Hailing from South Korea, he found international acclaim with his Vengeance Trilogy, a trio of films [Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003) and Lady Vengeance (2005)] dealing with the theme of violent retribution. These movies, along with his follow up – the excellent vampire film Thirst (2009) – are undeniably visceral and heart-racing while offering up a plethora of unforgettable images.