Jang Joon-hwan is a critically acclaimed South Korean film director known for his innovative storytelling and genre-defying works. Born on January 18, 1970, Jang graduated from Sungkyunkwan University and began his directing career with the short film 2001 Imagine in 1994. He made a powerful impression with his feature-length debut, Save the Green Planet! (2003), a wildly original science fiction film that has since become a cult classic in Korean cinema. The film earned him the Best Director award at the Busan Film Critics Awards and the Special Silver St. George for Best Director at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Jang continued to explore complex narratives and themes through short films like Hair (2004) and Love for Sale (2010). After a decade-long gap, he returned to feature filmmaking with Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), a gripping revenge thriller. In 2017, Jang reached new heights with the political thriller 1987: When the Day Comes, which depicted pivotal events in South Korea’s pro-democracy movement. The film was both a critical and box office hit, earning Jang multiple accolades including Best Director and Best Film at the KOFRA Film Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards, solidifying his reputation as one of Korea’s most respected directors.
