Lee Mu-yeong

Contents

Song Chung-seop (Korean: 송충섭; born June 14, 1962), better known by the pen name Lee Mu-yeong (Korean: 이무영) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, novelist and theater critic.

Early life

He was born in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and grew up in Seoul. The son of a pastor,[1] their family emigrated to the United States while he was in high school. Later, he enrolled to School of Business at the Rutgers University. In 1983, while still in the U.S., he made his debut as a theater critic.[2]

Career

Early career (1990–1996)

Song Chung-seop his professional career as a radio producer at joined Catholic Peace Broadcasting, a position he held until July 1991. In March 1992, he debuted as a theater director and adopted the pen name Lee Mu-young. He followed this shortly after with his debut as a music critic in June 1992.[3]

In February 1993, Lee enrolled in the graduate program for Theater and Film Studies at Chung-Ang University. Throughout 1993, he established a wide range of professional credits: becoming a film critic in March, a poet in June, a theater actor in July, and a musical actor in October. He subsequently debuted as an essayist in May 1994. After graduating from Chung-Ang University in February 1995, Lee transitioned quickly into the film industry. He began working as a film critic that April, followed by his debuts as both an actor and a screenwriter in early 1996, the latter for the film Born to Kill.[1]

The Park-Ri-Damae partnership

Lee and Park Chan-wook first met in 1991 through an introduction by actor Song Seung-hwan. Their professional relationship strengthened as Park became a frequent guest on Lee's radio program. Reflecting on their partnership, Park noted that while Lee's early scripts seemed amateurish, their unconventional nature provided a creative freedom that allowed the pair to "hit it off" immediately. Lee has described their collaborative process as a seamless partnership without a formal division of labor; they often alternate between dictating and typing, a method Lee believes is significantly more efficient than writing alone.[4]

In 2000, they established the collective pen name Park-Ri-Damae (Korean: 박리다매) a portmanteau of their surnames inspired by the production company Oeyu Naegang. Their first official credit under this name was for Yoo Young-sik's Anarchists (2000). Their collaboration continued through a prolific period that included Park's Joint Security Area (2000), Lee's The Humanist (2001), and the 2002 films A Bizarre Love Triangle (directed by Lee) and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (directed by Park).[4][5]

In 2003, Lee returned to the United States to attend a graduate program in Theatre and Stage Production at Theatre and Stage Production at Kean University in New Jersey, earning his master's degree in 2005.[6] That same year, he reunited with Park Chan-wook as Park-Ri-Damae, working with director Yoon Tae-yong to co-write the screenplay for the fantasy film Boy Goes to Heaven.[7]

Later career and academic work (2009–present)

Lee's later career combined academic and literary pursuits. He served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Theater and Film at Seokyeong University from February 2009 to August 2009. In July 2011, he acted as a jury member for the competition section of the 7th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival in Chungcheongbuk-do. His debut as a novelist followed in September 2011.[8] Since August 2015, he has served as an associate professor in the Department of Film Studies at Dongseo University.[9][10][11]

Personal life

Family

Born into a religious household as the son of a pastor, Lee is a practicing Christian who maintains a daily morning prayer routine. He is married to former actress Jang Soo-young, the younger sister of actor Jang Se-jin. The couple met while attending the wedding of announcers Son Beom-soo and Jin Yang-hye as guests of the groom and bride, respectively.[6]

Politic

Progressive New Party Standing Committee Member and Special Advisor for Cultural and Arts Administration (July 2008 - November 2008)

Filmography

Filmmaking credit

Feature Film Credits[12]
YearTitleCredited asNotesRef.
DirectorScreenwriter
1996Born to KillNoCo-writing[13]Screenwriter debut[1]
1997TrioNoCo-writing[14][15][16]
2000AnarchistsNoCo-writing[17][18]
Joint Security AreaNoCo-writing[19][20]
2001The HumanistYesCo-writing[14]Film director debut[21]
2002Sympathy for Mr. VengeanceNoCo-writing[22][23]
A Bizarre Love TriangleYesCo-writing[14][24]
2005Boy Goes to HeavenNoCo-writing[25][26]
2008Like Father, Like SonYesYes[27]
2008Just KiddingYesYes[28]
2016Han River BluesYesCo-writing[29]Also as producer[30]

Acting

Film

Acting credit[12]
YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Transmutated HeadCameo
2001My Sassy GirlCameo
2002No Blood No TearsManagerCameo[31]
2012How to Use Guys with Secret TipsMorning Pro Male MC
Sex, Lies, and VideotapeUdon restaurant owner

Television

Television appearances[32][12]
YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
1993–1995The Nation NowKBSMorning news program, movie segment host[6]
1996Color – RedactorKBSTV series
1996–2000SBS Midnight TV EntertainmentSBS TV
1999–2000Movie Show Movies Are GoodFilm criticiTVTV show
2009Cinema ParadisoPanelistEBS
2012A Good Day to Watch a MovieMCTV Chosun
2013Yoo Jae-sik's BusinessSpecial panelistJTBC
2018Somehow an AdultLecturertvN StorySpecial lecture[33]
2025New-Oldboy Park Chan-wookHimselfSBS TVSBS TV Special Chuseok Documentary[34]

Radio

Radio show[32]
YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
1990Youth's Music WorldPDPBC
1996–1998Movie ExpressDJDCN
1998–2000Lee Mu-young's PopsworldKBS 2FM
2008–2012Lee Mu-young's Pop EnglishEBS FM[35]
2012Short Story WorldNarrator[36]
2015Reading Radio Reading SeriesDJ

