Filmmaker Park Chan-wook is honored at Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

By Stephen Rakower

Award-winning filmmaker Park Chan-wook was honored tonight at Chapman University as part of a three day celebration of Korean film. The opening celebration kicks off a 3-day event in partnership with the Pusan International Film Festival.

Orange, California

Filmmaker Park Chan-wook was presented at Chapman University with Chapman Pusan West's first Pusan West Icon Award at a ceremony kicking off a 3-day celebration of Korean film, arts, food and culture.

Park is best known for his films, Joint Security Area, Thirst, and The Vengeance Trilogy of films, (2002) Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance , (2003) Oldboy , and (2005) Sympathy for Lady Vengeance .

Park will also hold an exclusive Chapman Pusan West writing and directing Master Class for Chapman students during the 3-day film celebration.

Park is joined by five of Korea's most celebrated film directors who also will be screening their films and host question and answer sessions at the event.

Park Chan-wook, Filmmaker ("Thirst" Director's Cut)
Kim Jee-woon, Filmmaker ("A Bittersweet Life" Director's Cut)
Lee Doo-yong, filmmaker ("Last Witness")
Park Jin-sung, Filmmaker ("Evil Spirit: VIY")
Kim Dong-won, Filmmaker ("Drifting Away")
Kim Young-nam, Filmmaker ("Don't Look Back")

Chapman Pusan West was created as a result of a groundbreaking partnership between Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, Asia's largest film festival.

Dodge College Professor Nam Lee, an expert in Korean film and Pusan International Film Festival programmer Lim Jae-cheol selected the Korean films and documentaries being screened at Chapman Pusan West in cooperation with Dean Bob Bassett.

Professor Nam Lee said, "we are seeing a noticeable surge in popularity and a groundswell of support for Korean cinema in the U.S. Referred to as Hallyu (Korean Wave), in Asian communities, we feel compelled to support this movement so that our studenets and the public don't miss out on the unique voices of this important national cinema. We know of no better partner in advancing this movement than the Pusan International Film Festival, which has been fully supportive and amazing to work with."

Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is renowned for its state of the art teaching facilities modeled as a working studio, and an Oscar and Emmy-award winning faculty with more feature film credits than any other film school.