Kwak Kyung-taek

Directing

Kwak Kyung-taek

Born May 20, 1966 · Busan, South Korea (age 60)

Kwak Kyung-taek (born 23 May 1966 in Busan, South Korea) is a South Korean film director best known for his 2001 record-breaking film Friend.

Known For

A LoveA Love · 2007
A Love
6.72007
MovieActionDrama
In-ho is willing to do anything to protect his first love, Mi-ju, including murder. They cannot forget each other while In-ho is in prison, but their love does not go smoothly.
ChampionChampion · 2002
Champion
5.22002
MovieDrama
This biopic tells the true story of Korean boxer Kim Deuk-gu. Born into poverty, Kim used boxing to free himself from his bleak surroundings, eventually becoming the world's top lightweight. Tragically, Kim's life was cut short when he died from a blood clot in his brain during a championship fight with Ray Boom Boom Mancini.
Battle of JangsariBattle of Jangsari · 2019
Battle of Jangsari
6.82019
MovieDramaHistory
Korean War, September 1950. In order to fight the enemy forces based in the South of the peninsula, General MacArthur orders the start of the Incheon Landing Operation, deploying diversionary attacks in other locations. Without real military forces to spare, 772 very young Korean student soldiers, barely trained, are sent to Jangsari Beach, where they will face a heroic fate and discover the value of friendship. (A sequel to Operation Chromite, released in 2016.)
Friend: The Great LegacyFriend: The Great Legacy · 2013
Friend: The Great Legacy
6.62013
MovieDramaAction
Joon-seok is sent to prison for his involvement in Dong-soo's death. He meets Dong-soo's son in prison, keeps his identity a secret, and agrees to join forces when he is released. All of their plans fall apart when Sung-hoon finds out the truth.
FriendFriend · 2001
Friend
6.92001
MovieActionDrama
Despite their different family backgrounds, four friends grew up together in the wearisome years of the 70s. But as time goes by, each of them takes a different life path.
TyphoonTyphoon · 2005
Typhoon
6.02005
MovieActionThriller
A vengeful refugee-turned-pirate steals nuclear materials to attack and obliterate the Koreas in a Nuclear Typhoon. A top South Korean naval officer is assigned the task to stop his plans and execute him.
Dark Figure of CrimeDark Figure of Crime · 2018
Dark Figure of Crime
6.62018
MovieCrimeDrama
A serial killer is caught for his seventh murder. A cop tries to solve the first six cases with the killer's help, but starts to suspect that he has ulterior motives. Based on a true story.
My Dad is a Zombie
NEW
My Dad is a Zombie · 2026
My Dad is a Zombie
2026
MovieComedy

