Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bong Joon-ho

How Bong Joon-ho built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Bong Joon-ho is a highly acclaimed South Korean filmmaker known for his exploration of social and class themes. His movies often blend genres, incorporate dark comedy, and feature unexpected shifts in tone. He is a three-time Academy Award winner, solidifying his place as a significant figure in contemporary cinema.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1994: Work as Lighting Technician

In 1994, Bong Joon-ho worked as a lighting technician on the shorts "The Love of a Grape Seed" and "Sounds From Heaven and Earth".

1996: Screenwriter for "Seven Reasons Why Beer is Better Than a Lover"

In 1996, Bong Joon-ho was credited as a screenwriter on the anthology film "Seven Reasons Why Beer is Better Than a Lover".

1997: Screenplay and Assistant Director for "Motel Cactus"

In 1997, Bong Joon-ho received screenplay and assistant director credits on Park Ki-yong's debut film, "Motel Cactus".

1999: Screenwriter for "Phantom: The Submarine"

In 1999, Bong Joon-ho was one of four writers credited for the screenplay of "Phantom: The Submarine".

February 2000: Release of "Barking Dogs Never Bite"

In February 2000, Bong Joon-ho's first feature film, "Barking Dogs Never Bite," was released.

2000: Release of "Barking Dogs Never Bite"

In 2000, Bong Joon-ho's directorial debut, the black comedy film "Barking Dogs Never Bite," was released and achieved a cult following.

2001: Cinematographer for "2001 Imagine"

In 2001, Bong Joon-ho worked as cinematographer on the short film "2001 Imagine".

April 2003: Release of "Memories of Murder"

In April 2003, "Memories of Murder" was released, becoming a critical and popular success.

2003: Release of "Memories of Murder"

In 2003, Bong Joon-ho achieved critical and commercial success with the release of the crime thriller "Memories of Murder."

2003: Contribution to "Twentidentity"

In 2003, Bong Joon-ho contributed "Sink & Rise" to "Twentidentity", a 20-part anthology film.

2004: Contribution to "Influenza"

In 2004, Bong Joon-ho contributed the short film "Influenza" to an anthology film project.

2006: Release and Reception of "The Host"

In 2006, Bong Joon-ho's "The Host" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was a major summer hit in South Korea, selling 13 million tickets. The administrations of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye later deemed The Host promoted leftist viewpoints, and included Bong on a leftist blacklist.

2006: Release of "The Host"

In 2006, Bong Joon-ho's monster film "The Host" was released, achieving both critical and commercial success.

2008: Directing segment of "Tokyo!"

In 2008, Bong Joon-ho directed a segment of "Tokyo!", a triptych feature film.

2009: Premiere of "Mother" at Cannes

In 2009, Bong Joon-ho's film "Mother" premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.

2011: Contribution to "3.11 A Sense of Home"

In 2011, Bong Joon-ho contributed to "3.11 A Sense of Home", an anthology film addressing the theme of home, in response to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. He also served as a jury member for the 27th Sundance Film Festival.

July 29, 2013: "Snowpiercer" Premiere in Seoul

On July 29, 2013, Bong Joon-ho's first English-language film, "Snowpiercer", premiered at Times Square in Seoul, South Korea.

2013: Release of "Snowpiercer"

In 2013, Bong Joon-ho made his English-language debut with the science fiction action film "Snowpiercer", achieving critical and commercial success.

April 2014: "Snowpiercer" Box Office Success

As of April 2014, "Snowpiercer" was the tenth highest-grossing domestic film in South Korea and set records for reaching four million admissions and highest weekend figure for a Korean film.

April 30, 2015: Jon Ronson announced writing Okja screenplay

On April 30, 2015, screenwriter Jon Ronson announced on his Twitter that he was writing the second draft of Bong Joon-ho's screenplay for the film Okja.

February 2016: Darius Khondji joins Okja as cinematographer

In February 2016, Darius Khondji joined the film Okja as cinematographer.

April 2016: Filming begins for Okja

In April 2016, filming for the project Okja began.

2017: "Okja" screened at Cannes Film Festival

In 2017, Bong Joon-ho's film "Okja" screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

2019: Release of "Parasite"

In 2019, Bong Joon-ho's acclaimed black comedy thriller "Parasite" was released, achieving critical and commercial success.

2019: "Parasite" Earns Palme d'Or

In 2019, Bong Joon-ho's film "Parasite" earned the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a first for a South Korean film.

January 2020: HBO series based on Parasite announced

In January 2020, an HBO six-hour limited series based on the film Parasite was announced, with Bong Joon-ho and Adam McKay serving as executive producers.

February 2020: Mark Ruffalo rumored to star in Parasite series

In February 2020, Mark Ruffalo was rumored to star in the upcoming HBO series based on Parasite, while Tilda Swinton was confirmed to be cast.

February 2021: Bong working on two scripts

In February 2021, Bong Joon-ho said he had been working on two scripts after completing Parasite, one in English and one in Korean, and that he had finished one of the two.