Gay filmmaker to tie the knot

Gay filmmaker and producer Kim Jho Kwang-soo is to marry his longtime partner, according to queer film house Rainbow Factory, a subsidiary of Kim’s film company Youth Films.

The 48-year-old has been dating his partner, the head of Rainbow Factory who is said to be 19 years his junior, for more than 8 years.

The filmmaker said that he’d marry his current partner if the couple got their parents’ blessing during the press premiere of his queer film “Two Weddings and a Funeral” last year.

One of the few openly gay cineastes in the country, Kim produced more than 10 films throughout the 2000s, including “Wanee and Junah” (2001), “Jealousy Is My Middle Name” (2002), “The Red Shoes” (2005), and “Ghost” (2010).

He made his directing debut in 2008 with his queer movie “Boy Meets Boy.”

His latest film is last year’s “Two Weddings and a Funeral.”

Gay marriage isn’t legally recognized in Korea, so the wedding will simply be a public ceremony.

The filmmaker said he’d like to use the money given at the wedding to found a center for LGBT rights in Korea. He and his partner are holding a press conference on Wednesday to talk in detail about their wedding plans.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)