Movies

A LoveA Love · 2007
A Love
6.72007
MovieActionDrama
In-ho is willing to do anything to protect his first love, Mi-ju, including murder. They cannot forget each other while In-ho is in prison, but their love does not go smoothly.
ChampionChampion · 2002
Champion
5.22002
MovieDrama
This biopic tells the true story of Korean boxer Kim Deuk-gu. Born into poverty, Kim used boxing to free himself from his bleak surroundings, eventually becoming the world's top lightweight. Tragically, Kim's life was cut short when he died from a blood clot in his brain during a championship fight with Ray Boom Boom Mancini.
Battle of JangsariBattle of Jangsari · 2019
Battle of Jangsari
6.82019
MovieDramaHistory
Korean War, September 1950. In order to fight the enemy forces based in the South of the peninsula, General MacArthur orders the start of the Incheon Landing Operation, deploying diversionary attacks in other locations. Without real military forces to spare, 772 very young Korean student soldiers, barely trained, are sent to Jangsari Beach, where they will face a heroic fate and discover the value of friendship. (A sequel to Operation Chromite, released in 2016.)
Friend: The Great LegacyFriend: The Great Legacy · 2013
Friend: The Great Legacy
6.62013
MovieDramaAction
Joon-seok is sent to prison for his involvement in Dong-soo's death. He meets Dong-soo's son in prison, keeps his identity a secret, and agrees to join forces when he is released. All of their plans fall apart when Sung-hoon finds out the truth.
FriendFriend · 2001
Friend
6.92001
MovieActionDrama
Despite their different family backgrounds, four friends grew up together in the wearisome years of the 70s. But as time goes by, each of them takes a different life path.
TyphoonTyphoon · 2005
Typhoon
6.02005
MovieActionThriller
A vengeful refugee-turned-pirate steals nuclear materials to attack and obliterate the Koreas in a Nuclear Typhoon. A top South Korean naval officer is assigned the task to stop his plans and execute him.
Dark Figure of CrimeDark Figure of Crime · 2018
Dark Figure of Crime
6.62018
MovieCrimeDrama
A serial killer is caught for his seventh murder. A cop tries to solve the first six cases with the killer's help, but starts to suspect that he has ulterior motives. Based on a true story.
My Dad is a Zombie
NEW
My Dad is a Zombie · 2026
My Dad is a Zombie
2026
MovieComedy
Doctor KDoctor K · 1999
Doctor K
6.31999
MovieRomanceDrama
Terminally ill patients are magically cured by a neurosurgeon who transfers their tumors to his own brain.
FirefightersFirefighters · 2024
Firefighters
7.02024
MovieDrama
Even in the harshest environments, firefighters must focus on extinguishing fires and rescuing everyone there. At 3:47 AM on March 4, 2001, the 119 emergency call center receives a phone call about a fire that has broken out in the Hongje-dong neighborhood. Firefighters, including newcomer Cheol-woong, rush to the scene.
RV: Resurrected VictimsRV: Resurrected Victims · 2017
RV: Resurrected Victims
5.62017
MovieThrillerMystery
Based on the Resurrected Victims Phenomenon where murder victims come back to life to avenge the murderer, a prosecutor is suspected of his mother’s murder.
PainPain · 2011
Pain
6.42011
MovieDramaRomance
A debt collector who has lost his sense of pain after being in an accident when he was young falls in love with a street vendor who has acute hemophilia.
Ari Ari the Korean CinemaAri Ari the Korean Cinema · 2012
Ari Ari the Korean Cinema
5.52012
MovieDocumentary
Director Chung Ji-Young criticizes the thought that older directors have difficulties in making certain movies. Actress Yoon Jin-Seo agonizes over her identity as an actress. In 2009, before the movie "Unbowed" was made, they met and planned a documentary about Korean movies, including the processes a Korean movie goes through and difficulites. "Ari Ari the Korean Cinema" is a documentary with interviews of Korean directors, actors and actresses.
The Classified FileThe Classified File · 2015
The Classified File
6.62015
MovieCrimeDrama
A detective and a fortune teller join forces to find a kidnapped child whom no one expects to be alive. Based on a true story.
3pm Paradise3pm Paradise · 1997
3pm Paradise
3.71997
MovieComedy
A mix of social classes and characters mingle at the Eoksutang, a popular public sauna, every afternoon. Wan-ki, a wannabe movie director, a monk with VD, nude photographer searching for the perfect body, a Russian model and a peeping Tom are among the clients.
Eye For An EyeEye For An Eye · 2008
Eye For An Eye
6.42008
MovieActionCrime
The devious brain behind a heist draws a top police detective, on the eve of his retirement, into an elaborate plot of robbery and revenge.
School CasteSchool Caste · 2022
School Caste
2022
MovieDrama
Aspiring writer Je-a unveils a shocking truth from the observations she makes of the fellow students at her high school where there is something akin to a caste system.
The Ugly DucklingThe Ugly Duckling · 2012
The Ugly Duckling
6.02012
MovieDramaComedy
A man joins the national army as a soldier who does haircuts for other soldiers. However, he feels frustrated for being on miscellaneous duties rather than what he was conscripted for.
Mutt BoyMutt Boy · 2003
Mutt Boy
6.22003
MovieDrama
Life is tough for Chol-Min - his mother died during labor, forcing him to grow up alonge with his stoic police officer father. However, Chol-Min lives a high-spirited life and roams around town with his own mutt, a half-bred police dog, making friends and enemies along the way.
Lifting King KongLifting King Kong · 2009
Lifting King Kong
7.02009
MovieDrama
Lee Ji-Bong is a former Olympics bronze medalist for weight-lifting, but a career-ending injury from the games forces him into early retirement. Unable to find another vocation, he becomes destitute. Down and out, he ends up working at a shady nightclub passing out flyers until he is visited by his former coach who insists he begin a career as a coach at a high school. There, he forms a weight-lifting team comprised of a rag-tag group of outcasts.
BoyBoy · 2011
Boy
5.52011
MovieDrama
Winter 1988 - Middle school student Jin-Woo lives with his unemployed alcoholic father and his mother who frequently attempts to run away from home due to her unhappiness with her husband. Jin-Woo's older sister does whatever she wants and fumes at her mother for the life she lives. Jin-Woo feels sorry for his mom who has to support the family alone and starts to work as a newspaper delivery boy. At the newspaper distribution plant, he meets another boy named Chang-Geun who works hard to save money. Jin-Woo learns from Chang-Geun things like how to smoke, drink alcohol and how to deal with girls. Jin-Woo learns about life through Chang-Geun.
Stay With MeStay With Me · 2018
Stay With Me
2018
MovieRomance
A VR romance film about bittersweet first love story of a stage frightened prospective musician Woo Jin and vivacious would be actress Yeon Soo

TV Shows

Home AloneHome Alone · 2013
Home Alone
7.52013
Series
It can be a badge of honor to be “single.” “I Live Alone” is a documentary-style South Korean reality series that follows the members of a self-formed club called Rainbow, which is comprised of celebrities who are single and live alone.
Movie RoomMovie Room · 2018
Movie Room
9.42018
Series
Movie meets humanities! This talk show/variety show for movie enthusiasts features interesting discussions by a writer and two movie directors where film and humanities intertwine.
Friend, Our LegendFriend, Our Legend · 2009
Friend, Our Legend
4.02009
SeriesDramaRomance
Based on the 2001 film, Friend, Our Legend expands and retells Kwak Kyung-taek's semi-autobiographical rough-and-tumble tale about four childhood friends coming of age in the tough streets of Busan in the 1970s and 1980s. As they enter into manhood, best friends Dong-soo and Joon-seok become enemies and bitter rivals in the city's underworld of gangs.
Miracle AuditionMiracle Audition · 2011
Miracle Audition
2011
Series