Yang Ik-june

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Yang Ik-june

Role / Field:

South Korean actor and filmmaker known for his directorial debut, Breathless.

Born:

1975-10-19

Century / Era:

1975s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Yang Ik-june (born October 19, 1975) is a South Korean actor and film director. He is best known for the 2009 film Breathless, which he wrote, directed, edited, and starred in. Born in Seoul in 1975, Yang graduated from the Department of Entertainment & Acting at the Kongju Communication Arts College. After discharge from his military service, Yang studied theatre and trained at the Actor's 21 Academy before delving into the film industry. In the next six years he starred in 30 short films, and won the Best Actor award at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival for the 2005 short film Ooh, You Make Me Sick.

Career & Major Achievements

In 2005 he directed his first short film, Always Behind You, which earned him the Audience Award at the Seoul Independent Short Film Festival. He also played minor roles in more than ten mainstream films such as Les Formidables, Maundy Thursday, and Viva! But it was Breathless, his semi-autobiographical feature directorial debut in which he also played the lead role, that catapulted Yang into star director status. Breathless was selected for the Asian Cinema Fund which provided post-production support, and the low-budget film had its world premiere at the 2008 Busan International Film Festival. It proceeded to receive much critical acclaim, winning 23 prizes in the international film festival circuit including a Tiger Award at Rotterdam.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Upon its theater release in Korea, the film performed better than expected at the box office with 130,000 admissions, a rare accomplishment for an independent film. Yang then starred in a supporting role in the 2010 comedy/road movie Looking for My Wife (also known as Runaway from Home). In 2011, he was a voice actor for The King of Pigs, an adult animated film on violence and bullying. He also directed the short films Departure and Immature that same year. Immature was funded by the Jeonju International Film Festival and released as part of the omnibus A Time to Love.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1975 (1975-10-19): Birth of Yang Ik-june — South Korean actor and filmmaker known for his directorial debut, Breathless.
2. 2005: 2005 Milestone — In the next six years he starred in 30 short films, and won the Best Actor award at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival for the 2005 short film Ooh, You Make Me Sick.
3. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Breathless was selected for the Asian Cinema Fund which provided post-production support, and the low-budget film had its world premiere at the 2008 Busan International Film Festival.
4. 2009: 2009 Milestone — He is best known for the 2009 film Breathless, which he wrote, directed, edited, and starred in.
5. 2010: 2010 Milestone — Yang then starred in a supporting role in the 2010 comedy/road movie Looking for My Wife (also known as Runaway from Home).
6. 2011: 2011 Milestone — In 2011, he was a voice actor for The King of Pigs, an adult animated film on violence and bullying.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Yang Ik-june

True or False: “Yang Ik-june's breakthrough film, Breathless, was initially released in a major commercial cinema run in South Korea.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Breathless had its world premiere at the 2008 Busan International Film Festival and was noted for performing well as an independent film.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Yang Ik-june