Filmmaker named to culture post

Lee Chang-dong, the new minister of culture and tourism, is a novelist-turned-filmmaker who has never held a political post. He taught Korean literature at a high school before making his debut as a writer with “Jeonli,” an allegorical novel based on the 1980 Gwangju uprising. In 1997, he debuted as a filmmaker with the feature film “Green Fish” and has since made two other widely praised films. Last year he won the Special Director’s Award at the Venice International Film Festival for his latest film, “Oasis.”
Mr. Lee is already bringing changes within the ministry. Yesterday, after he was officially appointed at the Blue House, he drove himself to the ministry building in downtown Seoul. Dressed in a suit, but no tie, he skipped his inaugural ceremony at the ministry and instead held a casual meeting over tea with senior administrators. Then he toured various ministry offices.
During the presidential campaign last year, Mr. Lee worked closely with the president. He appeared in a television lecture advocating Mr. Roh.
The two met during a campaign to support screen quotas, which require movie theaters to show a certain number of Korean films to protect the domestic movie industry from the onslaught of Hollywood films.
Mr. Lee is known as a quiet man with clear opinions. He rarely gives interviews, and is married to a screenwriter, Lee Jeong-ran. After winning his award in Venice he said, “My wife would rather want me to bring home money instead of trophies.”

by Chae In-taek