Former assistant director to Im Kwon-taek

Won Blue Dragon Film Awards' rookie director prize for 'Kim's War'

Director Kim Young-bin (right). [Yonhap. Provided by KMDb. Redistribution and DB prohibited]
Director Kim Young-bin (right). [Yonhap. Provided by KMDb. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

Kim Young-bin, the director behind films including "Kim's War" (1992) and "The Terrorist" (1995), died Sunday. He was 72.

According to family and film industry sources, Kim died suddenly Sunday. Born in 1955, he built his directing career as an assistant director on Im Kwon-taek's "Surrogate Mother" (1986), "Adada" (1987) and "Come, Come, Come Upward" (1989).

Kim made his directorial debut in 1992 with "Kim's War," based on the real-life case of Zainichi Korean Kim Hiro. The film earned him the rookie director prize at the 13th Blue Dragon Film Awards, the rookie director and screenplay awards in the film category at the 28th Baeksang Arts Awards, and the rookie director prize from the 12th Korean Film Critics Association Awards.

He went on to direct "No Exit" (1993), "The Terrorist" (1995), "Come to Me" (1996), "Phoenix" (1996), "Rush" (2007) and "Urban Romance" (2011).

In 2011 and 2012, Kim served as executive committee chairman of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

A memorial altar has been set up at Ujujangnye Funeral Home, Room 3, in Goheung-eup, Goheung-gun, South Jeolla Province. The funeral is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, with interment at Seoul Memorial Park.


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