Juhn Jai-hong (Korean: ì „ìž¬í™ ; born 1977) is a South Korean film
director. He directed Beautiful (2008) and Poongsan (2011).Juhn
Jai-hong was born in Seoul, and began receiving vocal lessons in the
third grade. He moved to the United States at the age of 15 and after
graduating from the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, he
continued studying the art of singing in Vienna, Austria. Juhn said,
"I pursued the path of an opera singer for more than 20 years. I had
completed my studies, but felt that classical music limited my
expression. I also studied drawing as well, and I felt that cinema was
the perfect way to express all these things together." He then studied
business management at Webster University Vienna, because he thought
it was related to directing, "A director must lead the entire project
and all of his cast and crew â€" it's all about management."After
making the decision to pursue filmmaking, he moved back to New York
City, paid US$200 for a hand-held camera and started shooting short
films. He said being in Manhattan was a great advantage because there
were so many venues to shoot and getting permits was relatively easy.
From 2004 to 2007, Juhn shot a total of 14 short films, among which
Color competed at the 2005 New York International Independent Film and
Video Festival. He said, "I had no fear. I had no knowledge about
movies, which was what actually enabled me to do it."Juhn wanted to
direct an array of movie genres and styles, like his favorite
directors Ang Lee and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. And after being "completely
enraptured" by 3-Iron, Juhn called South Korean director Kim Ki-duk
his "idol," saying, "He changed my life." He met Kim by chance at the
Cannes Film Festival, and told him how he wanted to learn filmmaking
from Kim, that it would be better than attending a film school. Kim
agreed, so Juhn went back to New York, packed his belongings in eight
hours and headed to Seoul. It was his first time in his native country
in 14 years.
director. He directed Beautiful (2008) and Poongsan (2011).Juhn
Jai-hong was born in Seoul, and began receiving vocal lessons in the
third grade. He moved to the United States at the age of 15 and after
graduating from the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, he
continued studying the art of singing in Vienna, Austria. Juhn said,
"I pursued the path of an opera singer for more than 20 years. I had
completed my studies, but felt that classical music limited my
expression. I also studied drawing as well, and I felt that cinema was
the perfect way to express all these things together." He then studied
business management at Webster University Vienna, because he thought
it was related to directing, "A director must lead the entire project
and all of his cast and crew â€" it's all about management."After
making the decision to pursue filmmaking, he moved back to New York
City, paid US$200 for a hand-held camera and started shooting short
films. He said being in Manhattan was a great advantage because there
were so many venues to shoot and getting permits was relatively easy.
From 2004 to 2007, Juhn shot a total of 14 short films, among which
Color competed at the 2005 New York International Independent Film and
Video Festival. He said, "I had no fear. I had no knowledge about
movies, which was what actually enabled me to do it."Juhn wanted to
direct an array of movie genres and styles, like his favorite
directors Ang Lee and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. And after being "completely
enraptured" by 3-Iron, Juhn called South Korean director Kim Ki-duk
his "idol," saying, "He changed my life." He met Kim by chance at the
Cannes Film Festival, and told him how he wanted to learn filmmaking
from Kim, that it would be better than attending a film school. Kim
agreed, so Juhn went back to New York, packed his belongings in eight
hours and headed to Seoul. It was his first time in his native country
in 14 years.
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