Lee Sang-woo

Directing

Lee Sang-woo

Born

1971-02-24 (55)

Place of birth

Seoul, South Korea

Known for

Directing

Credits

46 titles

Lee Sang-woo (이상우) is a South Korean film director.

Known for

A Thousand Days' Promise poster
6.8

A Thousand Days' Promise is a 2011 South Korean traditional melodrama about a woman who is losing her memory and the loving man who stands by her side. Written by famed drama writer Kim Soo-hyun, it aired on SBS from October 17 to December 20, 2011 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.

A Thousand Days' Promise

2011

Deathcember poster
5.3

Advent – a time of joyful anticipation. You will surely remember the feeling you had as a child, waking up on the first December morning. Rising early, ready to open a new door for 24 consecutive days.

Deathcember

2019

One Summer Night poster
5.9

Caught in forbidden love, Yong Joon defects from North Korea, leaving Jae Sung behind. Years later, a reunion forces him to choose between past and present.

One Summer Night

2016

Barbie poster
7.2

Soon-young lives with her mentally handicapped father and younger sister Soon-ja. When an American man and his daughter Barbie arrive for an adoption, the family must decide who is to let go, Soon-young or Soon-ja.

Barbie

2011

Mother Is a Whore poster
6.8

Sang-woo, 38, has AIDS and lives with his 60-year-old mother. She works as a prostitute while he acts as her pimp to support them both. Despite their circumstances, they maintain a strong bond as he struggles to break free.

Mother Is a Whore

2011

All About My Father poster
3.0

An omnibus queer movie about three fathers with families. Part 1: ‘My Father’s Desire’ is about a father who feels desire because of his son. Part 2: ‘My Father’s Truth’ is about father and son, who are drawn to one man. Part 3, ‘My Father’s Secret’ talks about a father who finds a gay magazine in his kindergartener son’s bag.

All About My Father

2010

Film credits

2010s · 6 titles

One Summer Night poster
5.9

Caught in forbidden love, Yong Joon defects from North Korea, leaving Jae Sung behind. Years later, a reunion forces him to choose between past and present.

One Summer Night

2016

Mother Is a Whore poster
6.8

Sang-woo, 38, has AIDS and lives with his 60-year-old mother. She works as a prostitute while he acts as her pimp to support them both. Despite their circumstances, they maintain a strong bond as he struggles to break free.

Mother Is a Whore

2011

All About My Father poster
3.0

An omnibus queer movie about three fathers with families. Part 1: ‘My Father’s Desire’ is about a father who feels desire because of his son. Part 2: ‘My Father’s Truth’ is about father and son, who are drawn to one man. Part 3, ‘My Father’s Secret’ talks about a father who finds a gay magazine in his kindergartener son’s bag.

All About My Father

2010

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia poster
NR

Young-taek is a high school student. One day, a boy visits his house. It turns out that this boy is his father's lover. He can't believe that his father is gay but eventually accepts the fact. After he graduates from high school and attends university, he meets a senior classmate who becomes being in love with him. The senior classmate harasses him in the name of love. After he goes to serve in the army, he is sexually harassed by his sergeant who has a girlfriend. Young-taek has been homophobic, but after meeting different people, he reconsiders life and love.

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia

2017

I Am Trash poster
5.0

Three grown sons have struggled to achieve some sort of normal routine after their father was sent off to prison for sexual assault on an underaged girl. Their lives are thrown into radical disarray when dad finishes his time and returns to the family home. The fact that the victim’s father is awaiting the return outside their door with a knife is certainly not any help to their situation... but it’s not like things are going so well otherwise, with the three sons, a virtual compendium of sexual dysfunctions in their own right.

I Am Trash

2016

Fire in Hell poster
3.8

Ji-wol, a Buddist monk, is excommunicated because of an inappropriate affair with a female believer. He rapes and kills another woman and leaves with her ashes for the Philippines where her family lives. However, there he falls in love with her twin sister. A shocking interpretation of karma.

Fire in Hell

2012

Series credits

Behind the camera

Deathcember poster
5.3

Advent – a time of joyful anticipation. You will surely remember the feeling you had as a child, waking up on the first December morning. Rising early, ready to open a new door for 24 consecutive days.

