Cho Chul-hyun, director of Hangul film Naratmalssami, dies of cancer at 67
In short
Cho Chul-hyun (조철현), the producer, screenwriter and director of the 2019 film Naratmalssami (나랏말싸미) about the creation of Hangul, died on 8 October aged 67 after treatment for bile duct cancer, Korean outlets reported citing the film industry. A long-time collaborator of director Lee Joon-ik, he won screenplay awards for Sado (사도). His funeral procession is set for 7 a.m. on 10 October from Korea University Anam Hospital.
Read the full story 2 min read
Cho Chul-hyun (조철현), who directed the 2019 film Naratmalssami (나랏말싸미), died on 8 October aged 67, outlets reported citing the film industry. Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo said he died at about 1 a.m. after treatment for bile duct cancer. Maeil Business and Seoul Shinmun, citing the film industry and his family, said he was diagnosed in February this year; Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said the diagnosis came early this year. Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business noted that he died the day before Hangul Day. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Born in 1959, Cho joined the Korea Film Distribution Corporation (한국영화배급주식회사) in 1987, Maeil Business reported, and spent about 40 years working as a producer, screenwriter and director. Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo also dated his entry into the industry to 1987, while an earlier Dong-A Ilbo report said he had worked as a producer and screenwriter since the 1990s. Seoul Shinmun described him as a leading translator who had translated about 600 foreign films from 1987, and said he, director Lee Joon-ik and the late Jung Seung-hye (정승혜) were likened to Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu in an era of film planning they led. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Outlets described him as a long-time collaborator of Lee Joon-ik, with Maeil Business saying he was counted among the director's circle. Reports listed work on films including Hwangsanbeol (황산벌), Jeulgeoun Insaeng (즐거운 인생), Nimeun Meon Gose (님은 먼 곳에), Gureumeul Beoseonan Dalcheoreom (구르믈 버서난 달처럼) and Pyongyangseong (평양성), though they describe his roles differently: Dong-A Ilbo said he wrote the screenplays for Hwangsanbeol and Dalmaya Nolja (달마야 놀자) and produced Pyongyangseong and Sado, while Hankook Ilbo said he handled production and screenplays on a list of films including both. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
His screenplay for Sado (사도), released in 2015, won awards at the 35th Korean Film Critics Association Awards, the 2nd Korean Film Producers Association Awards and the 21st Chunsa International Film Festival, according to Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun. Hankook Ilbo listed the Film Critics Association and Chunsa awards. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Cho made his directing debut in 2019 with Naratmalssami, which Chosun Ilbo called a late debut. Set in the late reign of King Sejong of Joseon, the film follows Sejong and the monk Sinmi (신미대사) around the creation of Hangul, with Song Kang-ho as Sejong and Park Hae-il as Sinmi, Maeil Business reported. Seoul Shinmun said the film followed long research into the creation of the script, drew about 960,000 viewers, and earned the late actress Jeon Mi-seon (전미선) a supporting actress award at the 2019 Korean Film Producers Association Awards for her role as Queen Soheon. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
The funeral altar has been set up in room 303 of the Korea University Anam Hospital funeral hall in Seoul. The funeral procession leaves at 7 a.m. on 10 October, and burial will be at Seoul Memorial Park (서울추모공원). [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Outlets described Cho as a figure who worked across translation, planning, production and screenwriting in Korean cinema for decades, including on several Lee Joon-ik films. Two outlets noted his death came the day before Hangul Day, the subject of his only film as director.
Key facts
- Cho Chul-hyun, born in 1959, died on 8 October aged 67. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He had been treated for bile duct cancer diagnosed this year; Maeil Business and Seoul Shinmun said the diagnosis came in February. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo reported he died at about 1 a.m. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- He made his directing debut in 2019 with Naratmalssami, a historical film about King Sejong and the creation of Hangul. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- His screenplay for Sado (2015) won awards from the Korean Film Critics Association, the Korean Film Producers Association and the Chunsa International Film Festival. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- He worked for many years with director Lee Joon-ik on films including Hwangsanbeol (황산벌) and Pyongyangseong (평양성). [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The funeral altar is at the Korea University Anam Hospital funeral hall, room 303; the procession leaves at 7 a.m. on 10 October and burial is at Seoul Memorial Park (서울추모공원). [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cho Chul-hyun died on 8 October aged 67. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He had bile duct cancer. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He was diagnosed in February this year. [ 6 , 7 ]
- He died at about 1 a.m. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- He entered the film industry in 1987. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- He made his directing debut in 2019 with Naratmalssami. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- He won screenplay awards for Sado. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- He was a long-time collaborator of director Lee Joon-ik. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The funeral altar is in room 303 of the Korea University Anam Hospital funeral hall. [ 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- The funeral procession leaves at 7 a.m. on 10 October. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Burial is at Seoul Memorial Park. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- When his career began Most reports say he entered the film industry in 1987, but one Dong-A Ilbo report says he worked as a producer and screenwriter from the 1990s.
- His exact role on individual films Outlets differ on whether he wrote, produced or planned particular films such as Hwangsanbeol and Pyongyangseong.
- He translated about 600 foreign films from 1987 Reported only by Seoul Shinmun.
- Naratmalssami drew about 960,000 viewers Reported only by Seoul Shinmun.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Cho Chul-hyun dies at about 1 a.m. on 8 October, according to the film industry. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Maeil Business reports his death. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports he had bile duct cancer diagnosed early this year. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports he died the day before Hangul Day. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Shinmun, citing the family, reports a February diagnosis and details of his translation and planning career. [ 7 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the death and funeral arrangements. [ 8 ]