Korean Director Park Ki-yong Returns to Directing with Supernatural Thriller 'Ghost Island'
Park Ki-yong, who stepped down as chair of the Korean Film Council last year, is set to return to directing with "Ghost Island," a supernatural thriller that delves into parallel Cold War massacres in Korea and Indonesia. The film has been selected for the JAFF Future Project at this year's JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
"Ghost Island" follows Ayu, an Indonesian woman who searches for her missing husband on snow-covered Jeju Island, only to discover a chilling connection between his disappearance and the island's suppressed violence. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a devastating truth: Herman, her husband, died many years ago as a victim of the 1965-66 Bali mass killings.
Park Ki-yong was deeply moved by these events, particularly the contrast in how memories are honored between Jeju and Bali. "Jeju's wounds have finally begun to be recognized, studied, and mourned," he says. "Bali's remain largely unspoken, hidden in fear, denial, and inherited silence." The film emerged from this silence, crafting a story where the unseen and unspoken could finally surface.
"Ghost Island" is not just a supernatural thriller but also a poetic realism work that explores the persistence of memory and the unseen link between two haunted islands. The film becomes a spiritual detective story where history itself is the ghost. Park adds that it's neither a traditional horror nor a historical drama, but rather a deeply human mystery about love, memory, and responsibility.
The project has been hailed as significant for its exploration of two of Asia's most silenced historical traumas without sensationalizing them. The filmmakers hope to establish the project's identity and secure meaningful partnerships at JAFF Market. They aim to connect with partners who can enhance the project creatively, culturally, and financially, while sharing their vision of a film that honors these histories and resonates with global audiences.
Park Ki-yong's return to directing comes after serving as chair of the Korean Film Council from January 2022 until stepping down last year. He has previously directed films like "Motel Cactus" and "Camel(s)," which won several awards at international film festivals.
Park Ki-yong, who stepped down as chair of the Korean Film Council last year, is set to return to directing with "Ghost Island," a supernatural thriller that delves into parallel Cold War massacres in Korea and Indonesia. The film has been selected for the JAFF Future Project at this year's JAFF Market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
"Ghost Island" follows Ayu, an Indonesian woman who searches for her missing husband on snow-covered Jeju Island, only to discover a chilling connection between his disappearance and the island's suppressed violence. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a devastating truth: Herman, her husband, died many years ago as a victim of the 1965-66 Bali mass killings.
Park Ki-yong was deeply moved by these events, particularly the contrast in how memories are honored between Jeju and Bali. "Jeju's wounds have finally begun to be recognized, studied, and mourned," he says. "Bali's remain largely unspoken, hidden in fear, denial, and inherited silence." The film emerged from this silence, crafting a story where the unseen and unspoken could finally surface.
"Ghost Island" is not just a supernatural thriller but also a poetic realism work that explores the persistence of memory and the unseen link between two haunted islands. The film becomes a spiritual detective story where history itself is the ghost. Park adds that it's neither a traditional horror nor a historical drama, but rather a deeply human mystery about love, memory, and responsibility.
The project has been hailed as significant for its exploration of two of Asia's most silenced historical traumas without sensationalizing them. The filmmakers hope to establish the project's identity and secure meaningful partnerships at JAFF Market. They aim to connect with partners who can enhance the project creatively, culturally, and financially, while sharing their vision of a film that honors these histories and resonates with global audiences.
Park Ki-yong's return to directing comes after serving as chair of the Korean Film Council from January 2022 until stepping down last year. He has previously directed films like "Motel Cactus" and "Camel(s)," which won several awards at international film festivals.
! I mean, parallel Cold War massacres in Korea and Indonesia? That's some deep stuff right there. And the fact that he's exploring the suppressed memories and trauma on these islands is super important. It's not just a supernatural thriller, it's a poetic realism work that's all about uncovering the truth and giving voices to those who've been silenced.
! It's gonna be a wild ride, and I'm all in.
This film seems to be exploring that idea, and I am HERE. FOR. IT! 
The fact that Jeju Island is finally being recognized for its painful history is a huge step forward, and I'm so glad Park Ki-yong is using his platform to shed some light on this important stuff. 
Can't wait to see the film at JAFF Market!
it's not often that we see movies tackling dark historical traumas in such a thoughtful way, especially when they're from different countries. park ki-yong is a genius for bringing attention to these issues and shedding light on the suppressed histories of jeju and bali islands 
i'm also loving the supernatural thriller vibe, it sounds like it's gonna be so atmospheric and chilling 
anyway, i'm definitely keeping an eye out for this one and i hope it gets the recognition it deserves! 
, can you even imagine a director as talented as Park Ki-yong diving into the dark history of Korea & Indonesia? 
The way he describes the contrast between Jeju's and Bali's memories is just heartbreaking 
, it feels like his own personal investigation into the unspoken wounds of these countries. I love how the film isn't trying to be a traditional horror or historical drama, but more of a human mystery that explores love, memory & responsibility 
. It's crazy that this film is getting recognition for exploring two of Asia's most silenced traumas without sensationalizing them 
, let's hope it gets the support it deserves from partners who can enhance its creative vision 
. Park Ki-yong returning to directing after stepping down as chair of the Korean Film Council is just a reminder that some talents never really go away 
, and I'm so here for this film! 
. i love how park ki-yong is tackling these silenced historical traumas without sensationalizing them - it's so brave and important 
. the plot sounds like a spiritual detective story where history itself is the ghost? 
i'm totally rooting for him and his team at jaff market
. It's like, this film becomes a spiritual detective story where history itself is the ghost 
. I'm curious to see how he'll execute this and what kind of connections he'll make between these two haunted islands.
. It's not just about making a film for its own sake, but also about sharing a vision with people who can help amplify it. I hope 'Ghost Island' gets the recognition it deserves and resonates with audiences worldwide 
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. some dude gets his wife murdered in the 60s and now he's searching for her ghost on an island... how original. and what's with the title "Ghost Island"? that's just lazy 
. park ki-yong should just stick to making movies about rich people problems like he did before, this supernatural thriller crap is just a waste of time 
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. I'm definitely gonna keep an eye on this project and see how it develops!
. The idea of exploring parallel Cold War massacres in Korea and Indonesia through this supernatural thriller is just so fascinating 
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. The contrast between Jeju and Bali's memories is really striking, and I'm intrigued by the idea of history being the ghost 
just saw that Park Ki-yong is back in directing mode with this new supernatural thriller 'Ghost Island' 
can't wait to see how he weaves these two stories together, I love how he mentions that Jeju's wounds are finally being recognized 
. i'm really interested in how he tackles these sensitive topics without sensationalizing them - it's clear he's passionate about shedding light on the unsaid stories of asia 