Deathcember

2019

Deathcember poster
5.3

Advent – a time of joyful anticipation. You will surely remember the feeling you had as a child, waking up on the first December morning. Rising early, ready to open a new door for 24 consecutive days.

Deathcember

2019

One Summer Night poster
5.9

Caught in forbidden love, Yong Joon defects from North Korea, leaving Jae Sung behind. Years later, a reunion forces him to choose between past and present.

One Summer Night

2016

Barbie poster
7.2

Soon-young lives with her mentally handicapped father and younger sister Soon-ja. When an American man and his daughter Barbie arrive for an adoption, the family must decide who is to let go, Soon-young or Soon-ja.

Barbie

2011

Barbie poster
7.2

Soon-young lives with her mentally handicapped father and younger sister Soon-ja. When an American man and his daughter Barbie arrive for an adoption, the family must decide who is to let go, Soon-young or Soon-ja.

Barbie

2011

Barbie poster
7.2

Soon-young lives with her mentally handicapped father and younger sister Soon-ja. When an American man and his daughter Barbie arrive for an adoption, the family must decide who is to let go, Soon-young or Soon-ja.

Barbie

2011

Mother Is a Whore poster
6.8

Sang-woo, 38, has AIDS and lives with his 60-year-old mother. She works as a prostitute while he acts as her pimp to support them both. Despite their circumstances, they maintain a strong bond as he struggles to break free.

Mother Is a Whore

2011

Mother Is a Whore poster
6.8

Sang-woo, 38, has AIDS and lives with his 60-year-old mother. She works as a prostitute while he acts as her pimp to support them both. Despite their circumstances, they maintain a strong bond as he struggles to break free.

Mother Is a Whore

2011

Mother Is a Whore poster
6.8

Sang-woo, 38, has AIDS and lives with his 60-year-old mother. She works as a prostitute while he acts as her pimp to support them both. Despite their circumstances, they maintain a strong bond as he struggles to break free.

Mother Is a Whore

2011

All About My Father poster
3.0

An omnibus queer movie about three fathers with families. Part 1: ‘My Father’s Desire’ is about a father who feels desire because of his son. Part 2: ‘My Father’s Truth’ is about father and son, who are drawn to one man. Part 3, ‘My Father’s Secret’ talks about a father who finds a gay magazine in his kindergartener son’s bag.

All About My Father

2010

Bittersweet Brew poster
5.0

Defying his mother's wishes to become a lawyer, a young daydreamer pursues his dream of opening a coffee shop, only to find that life, too, can be bittersweet.

Bittersweet Brew

2018

Bittersweet Brew poster
5.0

Defying his mother's wishes to become a lawyer, a young daydreamer pursues his dream of opening a coffee shop, only to find that life, too, can be bittersweet.

Bittersweet Brew

2018

Bittersweet Brew poster
5.0

Defying his mother's wishes to become a lawyer, a young daydreamer pursues his dream of opening a coffee shop, only to find that life, too, can be bittersweet.

Bittersweet Brew

2018

Father Is a Dog poster
4.0

A mentally-handicapped young man, a sex-obsessed tortured artist, and their responsible but somewhat prideful brother are all grief-stricken in the wake of their mother's death. The three brothers live with their father, a withdrawn and abusive parent who offers no consolation to his mournful sons. The dysfunctional family's dynamic is further complicated when the father strikes up an eccentric sexual affair with a Chinese man who is nearly the same age as his own sons.

Father Is a Dog

2010

Father Is a Dog poster
4.0

A mentally-handicapped young man, a sex-obsessed tortured artist, and their responsible but somewhat prideful brother are all grief-stricken in the wake of their mother's death. The three brothers live with their father, a withdrawn and abusive parent who offers no consolation to his mournful sons. The dysfunctional family's dynamic is further complicated when the father strikes up an eccentric sexual affair with a Chinese man who is nearly the same age as his own sons.

Father Is a Dog

2010

Shorts Meet Shorts poster
5.0

EXIT: Woo-hyun lives a small-time criminal life earning his life as a pick-pocket. He often pays attention to an arrow-shaped-tattoo of his girlfriend which is on the genital area. He calls it ‘the emergency exit.’ THE BODY: Jung-su and Young-sun are a young couple. One new year’s eve, a movie director visits the couple’s house. Only the strong wind of the sea and slow time cross the living room and three people sense something…alive. WALTZING ON THUNDER: Mi-jung just happens to meet a group of people who have survived from being struck by lightning. While becoming aware of her old wound, she takes part in a trip for lightning strikes ‘again’.

