South Korean award-winning filmmaker Kim Ki-duk died of Covid-19-related complications while on a visit to Latvia, reports Variety.
Variety has confirmed Kim’s death with sources in Estonia who were working with him on a new project. The director died of Coronavirus in a hospital in the Latvian capital of Riga on Thursday. He was 59.
Due to European laws, the hospital won’t officially comment on the case.
The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had been informed of the death in hospital of 59 years old Korean man, but declined to disclose his name. It said that it was helping with funeral arrangements. The Latvian Embassy in Seoul also confirmed reports of the death.
Kim Soon-mo of Kim Ki-Duk Film told local media that Kim’s family had been informed of the death by an interpreter.
The Latvian news portal Delfi said Kim arrived in Latvia a month ago with the intention of buying a house and applying for alien residency status.
Edith Sepp, CEO of the Estonian Film Institute, tells Variety that Kim approached the organization in September, keen to submit a new film entitled Rain, Snow, Cloud and Fog, a co-production between Korea and Estonia that would have shot in the latter. Though he was late with the application, the director intended to apply again in January 2021.
Kim was one of the first directors of the Korean new wave to break into international consciousness, delivering shocking, but beautifully crafted, dramas including The Isle in 2000 and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring in 2003.
Variety has confirmed Kim’s death with sources in Estonia who were working with him on a new project. The director died of Coronavirus in a hospital in the Latvian capital of Riga on Thursday. He was 59.
Due to European laws, the hospital won’t officially comment on the case.
The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had been informed of the death in hospital of 59 years old Korean man, but declined to disclose his name. It said that it was helping with funeral arrangements. The Latvian Embassy in Seoul also confirmed reports of the death.
Kim Soon-mo of Kim Ki-Duk Film told local media that Kim’s family had been informed of the death by an interpreter.
The Latvian news portal Delfi said Kim arrived in Latvia a month ago with the intention of buying a house and applying for alien residency status.
Edith Sepp, CEO of the Estonian Film Institute, tells Variety that Kim approached the organization in September, keen to submit a new film entitled Rain, Snow, Cloud and Fog, a co-production between Korea and Estonia that would have shot in the latter. Though he was late with the application, the director intended to apply again in January 2021.
Kim was one of the first directors of the Korean new wave to break into international consciousness, delivering shocking, but beautifully crafted, dramas including The Isle in 2000 and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring in 2003.
