Hong Sang-soo

Directing

Hong Sang-soo

Born October 25, 1960 · Seoul, South Korea (age 65)

Hong Sang-soo (born October 25, 1960) is a South Korean writer-director. He has directed 35 films as of 2026. Certain elements are commonly found in Hong's films. A typical Hong film highlights a theme of domestic realism with many of the scenes set on residential streets, cafes, hotels, schools, and in the stairwells of apartment buildings. Characters are seen walking around the city, drinking s…

Known For

Nowhere to Lay My Eyes
Aug 5, 2026
Nowhere to Lay My Eyes · 2026
Nowhere to Lay My Eyes
2026
MovieDrama
With her brother, Sang-hee visits her mother on Jeju Island. It’s been 10 years. Her mother's restaurant has become a hit. Her stepfather is making a film about a "grass tomb". His daughter has just started painting. Previously unknown facts, needless advice and cheap compliments are passed back and forth. On the morning of her departure, the other family members watch one of Sang-hee’s films.
On the Beach at Night AloneOn the Beach at Night Alone · 2017
On the Beach at Night Alone
6.62017
MovieDrama
In a foreign city, an actress wanders through a seaside town, reflecting on her relationship with a married man. How important is love in one’s life? Younghee wants to find out.
The Day She ReturnsThe Day She Returns · 2026
The Day She Returns
4.32026
MovieDrama
​Having stepped back from acting after marriage and a subsequent divorce, actress Bae Jeongsu returns to the profession with a role in an independent film. As the film’s release approaches, she takes part in a series of press interviews, only to discover later, when asked to revisit those moments in her acting class, that she cannot clearly recall what was said.
Right Now, Wrong ThenRight Now, Wrong Then · 2015
Right Now, Wrong Then
7.02015
MovieDramaRomance
By mistake, film director Ham Chunsu arrives in Suwon a day early. With time to kill before his lecture the next day, Chunsu stops by a restored, old palace and meets an artist named Yoon Heejung. Together, they go to Heejung's workshop to look at her paintings, have Sushi with Soju for dinner, and get close. Later, they go to another café and have more drinks with Heejung's acquaintances. When asked if he is married, Chunsu is forced to reveal the fact that he is, and Heejung gets deeply disappointed...
Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant ObserverTony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer · 2012
Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer
8.02012
MovieDocumentary
Prominent film critic Tony Rayns has long been a supporter of Korean cinema. This film illustrates Rayns’ affection for Korean cinema through interviews of Korean cineastes that have a special affinity for him, including JANG Sun-woo, LEE Chang-dong and HONG Sang-soo among others.
Venice 70: Future ReloadedVenice 70: Future Reloaded · 2013
Venice 70: Future Reloaded
5.12013
MovieDramaDocumentary
Made for the Venice Film Festival's 70th anniversary, seventy filmmakers made a short film between 60 and 90 seconds long on their interpretation of the future of cinema.
The Woman Who RanThe Woman Who Ran · 2020
The Woman Who Ran
6.62020
MovieDrama
While her husband is on a business trip, Gamhee meets three of her friends. She visits the first two at their homes, and the third she encounters by chance at a theater. While they make friendly conversation, as always, several currents flow independently above and below the surface of the sea.
Woman Is the Future of ManWoman Is the Future of Man · 2004
Woman Is the Future of Man
6.12004
MovieDramaRomance
As the first snow falls in Seoul, two old friends reunite; one is a successful college professor, and the other, a struggling filmmaker recently returned from the United States. After their reminiscences, they finally decide to go in search of the young woman each had romanced years earlier.

