicly declaring his support for the [[Democratic Labor Party (South Korea)|Democratic Labor Party]]<ref name=":6" /> and was also a member of its successor, the [[New Progressive Party (South Korea)|New Progressive Party]]. He supported [[Justice Party (South Korea)|Justice Party]] candidate [[Sim Sang-jung]] in the [[2017 South Korean presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ko:박찬욱 감독이 말하는 심상정에게 투표한다는 것, "언제가 되어야 아무 걱정없이 자기 소신껏 투표를 할 수 있다는 말입니까?" by 심상정 선대위|website = [[YouTube]]| date=26 April 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrmopYK9lFU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QrmopYK9lFU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
|+Books written by Park
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Pages
! rowspan="2" |Publisher
! rowspan="2" |ISBN
! rowspan="2" |{{tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! English
! Korean
|-
! scope="row" | 1994
| ''The Secret Charm of Watching Movies''
| 영화보기의 은밀한 매력
| —
| —
| —
| <ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Ji-yeon |date=May 25, 2009 |title= |script-title=ko: 칸영화제 심사위원상 박찬욱 감독 |trans-title=Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner Park Chan-wook |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/001/0002677507 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=Yonhap News |language=ko |via=[[Naver]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | 2005
| ''The Movie of My Life''
| 내 인생의 영화
| 255
| [[Cine21]]
| {{ISBN|89-95659-90-4}}
|
|-
| ''Park Chan-wook's Montage''
| 박찬욱의 몽타주
| 299
| rowspan="2" | Mind walk
| {{ISBN|89-89351-81-2}}
| <ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:박찬욱의 몽타주 |url=http://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=1990820 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224085523/https://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=1990820 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Book.naver.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:박찬욱의 몽타주 |url=http://book.daum.net/detail/book.do?bookid=KOR9788989351818 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212502/http://book.daum.net/detail/book.do?bookid=KOR9788989351818 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Book.daum.net}}</ref>
|-
| ''Park Chan-wook's Homage''
| 박찬욱의 오마주
| 528
| {{ISBN|89-89351-82-0}}
| <ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:박찬욱의 오마주 |url=http://book.daum.net/detail/book.do?bookid=KOR9788989351825 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212611/http://book.daum.net/detail/book.do?bookid=KOR9788989351825 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Book.daum.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=ko:박찬욱의 오마주 |url=http://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=1990821 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225050429/https://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=1990821 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Book.naver.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| ''There's No Secret to a Script''
| 각본 비밀은 없다
| 196
| Your Mind
| {{ISBN|9791186946138}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ko: 2017년 9월 8일 ~ 9월 14일, 땡스북스 금주의 책, 각본 비밀은 없다 |url= http://www.thanksbooks.com/site/thanksbooks/weekly/thetruthbeneath/|access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.thanksbooks.com}}</ref>
|}

==Filmography==
{{Main|Park Chan-wook filmography}}
* ''[[Joint Security Area (film)|Joint Security Area]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Oldboy (2003 film)|Oldboy]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Lady Vengeance]]'' (2005)
* ''[[I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Thirst (2009 film)|Thirst]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Stoker (film)|Stoker]]'' (2013)
* ''[[The Handmaiden]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Decision to Leave]]'' (2022) 
* ''[[No Other Choice]]'' (2025)

==Awards and nominations==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Park Chan-wook}}

==See also==
* [[List of Korean-language films]]
* [[Cinema of South Korea]]
* [[Contemporary culture of South Korea]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* {{HanCinema person}}

* {{IMDb name|661791}}
* {{KMDb person|00001274}}
* [https://people.search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%EB%B0%95%EC%B0%AC%EC%9A%B1&sm=tab_etc&ie=utf8&key=PeopleService&os=97586 Park Chan-wook] at [[Naver]]
* {{Rotten-tomatoes-person|id=chan_wook_park}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070614233727/http://www.parkchanwook.org/ Park Chan-wook: monographic website] (Italian & English)
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021113040244/http://www.cineseoul.com/movies/people.html?peopleID=4278 Cineseoul profile]}} (Korean)
* [http://www.fearnet.com/videos/b16118_sdcc_2009_park_chan_wookrsquos_thirst.html Park Chan-wook] at FEARnet
* [http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Park+Chan-Wook SuicideGirls interview with Park Chan-wook] by Daniel Robert Epstein
* [https://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/1/1/c/11c8f37427f58fbd/2009-07-28-Park_Chan-wook.mp3?c_id=2708492&cs_id=2708492&expiration=1619099775&hwt=8fc6338a789e77b49f4a35f253becf7e July 2009 Interview with Park Chan-wook] at the ''Korea Society'' (Audio)

{{Park Chan-wook}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Park Chan-wook
|list1 =
{{Paeksang Arts Award Grand Prize Film}}
{{Paeksang Arts Award Best Director Film}}
{{Blue Dragon Film Award Best Director}}
{{Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award}}
{{Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Director}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Grand Bell Awards for Best Director}}
{{Short Film Golden Bear Winners}}
}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Park, Chan-Wook}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Best Director Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Screenplay Asian Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director winners]]
[[Category:Directors of Best Foreign Language Film BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Grand Prize Paeksang Arts Award (Film) winners]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Seoul]]
[[Category:Sogang University alumni]]
[[Category:South Korean atheists]]
[[Category:South Korean film critics]]
[[Category:South Korean film directors]]
[[Category:South Korean film producers]]
[[Category:South Korean horror film directors]]
[[Category:South Korean screenwriters]]
[[Category:Producers who won the Best Foreign Language Film BAFTA Award]]