Shorts Meet Shorts

2013

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia poster
NR

Young-taek is a high school student. One day, a boy visits his house. It turns out that this boy is his father's lover. He can't believe that his father is gay but eventually accepts the fact. After he graduates from high school and attends university, he meets a senior classmate who becomes being in love with him. The senior classmate harasses him in the name of love. After he goes to serve in the army, he is sexually harassed by his sergeant who has a girlfriend. Young-taek has been homophobic, but after meeting different people, he reconsiders life and love.

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia

2017

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia poster
NR

Young-taek is a high school student. One day, a boy visits his house. It turns out that this boy is his father's lover. He can't believe that his father is gay but eventually accepts the fact. After he graduates from high school and attends university, he meets a senior classmate who becomes being in love with him. The senior classmate harasses him in the name of love. After he goes to serve in the army, he is sexually harassed by his sergeant who has a girlfriend. Young-taek has been homophobic, but after meeting different people, he reconsiders life and love.

The Chronicles of a Boy: Homophobia

2017

Tropical Night poster
3.4

Jae Hee and his brother Tae Kyung live quietly in Pattaya. They are one day visited by Min Ki, whose brother Min Hoon, committed suicide while on military leave. Convinced that Jae Hee is responsible, Min Ki comes to realize that Jae Hee was deeply in love with his brother, and grows fond of him. The buds of love then gradually sprout in the dreamy tropical night.

Tropical Night

2017

Pervert Boy poster
3.7

Four brothers and the inevitable clash between their lives in modern day Seoul.

Pervert Boy

2016

Pervert Boy poster
3.7

Four brothers and the inevitable clash between their lives in modern day Seoul.

Pervert Boy

2016

Speed poster
6.0

Four high school friends maintain their ties but finds themselves in very different situations when they reach 21. Chu-won was a promising athlete but, drinking heavily and unable to get past an old flame, he ruins his prospects. Goo-rim became on idol singer, but a drug scandal has seen him fall on hard times. Seo-won, as a medical student at a top university, was faring best among them, until he is diagnosed with leukemia and falls for a teenage escort from their old high school. Meanwhile, Dae-sung is a sex addict with a penchant for mature women who dreams of making his own film.

Speed

2015

Speed poster
6.0

Four high school friends maintain their ties but finds themselves in very different situations when they reach 21. Chu-won was a promising athlete but, drinking heavily and unable to get past an old flame, he ruins his prospects. Goo-rim became on idol singer, but a drug scandal has seen him fall on hard times. Seo-won, as a medical student at a top university, was faring best among them, until he is diagnosed with leukemia and falls for a teenage escort from their old high school. Meanwhile, Dae-sung is a sex addict with a penchant for mature women who dreams of making his own film.

Speed

2015

I Am Trash poster
5.0

Three grown sons have struggled to achieve some sort of normal routine after their father was sent off to prison for sexual assault on an underaged girl. Their lives are thrown into radical disarray when dad finishes his time and returns to the family home. The fact that the victim’s father is awaiting the return outside their door with a knife is certainly not any help to their situation... but it’s not like things are going so well otherwise, with the three sons, a virtual compendium of sexual dysfunctions in their own right.

I Am Trash

2016

Tropical Manila poster
3.9

Doo-sik, who fled from Korea to the Philippines, tries to go back to Korea to see his mother and his Kopino son, Philip, tries to stop him.

Tropical Manila

2008

Tropical Manila poster
3.9

Doo-sik, who fled from Korea to the Philippines, tries to go back to Korea to see his mother and his Kopino son, Philip, tries to stop him.

Tropical Manila

2008

Walking Street poster
3.4

Tae-seong (Baek Seong-hyeon), who dreamt of a fancy life as a martial arts fighter, goes to Thailand with his brother Tae-gi (Lee Si-gang) who has no hopes or dreams and causes trouble wherever he goes. On Working Street where there are drugs and prostitutes, they meet Jenna (Lee Song-i) and their lives turn upside down. Escape, roam and sex...the passion of youth erupts!

