South Korean film director Kim Ki-duk dies from COVID-19 at 59

CGTN | South Korea

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Award-winning South Korean film director Kim Ki-Duk has reportedly died from COVID-19 complications while on a visit to Latvia.

The 59-year-old filmmaker died at a Latvian hospital in the early hours of December 11. South Korean media outlets Yonhap and Chosun Daily reported the news citing Russian news agency TASS and Latvian news portal Delfi. But the filmmaker's death has not been confirmed in South Korea.

Born on December 20, 1960, in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang province, Kim was one of several pioneering South Korean directors to earn international fame. Two of his films, including 2003 feature "spring, summer, autumn, winter and spring," competed for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

In 2004, he took home the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival for "Samaria Girl," and the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 61st Venice International Film Festival for "3-Iron."

Other honours include his 2011 documentary "Arirang", an Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival and "Pietà," the 18th feature written and directed by Kim, the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in 2012.