We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyung Sok Kim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyung Sok below.

Kyung Sok, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Every project I’ve worked on is meaningful to me, as they have shaped both my personal and professional development. But if I have to choose, I’ll go with ‘Furthest From’ because the main character Jessie has stayed with me. I still wonder what her life would be beyond the film’s narrative. I was fortunate to have worked with our amazing lead Amanda Christine, who later starred in Amazon Studio’s ‘Black Box’, who really brought Jessie to life, and the rest of the cast, including Mignon Von of Tyler Perry’s ‘Sistas’, also contributed to creating an authentic world. ‘Furthest From’ screened at over 50 film festivals, including 10 Oscar-qualifying festivals such as LA Shorts, HollyShorts, and Nashville Film Festival, and it won awards at prestigious events like the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Film Series at Cine Gear Expo, and the USA Film Festival, among many others.

Another project that is meaningful to me is ‘All of Us Are Dead’, where I served as the Dubbing Director for its English version. As a Korean filmmaker, I am very proud to have directed the English dub of such a successful Korean series, which reached No. 1 on Netflix.

Kyung Sok, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Korean film director based in Los Angeles. My filmmaking journey began in Korea, where I collaborated with local filmmakers and actors to create several films that have been screened in film festivals. After graduating from college, I moved to Los Angeles to study film directing at the American Film Institute. Following the success of ‘Furthest From’, which I mentioned earlier, I directed ‘Monet’, a film about a young girl struggling with guilt over the death of her best friend. Due to the pandemic, many rehearsals and auditions for this film had to be conducted online. However, I was fortunate to work with an amazing cast and crew, and together we created a beautiful piece. ‘Monet’ is currently streaming on AMC Networks’ ALLBLK. Additionally, I have worked as a dubbing director for the English versions of numerous highly acclaimed Netflix series, including ‘All of Us Are Dead’, ‘The Glory’, and ‘Money Heist: Korea’. Due to these achievements, I was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and became a member of the BAFTA Newcomers program.

Currently, I am developing several feature film projects as a director. One of these is ‘Gawi’, a psychological horror film about a Korean immigrant teenager haunted by Korean ghosts every night, as he strives for acceptance among his peers. This film will navigate the individual’s insecurities from an Asian perspective, while exploring the theme of xenophobia.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It might sound a bit pretentious, but I genuinely enjoy watching my own films. It’s not just because I’m in love with them, but because they offer profound insights about myself. Sometimes, during the filmmaking process, I’m not entirely sure why I feel compelled to make a particular film. However, when I revisit my previous works, everything becomes much clearer. For example, when I watch ‘Daytime Moon,’ which I directed in 2019, I start to understand my past struggles and my yearning to become someone more important. Thus, watching my films feels like reliving my past and communicating with my past self. And it’s during these moments that I feel grateful for having been able to pursue this career.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Right before I went to college, I suffered from a lung illness and spent a couple of months in a hospital bed. During that time, I observed many patients in the same room and came to the realization that life is really short. This spurred a deep desire within me to leave something even after I’m gone. And it still remains my biggest motivation, driving my creative journey as an artist. I have a variety of stories to tell, but recently, I’ve been focusing on the insecurities that have shaped me. If audiences can relate to these stories and realize that they are not alone, it would mean so much to me. My ultimate goal is to create works that will continue to communicate with audiences, even when I’m gone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kyungsokkimfilm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ogfromseoul/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyungsok.kim
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyungsokkim/

Image Credits
Craig Stanley