Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet

Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet
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Title (English)	Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet
Title (Korean)	동주
Directed by	Lee Joonik
Written by	Shin Youngshick
Based on	The life of the poet Yoon Dongju
Produced by	Kim Jihyoung
Starring	Kang Hanaeul, Park Jeongmin, Kim Inwoo, Choi Hongil, Choi Heeseo, Shin Yoonjoo, Min Jinwoong
Release date	February 17, 2016
Running time	110 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

“With my heart singing to the stars, I shall love all things that are dying. And I must walk the road that has been given to me.”

-Yun Dong Ju, November 20, 1941

Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet is a 2016 South Korean black-and-white biographical period film, directed by Lee Joonik about the life of the Korean poet Yoon Dongju. It was released in South Korea on February 17, 2016.

Yoon Dongju lived from December 30, 1917 to February 16, 1945.

Plot

In the Japanese colonial era, young Dongju writes poems about the harsh reality of his life. As Japan’s policies get more serious, writing anything in Korean is prohibited. Just when the slight possibility of publishing his poems seems to have evaporated, a Japanese professor sees Dongju’s talent and suggests that he publishes his poems in English. But before his work is done, Dongju is suspected of anti-Japanese activities. Will Dongju’s dream fail and his poems vanish into thin air?

The movie follows the life story of the Korean poet Yoon Dongju and his imprisonment by the Japanese government for being involved in the Korean independence movement.

Cast

Kang Haneul as Yun Dongju
Park Jeongmin as Song Monggyu
Kim In-woo as Detective
Choi Heeseo as Kumi
Shin Yoonjo as Lee Yeojin
Min Jinwoong as Kang Cheojoong
Choi Hongil as Dongju's father
Lee Bitna as Yun Dongju's younger sister
Moon Sungkeun as Jeong Jiyong (special appearance)

Release and Reception

The film was fifth in ranking on its opening weekend in South Korea, reaching a sum of US$1.14 million. The box office totaled to US$7.7 million.

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2016	52nd Baeksang Arts Awards	Grand Prize (Film)	Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet	WON
		Best Film	Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet	NOMINATED
		Best Director (Film)	Lee Joonik	NOMINATED
		Best New Actor (Film)	Park Jeongmin	WON
		Best Screenplay (Film)	Shin Yeonshick	NOMINATED
	16th Director's Cut Awards	Best New Actor	Park Jeongmin	WON
	16th Director's Cut Awards	Best Production of the Year	Shin Yeonshick	WON
	25th Buil Film Awards	Best Director	Lee Joonik	WON
		Best Actor	Kang Haneul	NOMINATED
		Best Supporting Actor	Park Jeongmin	NOMINATED
		Best New Actor	Park Jeongmin	NOMINATED
		Best Screenplay	Shin Yeonshick	WON
		Best Music	Mowg	WON
	36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	Best Screenplay	Shin Yeonshick	WON
	17th Busan Film Critics Awards	Best Screenplay	Shin Yeonshick	WON
	37th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Film	Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet	NOMINATED
		Best Director	Lee Joonik	NOMINATED
		Best New Actor	Park Jeongmin	WON
		Best Screenplay	Shin Yeonshick	WON
2017	22nd Chunsa Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Park Jeongmin	WON

More in popular culture about Yoon Dongju

In Lee Jeongmyung The Investigation (In Korean: 별을 스치는 바람 ) is, inter alia, "an imaginative paean to" Yun.

In 2007, Yun Dongju is recited by "Sam", on South Korean television series I Am Sam (TV Series), in episode 13.

In 2011, Yun Dong-Ju Shoots the Moon, a musical based on his life, was performed by the Seoul Performing Arts Company.

On December 31 episode of Infinite Challenge featured the climax of the history and hip-hop, Kwanghee and Gaeko featuring Oh Hyuk from Hyukoh performed song title "Your Night" inspired from Yun Dong-ju life and poet.

In 2021 a KBS Documentary about Yoon Dongju was released.