 |
| A memorial altar for the late film producer Lee Tae-won is set up at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Lee Tae-won, a veteran film producer who was the driving force behind the creation of what some called the renaissance of Korean cinema in the 1990s and early 2000s, died at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital in Seoul, Sunday. He was 83.
He had been suffering from health problems and was hospitalized in July last year after suffering a stroke.
Director Im Kwon-taek, Lee's longtime collaborator and friend, as well as cinematographer Jung Il-sung, director Im Sang-soo and actors Choi Min-sik and Shin Hyun-joon visited the memorial altar to pay tribute to the deceased.
Lee was one of the few independent filmmakers who dominated Korea's movie industry from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.
"I've been in frequent contact with Lee, but he hasn't replied to my calls or texts since over a year and a half ago," Jung told Yonhap News Agency.
"Studios are now run by conglomerates that need every film to be a blockbuster. Lee was one of the few people who produced films with a cinephile mind, without being driven by commercial success," he added.
Lee produced 36 films during his illustrious career. Of them, 11 were directed by Im, whose cinematic oeuvre has focused on exploring the meaning of Koreanness.
 |
| From left, cinematographer Jung Il-sung, film producer Lee Tae-won and director Im Kwon-taek pose in the middle of an audition for the film "Beyond the Years," in this Nov. 9, 2005 file photo. Yonhap |
Lee was born in today's North Korea in 1938 and was among the millions of people whose families were left divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.
He launched his movie producing career with the 1959 film "A Long Affection," which saw a tepid response. Years after working in the construction industry, he founded Taehung Pictures in 1983 and became a full-time movie producer, beginning with director Lee Jang-ho's "Between the Knees" (1984).
He later worked closely with director Im on films including "The General's Son" (1990), "Seopyonje" (1993) "Chunhyang" (2000) and "Chihwaseon" (2002).
"Seopyonje" was both well received and a hit. For the first time in Korea's movie history, the film surpassed 1 million moviegoers in Seoul. It won the Best Director and Best Actress awards at the first Shanghai International Film Festival. "Chunhyang" became the first Korean film ever to compete in the Cannes International Film Festival.
"Chihwaseon" brought Im the Best Director award at the 55th Cannes Film Festival in 2002.
Lee's last film "Raging Years," also directed by Im, was based on his early life experiences.
In his lifetime, Lee was recognized for his contributions to the Korean film industry. He was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit medal in 1993 and 2003. He also won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grand Bell Awards in 1994 and the Baeksang Arts Award's Special Award in 2003.
He is survived by his wife Lee Han-sook, three sons and one daughter. The memorial service is held at Severance Hospital.
![[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source?](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d9b4b117e5b74f4c931de724ebd2ee68.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8b795a8f6b42492db4e8fdc47e9abd8d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/fe381342632c46bfa6d3245cb475676e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