Theater

Theater performance[12]
YearTitleRoleGenreNotes
1992King Lear—N/aTheaterDirector
1993HamletKing ClaudiusTheaterActor, Lead role
1993Guys and DollsBenny SouthstreetMusicalSupporting Actor
2004Sunday Seoul (선데이 서울)—N/aTheaterPlaywright[37]

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Busan International Film Festival Asian Project Market2011Grand PrizeSaenamteoWon[38]
Lotte Entertainment Screenplay Contest2013Grand PrizeOk-heeWon[39]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]Choi, Chang-geun (25 March 2019). [2월 INTERVIEW] 박찬욱 이무영 공동 시나리오 '미스테리오소' 연재 끝낸 이무영 감독 [[February INTERVIEW] Director Lee Moo-young Completes Serialization of "Mysterioso," Co-Screenplay with Park Chan-wook and Lee Moo-young]. Cultura (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  2. 2.영화과. "교수진소개". 영화과 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  3. 3.조선일보 (29 July 2020). "'붕어빵' 이무영 감독, 아들과 성이 다른 이유? '독특'". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  4. 4.[4.2]"'우리는 영화 친구' 이무영과 박찬욱". 중앙일보 (in Korean). 25 February 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  5. 5.최성열 (27 June 2023). "[ARCHIVE] 현장의 열기". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  6. 6.[6.2][6.3]Ha, Jae-bong (16 December 2004). "영화엔 노동자 의식이 있어야 한다"｜주간동아 [Films must have a worker consciousness]. Weekly Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  7. 7."염정아의 '소년, 천국에 가다' 시나리오 눈에띄네". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  8. 8.기자, 한윤정 (26 September 2011). "소설가 데뷔 영화감독 이무영 "새남터 망나니 파란만장한 삶 그려"". 경향신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  9. 9.송경원 (7 December 2015). "[동서대학교] 탄탄한 기본에 '기술력'이란 날개를 달다". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  10. 10.김희언 (25 December 2023). "[인터뷰] "한국영화계에 화두를 던지는 인재가 되길", 동서대학교 임권택영화예술대학 영화과 이무영 부교수, 강동헌 조교수". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  11. 11.이나경 (16 September 2020). "[동서대학교 임권택영화예술대학] 전폭적인 지지를 바탕으로 글로벌 인재 양성의 산실을 꿈꾼다". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  12. 12.[12.2][12.3][12.4]"씨네21". cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  13. 13.Collaborating with Jang Hyun-soo and Song Hae-sung
  14. 14.[14.2][14.3]Collaboration with Park Chan-wook
  15. 15."Trio - Films from the South". Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  16. 16.Doherty, Rory (13 October 2022). "Every Park Chan-Wook Movie, Ranked". Paste Magazine. Paste Media Group. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  17. 17.Collaboration with Park Chan-wook and Bangnidamae
  18. 18.Harvey, Dennis (26 March 2001). "Anarchists". Variety. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  19. 19.Collaboration with Kim Hyun-seok, Jeong Seong-san and Park Chan-wook
  20. 20."一般社団法人日本映画製作者連盟". Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  21. 21.OCN, 박찬욱 감독 초기작 특별편성 [OCN to Feature Director Park Chan-wook's Early Works]. Cine21 (in Korean). 3 June 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  22. 22.Collaboration with Lee Jae-soon, Park Chan-wook and Lee Yong-jong
  23. 23.Phillips, Michael (9 September 2005). "Elegant facade hides dark heart". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  24. 24.Harvey, Dennis (9 July 2003). "A Bizarre Love Triangle". Variety. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  25. 25.Collaboration with Park Seong-kyeong, Park Chan-wook, Lee Moo-yeong, Choi Dong-hoon, Yoon Tae-yong
  26. 26.Ha, Jae-bong (15 November 2005). "ko: [하재봉의 영화사냥] 소년, 천국에 가다" [[Ha Jae-bong's Movie Hunt] A Boy Goes to Heaven]. The Games Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  27. 27.최하나 (11 June 2008). "아버지와 마리화나". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  28. 28."국내 최초 IPTV 영화 탄생". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  29. 29.Collaboration with Han Chang-seong
  30. 30.조, 경이. "영화감독 이무영 "소수자에 대한 기독교적인 시각 담았다"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  31. 31.씨네21 (26 February 2002). "[Review] 피도 눈물도 없이". 씨네21 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  32. 32.[32.2]"영화인-감독". www.koreafilm.co.kr. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  33. 33."Director Lee Moo-young gives a special lecture on "Stars Succeed Only to Fail" in "How to Become an Adult."".
  34. 34.조선일보 (1 October 2025). 박찬욱 30년 영화인생 조명 [Park Chan-wook's 30-year film career highlighted]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  35. 35.Won, Seong-yoon (23 March 2009). EBS-FM ‘이무영의 팝스 잉글리시’ 공개방송. PD Journal.
  36. 36."짧은 이야기 세상 | Radio - 전 국민의 평생학교 EBS". home.ebs.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  37. 37.Jung, Soon-min. [하희라 VS 배두나]연극조명 받는 두 스타 여배우 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2023 – via Naver.
  38. 38."APM - Asian Project Market". APM - Asian Project Market. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  39. 39.Shin, Jin-a (26 June 2013). '죽이고싶은'조원희감독, 롯데시나리오공모전대상 "1억원 타셨군요". 노컷뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 December 2025.