Korean Magic on the Hollywood Stage: ‘Wonka,’ ‘Wish,’ and ‘Past Lives’ Await

Korean production teams are making a remarkable impact on Hollywood, garnering much attention.

Recently, at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, the Netflix series Beef, in which Korean directors, actors, and production teams put their efforts together, won eight awards and caused quite a stir. Furthermore, Korean production teams are participating on a large scale in highly anticipated projects of the first half of 2024, Wonka, Wish, and Past Lives, and are drawing attention.

Firstly, Director Chung-hoon Chung is attracting movie fans’ attention by participating in filming Wonka, which is set to be released in Korea on the 31st. Known as a long-time collaborator of Director Park Chan Wook with films such as Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK, Thirst, and The Handmaiden, Chung has solidified his position as one of Korea’s leading cinematographers by taking part in significant works like The Unjust and New World. After making his Hollywood debut through Park’s Stoker, Chung became the first Korean cinematographer selected as a qualified American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) member in 2023. In Wonka

, it is expected that Chung will showcase his exceptional skills, capturing a dazzling magical journey with stunning visuals and overwhelming cinematography.

The Disney centennial commemorative film Wish, released on the 3rd, saw the participation of many Korean animators, including Yoon Na-ra, Lee Hyun-min, Lee Sook-hee, and Choi Young-jae. In particular, Yoon, celebrating his 10th year at Disney, is a veteran who has brought many of Disney’s top characters to life in animations like Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and the Frozen series. In Wish, he once again proved his outstanding talent by taking charge of the character work for “Star,” the scene-stealer.

Lastly, the film Past Lives, a collaboration of Korean actor Yoo Tae-oh, Korean-American actress Greta Lee, and Korean-Canadian director Celine Song, confirmed its release in Korea in the first half of the year, raising expectations. Past Lives is a work that gracefully captures Korea’s worldview and scenery and has been nominated for 153 awards at prestigious ceremonies worldwide, winning 50 awards and the National Society of Film Critics Award, following in the footsteps of global hot topics like Parasite and Minari.