Academy asks Lee Byung-hun, 3 Korean directors to join

Published : Jun 30, 2016 - 15:55 Updated : Jun 30, 2016 - 17:08

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, best known for hosting the prestigious Academy Awards, invited four representatives from Korea’s film industry to the organization’s newest membership class Wednesday.

Among the 683 invitees are actor Lee Byung-hun, best known globally for his roles in Hollywood productions “Terminator Genisys” (2015) and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009), and filmmakers Park Chan-wook of “The Handmaiden” (2016) and “Oldboy” (2003), Lee Chang-dong of “Poetry” (2010) and “Oasis” (2002) and Kim So-yong of “For Ellen” (2012) and “In Between Days” (2006).

Korean actor Lee Byung-hun (Official website)

The 2016 class also includes a number of Korean-American members: DreamWorks’ cinematographer Jhun Yong-duk, actor Daniel Dae Kim of the popular American TV series “Lost” (2004-2010) and film producer Roy Lee of “The Lego Movie” (2014) and “Abduction” (2011).

AMPAS has been subject to much public criticism in recent years for the lack of minority nominees for the annual Academy Awards. In response, the Academy announced earlier this year plans to double the diversity of its members by 2020.

Following up on the pledge, 46 percent of this year’s invitees are women, and 41 percent are from minority groups.

Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (AP-Yonhap)

“This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today,” Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement. “We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.”

This is the second consecutive year that prominent Korean film industry figures have been invited to the Academy, a testament to Korea’s rising status in the global film industry. Among the 2015 class were actors Choi Min-sik and Song Kang-ho, directors Im Kwon-taek and Bong Joon-ho and Walt Disney’s first Korean character designer Kim Sang-jin.

By Kim Yu-young (ivykim@heraldcorp.com)