# Na Hong-jin

Na Hong-jin (Korean: 나홍진, born 1974) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter.
Na came to prominence with his feature film debut, The Chaser (2008), a critical and commercial success that became the third highest grossing film in Korea that year.
Na has won various awards including Best Film and Best Director at the 45th Grand Bell Awards, Best Film at the seventh Korean Film Awards as well as Best New Director for many more. Na's second film The Yellow Sea (2010) was screened under the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and received positive critical reviews on Metacritic.
The Wailing (2016) also achieved both critical and commercial success, receiving awards such as the Best Director at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Bucheon International Film Festival award and many more. Na worked on the Thai horror mockumentary The Medium (2021) as the writer and producer.
His films have been noted for their use of elements of violent thriller and horror.

## Early life

Na Hong-jin graduated from Hanyang University ERICA Campus Department of Crafts studying industrial arts and, at first, started in the advertisement industry, until he decided to pursue his dream as a film maker. He then enrolled in Korea National University of Arts.

## Career

Na has been active in the film industry since 2007.

### Early directing work

Na began making short films before he would go on to make his large feature films. Na's debut short film was titled 5 Minutes (2003). It was until his second short film that Na started to gain recognition with the release of his short film A Perfect Red Snapper Dish (2005). Na won best film in The Extreme Nightmare section at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. He would then go on to make his third short film, Sweat (2007) that would win the best short film director prize at the Grand Bell Awards and jury prize at the Bucheon International Film Festival awards.

### Feature films

Na's debut feature film was titled The Chaser (2008), which was met with critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The Chaser became one of the most watched films in Korea, peaking at the third highest grossing film of 2008. The film was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival where reviewers hailed it as an “instant classic” in Korean thrillers. The film took home many awards such as the 16th Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
The Yellow Sea was released and entailed a more ambitious vision from Na. The Yellow Sea became the first Korean film to ever have a Hollywood studio collaboration, with the 20th Century Fox studio. Na's second film achieved positive reviews but “lacking” compared to The Chaser. The film was invited to screen in the Un Certain Regard of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
The follow-up to The Yellow Sea was Na's critically acclaimed third feature film, The Wailing. The film encompasses a deep weave of many themes such as religion, perception, comedy, and horror. The Wailing succeeded commercially and critically, again winning Na many film wards such as Best Director at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards, Best of Bucheon award at the Bucheon international fantastic film festival, the top film of the year of the 36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, and many more. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was shortly released onto streaming services.

### Other projects

Na teamed up with Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun, most known for the films Shutter (2004) and Alone (2007). Na acted as the producer and screenwriter for Pisanthanakun's The Medium, a supernatural horror mockumentary. The film premiered at the 25th Bucheon international fantastic film festival on 11 July 2021. When writing the story, Na explained in an interview that The Medium was initially a sequel to The Wailing with Hwang Jung-min's shaman character. However, this rendition did not come to light. As quoted by Na himself, “The Medium has no relation to The Wailing.”

### Future projects

Na claimed to have written many scripts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview, Na summed up his working flow as, “Whenever I finish a film, I don't want to go anywhere near another one.” These words have proved true by his slow release of films. Despite being in the film industry for over fifteen years, he only has three feature films to his name. In March 2023, it was announced that his next project, Hope, will be released in 2024.

## Filmography
### Feature film

| Year | Title | Title | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Ref. |
| Year | English | Original | Director | Screenplay | Producer | Ref. |
| 2008 | The Chaser | 추격자 | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2010 | The Yellow Sea | 황해 | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | The Wailing | 곡성 | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | The Medium | ร่างทรง | No | Yes | Yes | |
| TBA | Hope | 호프 | Yes | Yes | No | |

### Short film

| Year | Title | Title | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Director | Screenplay | Producer | Ref. |
| 2003 | 5 Minutes | 5 미니츠 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2004 | River Side | 고수부지 | No | No | No | as cinematographer, editor, storyboard |
| 2005 | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | 완벽한 도미요리 | Yes | Yes | No | also sound |
| 2007 | Sweat | 한(汗) | Yes | Yes | Yes | also editor |
| 2007 | Carnival | 그날밤의 축제 | No | No | No | Cameo (Food stall owner) |
| 2023 | Faith | 페이스 | Yes | Yes | No | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| 2005 | The 6th Korea Video Contest | Encouragement Award | 5 Minutes | Won |
| 2005 | The 4th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival | Absolute Nightmare Best Film Award | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | Won |
| 2007 | 11th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Jury Prize | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | Won |
| 2007 | 8th Respest Digital Film Festival | Audience Award | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | Won |
| 2007 | 8th Korea Video Contest | Excellence Award | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | Won |
| 2007 | 44th Grand Bell Awards | Best Short Film Director | A Perfect Red Snapper Dish | Won |
| 2008 | Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival | New Visions Award (New Director) | Han | Won |
| 2008 | 61st Cannes Film Festival | Caméra d'Or | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Film | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 16th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 16th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 9th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Best Film | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Best Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Buil Readers' Jury Award | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2008 | 7th Korean Film Awards | Best Film | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Korean Film Awards | Best Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Korean Film Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 7th Korean Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 11th Director's Cut Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | Cine 21 Awards | Best New Director | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | Cine 21 Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 12th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best of Puchon | The Chaser | Won |
| 2008 | 12th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | EFFFF Asian Award | The Chaser | Won |
| 2009 | 3rd Asian Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Chaser | Nominated |
| 2009 | Deauville Asian Film Festival | Lotus Action Asia Award | The Chaser | Won |
| 2011 | 48th Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 48th Grand Bell Awards | Best Director | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Film | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 5th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 5th Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Achievement in Directing | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 64th Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | 15th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best Director | The Yellow Sea | Won |
| 2011 | 15th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best of Puchon | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2011 | Chicago International Film Festival | Gold Hugo | The Yellow Sea | Nominated |
| 2016 | 25th Buil Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | 25th Buil Film Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Audience Award | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best of Bucheon Award | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | 16th Director's Cut Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Fantasia International Film Festival | Prix AQCC | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Fantasia International Film Festival | Audience Award for Best Asian Feature | The Wailing | 3rd place |
| 2016 | 53rd Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | 53rd Grand Bell Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | 36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Top Films of the Year | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Korean Film Actor's Association Awards | Top Director Award | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | Phoenix Critics Circle | Best International Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | Sitges Film Festival | Focus Asia Award | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | BloodGuts UK Horror Awards | Best International Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | BloodGuts UK Horror Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | Molins de Rei Horror Film Festival | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2016 | Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival | Honourable Mention | The Wailing | Won |
| 2016 | CPH:PIX | Politiken's Audience Award | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 8th KOFRA Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | 8th KOFRA Film Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | Seattle Film Critics Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | Korea Cable TV Awards | Cable VOD Grand Prize (Film) | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Foreign-Language Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | 22nd Chunsa Film Awards | Best Director | The Wailing | Won |
| 2017 | 22nd Chunsa Film Awards | Best Screenplay | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films | Best DVD/Blu-Ray Release | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2017 | iHorror Awards | Best Foreign Horror | The Wailing | Nominated |
| 2021 | Bucheon Choice Features | Best Film | The Medium | Won |
| 2021 | Maniatic Fantastic Film Festival | Best Film | The Medium | Won |
| 2021 | San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Week | Best Film | The Medium | Won |