Current Projects:
K-Unity Language Map; A Vital Tool for Bridging Linguistic Gaps for Unification.
Biography:
I have worked as a documentary director, newspaper reporter, TV producer, author and screenwriter. I have focused on human rights in North Korea and the K-pop entertainment industry. My documentaries have won global awards such as the Monte Carlo TV Festival (Monaco), Rory Peck Awards (UK), Ryszard Kapuscinski Award (Poland) and the Asian TV Awards (Singapore). I have been nominated for the Emmy Awards (US) and the Banff Rockie Awards (Canada), three times each. My documentaries have been hosted by international film festivals including the IDFA (Netherlands), Vancouver (Canada), and Jeonju (South Korea). My book about North Korean defectors has been translated and published by Stanford University. My drama series SAVIOR goes into production. I am much interested in the combination of creative work and research.
Educational Background:
2021-2022, Kyungil University, Associate Professor, School of K-Culture Entertainment.
2017-2020, Dongguk University, DFA in Film Production.
2014-2017, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, MA in Science Journalism.
1991-1998, Sogang University, BA in English Literature and Language.
Research Interests:
K-Unity Language, K-POP & K-Drama, Documentary as a source of stories, NK refugees.
Recent Publications:
"A Case Study on the Production of Educational Documentary at University in the United States after COVID-19", Vol. 21 No. 3, 2023, Korean Arts Education Journal, pp. 101-113.
"A Study on the North Korean defector Relief Model derived from Refugee Documentaries", No 36, 2021, Journal of the Moving Image Technology Association of Korea, pp. 5-29.
"A Study of K-Pop Girl Group’s Graduation System through the Application of the Scapegoat Mechanism", Vol. 14 No. 2, 2020, Journal of the Korea Entertainment Industry Association, pp. 63-71.
"Raising a Question on Audience’s Subjectification in Kieslowski Film", No. 30, 2019, Journal of the Moving Image Technology Association of Korea, pp. 187-205.
Books:
K-POP IDOLS; Popular Culture and the Emergence of the Korean Music Industry, Lexington Books (US), 2019.
Crossing Heaven’s Border, APARC at Stanford University (US), 2015.
9 Muses of Star Empire, Munhakdongne Publishing (South Korea), 2014.
Crossing Heaven’s Border, Yoyo-Keizai (Japan), TITAN Publishing (Taiwan), 2013.
Unexpected Life, Hyehwadong Publishing (South Korea), 2013.
Films:
SAVIOR, Drama Series, 2025 (work-in-progress), Writer.
K-POP: Next Level, Stanford University, Educational Documentary, 2022, Director.
Till The End, Reality-Based Entertainment Program, 2020, Producer & Director.
A Good Business, Feature-Length Documentary, 2018, Director.
Phantoms of the Border, News Documentary, 2013, Director.
IDOL, News Documentary, 2013, Director.
9 Muses of Star Empire, Feature-Length Documentary, 2012, Director.
Across Land, Across Sea, News Documentary, 2011, Director.
Seeking Haven, News Documentary, 2011, Director.
Crossing Heaven’s Border, News Documentary, 2009, Producer & Director.
Korea; Out of the North, News Documentary, 2008, Producer & Director.
Links:
Washington Post Article
Korean Film Database
