Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Kim Ki-young

Role / Field:

Master of intensely psychosexual and melodramatic South Korean cinema.

Born:

1919-10-10

Died:

1998-02-05

Century / Era:

1919s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Kim Ki-young (Korean: 김기영; October 10, 1919 – February 5, 1998) was a South Korean film director known for intensely psychosexual, melodramatic, and grotesque films, often centred on female characters. Born in Seoul and raised in Pyongyang, he developed an interest in theatre before moving south after World War II, where he studied dentistry while continuing to work in theatre. During the Korean War, he made propaganda films for the United States Information Service, and in 1955 used discarded equipment to produce his first two features, whose success led him to establish his own production company. Kim established himself with The Housemaid (1960), now regarded as one of the greatest Korean films.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Despite South Korea's heavy censorship and depressed market of the 1970s, Kim produced some of his most significant work, including Insect Woman (1972) and Iodo (1977). His career waned in the 1980s, but he became a cult figure in the early 1990s, and a retrospective at the 1997 Pusan International Film Festival brought renewed attention to his work. He and his wife died in a house fire in 1998 while he was preparing a comeback film. Directors including Im Sang-soo, Bong Joon-ho, and Park...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akashi Motojiro — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): General in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Taiwan.
• Alan Young — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): Esteemed British actor, celebrated for voicing Scrooge McDuck and starring in variety shows.
• Alfred Werner — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Contemporary (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Alan Hodgkin — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Pioneering physiologist known for action potential theory and Nobel laureate.
• Abdul Qadeer Khan — Shared historical date (10-10 · Died) (2021): Pakistani nuclear physicist, known as the 'father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program'
• Abel Tasman — Shared historical date (10-10 · Died) (1659): Dutch explorer famed for charting Tasmania and New Zealand for the VOC.
• Adam Ondra — Shared historical date (02-05 · Born) (1993): Czech professional rock climber, specializing in lead, bouldering, and competition.
• Aleksei Leontiev — Shared historical date (02-05 · Born) (1903): Founder of Activity Theory, a key figure in Soviet developmental psychology.
• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
• October 10 (10-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 10
• 1998 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1998
• February 5 (02-05) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Kim Ki-young