Movies

Nowhere to Lay My Eyes
Aug 5, 2026
Nowhere to Lay My Eyes · 2026
Nowhere to Lay My Eyes
2026
MovieDrama
With her brother, Sang-hee visits her mother on Jeju Island. It’s been 10 years. Her mother's restaurant has become a hit. Her stepfather is making a film about a "grass tomb". His daughter has just started painting. Previously unknown facts, needless advice and cheap compliments are passed back and forth. On the morning of her departure, the other family members watch one of Sang-hee’s films.
On the Beach at Night AloneOn the Beach at Night Alone · 2017
On the Beach at Night Alone
6.62017
MovieDrama
In a foreign city, an actress wanders through a seaside town, reflecting on her relationship with a married man. How important is love in one’s life? Younghee wants to find out.
The Day She ReturnsThe Day She Returns · 2026
The Day She Returns
4.32026
MovieDrama
​Having stepped back from acting after marriage and a subsequent divorce, actress Bae Jeongsu returns to the profession with a role in an independent film. As the film’s release approaches, she takes part in a series of press interviews, only to discover later, when asked to revisit those moments in her acting class, that she cannot clearly recall what was said.
Right Now, Wrong ThenRight Now, Wrong Then · 2015
Right Now, Wrong Then
7.02015
MovieDramaRomance
By mistake, film director Ham Chunsu arrives in Suwon a day early. With time to kill before his lecture the next day, Chunsu stops by a restored, old palace and meets an artist named Yoon Heejung. Together, they go to Heejung's workshop to look at her paintings, have Sushi with Soju for dinner, and get close. Later, they go to another café and have more drinks with Heejung's acquaintances. When asked if he is married, Chunsu is forced to reveal the fact that he is, and Heejung gets deeply disappointed...
Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant ObserverTony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer · 2012
Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer
8.02012
MovieDocumentary
Prominent film critic Tony Rayns has long been a supporter of Korean cinema. This film illustrates Rayns’ affection for Korean cinema through interviews of Korean cineastes that have a special affinity for him, including JANG Sun-woo, LEE Chang-dong and HONG Sang-soo among others.
Venice 70: Future ReloadedVenice 70: Future Reloaded · 2013
Venice 70: Future Reloaded
5.12013
MovieDramaDocumentary
Made for the Venice Film Festival's 70th anniversary, seventy filmmakers made a short film between 60 and 90 seconds long on their interpretation of the future of cinema.
The Woman Who RanThe Woman Who Ran · 2020
The Woman Who Ran
6.62020
MovieDrama
While her husband is on a business trip, Gamhee meets three of her friends. She visits the first two at their homes, and the third she encounters by chance at a theater. While they make friendly conversation, as always, several currents flow independently above and below the surface of the sea.
Woman Is the Future of ManWoman Is the Future of Man · 2004
Woman Is the Future of Man
6.12004
MovieDramaRomance
As the first snow falls in Seoul, two old friends reunite; one is a successful college professor, and the other, a struggling filmmaker recently returned from the United States. After their reminiscences, they finally decide to go in search of the young woman each had romanced years earlier.
Claire's CameraClaire's Camera · 2018
Claire's Camera
6.32018
MovieDramaComedy
On a business trip to the Cannes Film Festival, Manhee is accused of being dishonest, and fired. A teacher named Claire goes around taking photos with a Polaroid camera. She gets to know Manhee and sympathizes with her. Claire is like a person who can see Manhee's possible future or past selves, through the mysterious power of the beach tunnel. Through taking photos, Claire has acquired the ability to look slowly at things, and to transform objects. Now, Claire goes with Manhee to the café where she was fired. We look forward to seeing Claire's power at work.
In Another CountryIn Another Country · 2012
In Another Country
6.12012
MovieDrama
A young woman and her mother run away to the seaside town of Mohang to escape their mounting debt. The young woman begins writing a script for a short film in order to calm her nerves: There are three women named Anne, and each woman consecutively visits the seaside town of Mohang. A young woman tends to the small hotel by the Mohang foreshore owned by her parents. A certain lifeguard can be seen restlessly wandering up and down the beach that lies nearby. Each Anne stays at this small hotel, receives some assistance from the owner's daughter, and ventures onto the beach where they meet the lifeguard.
Ha Ha HaHa Ha Ha · 2010
Ha Ha Ha
6.32010
MovieComedyDrama
