# Lee Han

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**Lee Han** (born 1970) is a South Korean [film director](/source/Film_director) and [screenwriter](/source/Screenwriter). He is best known for the [coming-of-age film](/source/Coming-of-age_story) *[Punch](/source/Punch_(2011_film))*, which became one of the biggest hits on the [South Korean box office in 2011](/source/List_of_2011_box_office_number-one_films_in_South_Korea).

## Career

Lee Han graduated from [Hanyang University](/source/Hanyang_University)'s theater and film program. He first worked as an [assistant director](/source/Assistant_director) on two films for veteran filmmaker [Bae Chang-ho](/source/Bae_Chang-ho): *Love Story* (1996) and *My Heart* (1999). In 2002, he wrote and directed his first feature, *[Lovers' Concerto](/source/Lovers'_Concerto_(film))*, a melodrama about three friends caught in a love triangle which starred [Cha Tae-hyun](/source/Cha_Tae-hyun), [Lee Eun-ju](/source/Lee_Eun-ju) and [Son Ye-jin](/source/Son_Ye-jin). He then wrote the [screenplay](/source/Screenplay) for *[Garden of Heaven](/source/Garden_of_Heaven)* (2003), a tearjerker about a [hospice](/source/Hospice) doctor who falls for a terminally ill patient, played by [Ahn Jae-wook](/source/Ahn_Jae-wook) and Lee Eun-joo. Lee was also part of the writing staff of *[Bodyguard](/source/Bodyguard_(South_Korean_TV_series))*, a 2003 action-comedy [television series](/source/Korean_drama) starring [Cha Seung-won](/source/Cha_Seung-won).[1]

With his succeeding films, Lee further solidified his reputation as a filmmaker with a keen insight into modern romance. *[Almost Love](/source/Almost_Love_(2006_film))* (also known as *Youth Comic*) is a 2006 [romantic comedy](/source/Romantic_comedy) starring [Kwon Sang-woo](/source/Kwon_Sang-woo) and [Kim Ha-neul](/source/Kim_Ha-neul) about a stuntman and an actress with [stage fright](/source/Stage_fright).[1][2] *[My Love](/source/My_Love_(2007_film))* (also known as *Love, First*) is a 2007 [Christmas](/source/Christmas) movie which featured an ensemble cast playing multiple couples, namely [Kam Woo-sung](/source/Kam_Woo-sung), [Choi Kang-hee](/source/Choi_Kang-hee_(actress)), [Ryu Seung-ryong](/source/Ryu_Seung-ryong), [Im Jung-eun](/source/Im_Jung-eun), [Jung Il-woo](/source/Jung_Il-woo), [Lee Yeon-hee](/source/Lee_Yeon-hee) and [Uhm Tae-woong](/source/Uhm_Tae-woong).[3]

But Lee's breakthrough film would be his fourth feature, *[Punch](/source/Punch_(2011_film))* (2011). Based on [Kim Ryeo-ryeong](/source/Kim_Ryeo-ryeong)'s 2008 bestseller *Wandeuk*, the film seriously highlighted the issue of [multicultural](/source/Multiculturalism) families in a [coming-of-age](/source/Coming-of-age_story) [comedy-drama](/source/Comedy-drama) about a poor and rebellious teenage boy (the titular Wandeuk, played by [Yoo Ah-in](/source/Yoo_Ah-in)), whose [idiosyncratic](/source/Idiosyncratic) homeroom teacher and next-door neighbor ([Kim Yoon-seok](/source/Kim_Yoon-seok)) encourages him to learn more about his [Filipino](/source/Filipino_people) [immigrant](/source/Immigrant) mother, and their teacher-student relationship helps him mature into a young man.[4][5] After gaining strong [word of mouth](/source/Word_of_mouth) for its interesting story and charismatic performances, *Punch* became a surprise box office hit, drawing [5.3 million viewers](/source/List_of_highest-grossing_films_in_South_Korea).[6] It was also invited to the [2012 Berlin International Film Festival](/source/2012_Berlin_International_Film_Festival); it screened in *Generation 14Plus*, a competition section of [Berlinale](/source/Berlinale) devoted to films for teens.[7][8][9][10] Commenting on the film's positive reception, Lee told *[Yonhap News](/source/Yonhap)* that the seemingly eclectic ensemble of characters who appear in *Punch*, though they rarely receive the limelight, are present and active as members of Korean society. He also believed that the warmth and honesty with which he tried to portray these characters and introduce their daily lives was what resonated with viewers.[11]