Walking Street

2016

Fire in Hell poster
3.8

Ji-wol, a Buddist monk, is excommunicated because of an inappropriate affair with a female believer. He rapes and kills another woman and leaves with her ashes for the Philippines where her family lives. However, there he falls in love with her twin sister. A shocking interpretation of karma.

Fire in Hell

2012

Fire in Hell poster
3.8

Ji-wol, a Buddist monk, is excommunicated because of an inappropriate affair with a female believer. He rapes and kills another woman and leaves with her ashes for the Philippines where her family lives. However, there he falls in love with her twin sister. A shocking interpretation of karma.

Fire in Hell

2012

Dear Dictator poster
4.1

Bukseong, Youngrim and Woosuck are dropouts living in a shanty town. One day, a spy from North Korea begins video-recording their hardscrabble lives. A complicated series of events happens between them.

Dear Dictator

2015

Dear Dictator poster
4.1

Bukseong, Youngrim and Woosuck are dropouts living in a shanty town. One day, a spy from North Korea begins video-recording their hardscrabble lives. A complicated series of events happens between them.

Dear Dictator

2015

Dirty Romance poster
4.4

A tale of an unconventional and illicit romance between a boy and girl suffering from handicaps.

Dirty Romance

2015

Dirty Romance poster
4.4

A tale of an unconventional and illicit romance between a boy and girl suffering from handicaps.

Dirty Romance

2015

Dirty Romance poster
4.4

A tale of an unconventional and illicit romance between a boy and girl suffering from handicaps.

Dirty Romance

2015

Call Me Sis poster
5.0

Mi-ae, a middle aged woman is facing a midlife crisis not unlike those shared by countless others. A mother of three, the wife of a relatively prosperous bank executive, and a woman who enjoys a comfortably middle-class existence, Mi-ae grows increasingly frustrated by her two sons’ demeaning behavior towards her, her boorish husband’s unforgivable cheapness, and her own sadness at never having felt for herself the joys of true love — something she becomes acutely aware of when observing her estranged daughter’s loving relationship with another woman. After abruptly leaving a disastrous anniversary evening arranged by her thoughtless husband, Mi-ae meets the shy and kind Soo-nim, her youngest son’s schoolmate. Choosing to spend a long evening with Soo-nim rather than return home to the male members of her family, Mi-ae finds herself irresistibly drawn to this gentle young woman as a flood of emotions sweeps Mi-ae away on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

Call Me Sis

2022

No artwork available
NR

A story of two threesomes. Part One. Chul-su marries the love of his life, Young-hee. But Young-hee is a lesbian with a lover, Young-chul. So Chul-su has no choice but to live together with his wife’s lover, who suffers from dementia. Part Two. Struggling to make ends meet, Young-hee is living with her husband Chul-su who became paralyzed after a car accident, and his gay lover Young-chul. Young-hee feels guilty because Young-chul is so devoted to her husband’s care and even changes his diapers. Her biggest fear is that one day her husband’s lover might ditch them and walk away from their lives.

Insane Threesomes

—

No artwork available
NR

Woo-hyun lives a small time criminal life earning his life with pick-pocket. He often pays attention to an arrow-shaped-tattoo of his girlfriend which is on the genital area. He calls it 'the emergency exit.' Adopted Kim Young-ha's Emergency exit, the film captures helpless lost generation of current Korea.

Exit

2013

No artwork available
NR

Woo-hyun lives a small time criminal life earning his life with pick-pocket. He often pays attention to an arrow-shaped-tattoo of his girlfriend which is on the genital area. He calls it 'the emergency exit.' Adopted Kim Young-ha's Emergency exit, the film captures helpless lost generation of current Korea.

Exit

2013

The Cemetery of Sisters poster
4.5

In a remote village, a guest house managed by two sisters Song-hwa and Mi-ran is always quiet. One summer day, a group of four guys who were grave robbers were tied up to the house... After that day, Song-hwa's knife only got sharper. Meanwhile, Mi-ran feels love for Young-taek, but it only brought bloody red cries and death! Will the sun still be able to rise for these men?

The Cemetery of Sisters

2018