Over drinks, two friends agree to swap fond memories of their recent trips to the same seaside town. As the stories unfold in flashback, it becomes evident their accounts take place at the same time and with the same people.
Tale of CinemaTale of Cinema · 2005
Tale of Cinema
6.82005
MovieDrama
In Seoul, a suicidal student meets a young woman who decides to join him in his fatal gesture. Dongsoo, an unsuccessful filmmaker, spots a beautiful young woman, who happens to be the lead actress in the film he has just seen. Their stories will cross paths thanks to their love for cinema.
The Day a Pig Fell Into the WellThe Day a Pig Fell Into the Well · 1996
The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well
6.41996
MovieDrama
The lives of 4 interconnected South Koreans – a married couple, a novelist the wife is having an affair with, and a second woman the novelist is simultaneously involved with.
Nobody's Daughter HaewonNobody's Daughter Haewon · 2013
Nobody's Daughter Haewon
6.52013
MovieDrama
Facing her mother’s departure and the weight of a secret affair with her professor, college student Haewon drifts through a series of encounters and dreams, blurring the lines between her desires and reality.
A Traveler's NeedsA Traveler's Needs · 2024
A Traveler's Needs
6.52024
MovieDrama
Iris, a woman abroad in Seoul, teaches French and English in an idiosyncratic fashion that allows her to pursue her own philosophical and personal interests. Through four encounters over a single day, Iris probes students and strangers for information about poetry, their own histories, and their relationship to their egos.
Woman on the BeachWoman on the Beach · 2006
Woman on the Beach
6.22006
MovieDramaRomance
A movie director entices his young friend to come to the beach on the pretext of writing a script. He then starts an affair with the friend's girlfriend.
The Day AfterThe Day After · 2017
The Day After
6.52017
MovieDramaRomance
On her first day at work, Ah-reum replaces a woman who broke up with the boss. The wife of the boss finds a love note, bursts into the office, and mistakes Ah-reum for the other woman.
On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning GateOn the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate · 2002
On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate
6.72002
MovieDrama
After being rejected for a film role, a stage actor leaves Seoul to visit a friend and, in his travels, winds up getting involved with two women.
Our SunhiOur Sunhi · 2013
Our Sunhi
6.52013
MovieRomanceDrama
Sunhi, a film major graduate, visits her school to ask her Professor Choi for a recommendation letter to study in U.S. Knowing the professor favors her, she expects a good recommendation from him. Out from her shell after a long time, Sunhi also ends up meeting two men from her past: Munsu, her ex-boy friend, and Jaehak, a director who graduated from the same film school. Through the encounters between Sunhi and the three men, they give each other an 'advice on life' with good intentions. The three men who all have strong interests in her are led to guess and define her, unable to tell how she really feels inside. Strangely, the mentioned advices and traits of her are similar and seem to pass from one person to the next. The words of 'advice on life' seem doubtable and slip away as the three men's thoughts on Sunhi become more and more irrelevant.
Hill of FreedomHill of Freedom · 2014
Hill of Freedom
6.62014
MovieDrama
Kwon returns to Seoul from a restorative stay in the mountains. She is given a packet of letters left by Mori, who has come back from Japan to propose to her. Kwon drops and scatters the letters, all of which are undated. When she reads them, she has to make sense of the chronology.
The Day He ArrivesThe Day He Arrives · 2011
The Day He Arrives
6.92011
MovieDrama
A film director who no longer makes films arrives in Seoul to meet a close friend. When the friend doesn't show up, he wanders the city aimlessly for three days, grabbing drinks and meeting women, with each day playing out like a version of the last.
Like You Know It AllLike You Know It All · 2009
Like You Know It All
5.82009
MovieDramaComedy
A South Korean art house film director is first invited to serve on the panel of a film festival, then to guest lecture at a film school.
What Does That Nature Say to YouWhat Does That Nature Say to You · 2025
What Does That Nature Say to You
7.12025
MovieDrama
A young poet drops his girlfriend off at her parents' house and is amazed by its size. He bumps into her father, meets her mother and sister, and they all end up spending a long day together; fueled by conversation, food and libations.
The Power of Kangwon ProvinceThe Power of Kangwon Province · 1998
The Power of Kangwon Province
6.71998
MovieDramaRomance
After a breakup, a young woman goes to a mountain resort on vacation and falls for a married policeman. Unbeknownst to her, her ex is also vacationing there.