In 2014, Lee adapted another bestselling novel by Kim Ryeo-ryeong, *Elegant Lies* (published in 2009).[12] When quizzed about adapting another work by the same author, Lee said that he chose to do so because "the story was interesting as well as meaningful. In fact I turned down the original story at first because it seemed too difficult. However, it captivated and wouldn't let go. I finally made up my mind to deliver this story to show people who thought it couldn't be done. This film was made for the readers who think this family's story is as special as I do."[13] *[Thread of Lies](/source/Thread_of_Lies)* explores the aftermath of a 14-year-old girl's [suicide](/source/Suicide), as her mother and older sister belatedly learn after her death that she had been an [outcast](/source/Outcast_(person)) in [middle school](/source/Middle_school) and a victim of [bullying](/source/Bullying). [Kim Hee-ae](/source/Kim_Hee-ae) played the mother, in her first film in 21 years after focusing on television work, opposite a teenage cast composed of [Go Ah-sung](/source/Go_Ah-sung), [Kim You-jung](/source/Kim_You-jung) and [Kim Hyang-gi](/source/Kim_Hyang-gi).[14]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Credited as Ref. English Korean Director Writer Producer 2002 Lovers' Concerto 연애소설 [15] 2003 Garden of Heaven 하늘정원 [16] 2006 Almost Love 청춘만화 [17] 2007 My Love 내 사랑 [18] 2011 Punch 완득이 [19] 2014 Thread of Lies 우아한 거짓말 [20] 2015 Love Forecast 오늘의 연애 The Piper 손님 [21] 2016 A Melody to Remember 오빠생각 [22] 2019 Innocent Witness 증인 [23] 2023 Honey Sweet 달짝지근해: 7510 [24]

### Television

- *[Bodyguard](/source/Bodyguard_(South_Korean_TV_series))* (TV, 2003) - screenplay

## Awards

### Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations[25] Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref. 2011 Korean Institute of Film Application Healing Movie of the Year Punch 2012 62nd Berlin International Film Festival Crystal Bear for Best Film [25] 48th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film Best Director 14th Far East Film Festival Black Dragon Award 21st Buil Film Awards Best Director 59th Film Festival Zlín Ecumenical Jury Award 16th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Just Film Grand Prix for Best Film 2015 45th Giffoni Film Festival Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali Award Thread of Lies [26] 2019 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Screenplay[a] Innocent Witness [27] 2019 56th Grand Bell Awards Best Screenplay[a] [28] 2023 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Director Honey Sweet

## Notes

1. Shared with Co-writer [Moon Ji-won](/source/Moon_Ji-won)

## References

1. ["청춘만화 (Almost Love) Press Screening Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140307052205/http://twitchfilm.com/2006/03/almost-love-press-screening-report.html). *[Twitch Film](/source/Twitch_Film)*. 14 March 2006. Archived from [the original](http://twitchfilm.com/2006/03/almost-love-press-screening-report.html) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Yang, Sung-jin (23 March 2006). ["*Almost Love* mixes romantic comedy with melodrama"](http://www.hancinema.net/movie-review-almost-love-mixes-romantic-comedy-with-melodrama-5599.html). *[The Korea Herald](/source/The_Korea_Herald) via [Hancinema](/source/Hancinema)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208132910/http://www.hancinema.net/movie-review-almost-love-mixes-romantic-comedy-with-melodrama-5599.html) 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Yang, Sung-jin (13 December 2007). ["*My Love* nowhere near *Love Actually*"](http://www.hancinema.net/movie-review-my-love-nowhere-near-love-actually--11718.html). *[The Korea Herald](/source/The_Korea_Herald) via [Hancinema](/source/Hancinema)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190504034404/https://www.hancinema.net/movie-review-my-love-nowhere-near-love-actually--11718.html) 2019-05-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Elley, Derek (2 February 2012). ["Punch"](http://www.filmbiz.asia/reviews/punch). *[Film Business Asia](/source/Film_Business_Asia)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223402/http://www.filmbiz.asia/reviews/punch) 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Kim, Haery (3 February 2012). ["Feature profile – Punch, directed by LEE Han"](http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=46). *Korean Cinema Today*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051817/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=46) 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Paquet, Darcy (18 November 2011). ["Box office, November 2–15"](http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=1655). *Korean Film Council*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151209153107/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=1655) 2015-12-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. ["Berlinale Generation takes Punch"](http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=1674). *Korean Film Council*. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. ["Korean film *Punch* invited to Berlin Film Festival"](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/12/141_100852.html). *[The Korea Times](/source/The_Korea_Times)*. 15 December 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181205145731/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/12/141_100852.html) 2018-12-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. ["*Punch* to Feature at Berlin Film Fest"](http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/16/2011121600741.html). *[The Chosun Ilbo](/source/The_Chosun_Ilbo)*. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Lee, Claire (1 February 2012). ["Seven Korean films invited to 2012 Berlinale"](http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20120201000991). *[The Korea Herald](/source/The_Korea_Herald)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140503221833/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20120201000991) 2014-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Kwon, Jungyun (15 December 2011). ["A look back at the year's breakout films"](http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=90329). *[Korea.net](/source/Korea.net)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180920045833/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=90329) 2018-09-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Ji, Yong-jin (25 April 2013). ["Charming and Addictive Korean Films: A message to family, friends and society - *An Elegant Lie*"](http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=100). *Korean Cinema Today*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045821/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=100) 2019-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Song, Soon-jin (24 February 2014). ["ELEGANT LIES Press Conference Held"](http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2934). *Korean Film Council*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110928122245/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2934) 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. Jin, Eun-soo (21 February 2014). ["*Elegant Lies* looks at family's ugly truths"](http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2985255). *[Korea JoongAng Daily](/source/Korea_JoongAng_Daily)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140227044500/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2985255) 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Lovers' Concerto (Yeon-ae Soseol)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/05680). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210521152559/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/05680) 2021-05-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Love Story"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/04816). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Almost Love (Cheong-choon-man-hwa)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/07134). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210531203050/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/07134) 2021-05-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - My Love (Ne Sa-rang)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/09389). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200717230312/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/09389) 2020-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Punch (Wandeugi)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/12927). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210603004606/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/12927) 2021-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Thread of Lies (Uahan Geojitmal)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/14023). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - The Guest (son-nim)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/14771/credit). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - A Melody to Remember (O-bba-sang-gak)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/15160). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - Innocent Witness (Jeung-in)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/19406). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240422183558/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/19406) 2024-04-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["KMDb - Korean movie database - HoneySweet (Daljjakjigeunhae: 7510)"](https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/30359). *[Korean Movie Database](/source/Korean_Movie_Database)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231013183908/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/30359) 2023-10-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ["Lee Han - Awards"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1215478/awards/). *IMDb*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230201115032/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1215478/awards/) 2023-02-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. Conran, Pierce (11 August 2015). ["COIN LOCKER GIRL Picks Up Award in Giffoni"](http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=3529). *Korean Film Biz Zone*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200611173706/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=3529) 2020-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-08-18.

1. Cho, Yeon-gyeong (April 5, 2019). ["55회 백상예술대상 영화부문 최종 후보 공개"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190407085411/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002899548) (in Korean). *Is Plus*. Archived from [the original](https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002899548) on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019. – via [Naver](/source/Naver)

1. Kim, Joo-won (2020-01-17). ["\[공식\] '제56회 대종상 영화제' 오는 2월 25일 개최, 최종 노미네이트 작품 발표"](https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1YXOKD55PY/GL0203) [[Official] The 56th Daejong Film Festival will be held on February 25th, and the final nominated work will be announced.] (in Korean). *서울경제*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220127144838/https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1YXOKD55PY/GL0203) 2022-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-27.

## External links

- [Lee Han](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1215478/) at IMDb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lee Han](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Han) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Han?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.