Who Is Bong Joon Ho? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Bong Joon Ho, born on September 14, 1969, is a celebrated South Korean filmmaker known for his unique storytelling and innovative cinematic techniques. As of 2025, Bong is 55 years old. His work transcends genres, capturing both critical acclaim and popular success with films such as Parasite, Snowpiercer, and Memories of Murder. Bong's ability to weave social commentary into his narratives has earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020 for Parasite.
| Occupation | Film Producer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 14, 1969 |
| Age | 55 Years |
| Birth Place | Daegu, South Korea |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | South Korea |
Popularity
Bong Joon Ho's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Bong Joon Ho stands at approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). While his exact weight is not publicly disclosed, he maintains a healthy physique aligned with his busy lifestyle as a filmmaker. His dedication to his craft is reflected in his appearance, showcasing a blend of dedication to personal health and a passion for storytelling.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Despite his fame, Bong Joon Ho keeps his personal life relatively private. There are no public records of his current dating status; however, he is known to have been married in the past. As of 2025, he has not publicly discussed any romantic relationships or partners. Bong's focus remains primarily on his artistic endeavors and family, including his children from his previous marriage.
He has three older siblings. His mother, Park So-young, was a housewife; his father, Bong Sang-gyun, was a graphic designer, industrial designer, professor of art at Yeungnam University, and head of the art department at the National Film Institute.
His father retired from Seoul Institute of Technology as a professor of design in 2007 and died in 2017. Bong's maternal grandfather, Park Taewon, was an esteemed author during the Japanese colonial period, best known for his work A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist and his defection to North Korea in 1950.
His older brother, Bong Joon-soo, is an English professor at the Seoul National University; his older sister, Bong Ji-hee, teaches fashion styling at Anyang University. Bong Joon Ho was raised as a Catholic, and his Christian name is Michael.
Net Worth and Salary
Bong Joon Ho's net worth is estimated to be around $30 million in 2025. He has earned this wealth through his successful film career, including box office hits and critical darlings. His projects often generate significant revenue, contributing to his financial success. Furthermore, he receives income from various endorsements, speaking engagements, and film festivals, where his work is frequently showcased.
Career, Business, and Investments
Bong Joon Ho's career continues to flourish in 2025. His recent projects, including anticipated films following the success of Parasite, showcase his ability to push narrative boundaries and introduce fresh ideas to the cinematic landscape. Apart from directing, Bong is also involved in producing, allowing him to influence various projects within the industry. His business acumen extends to potential investments in films, partnerships with streaming services, and collaborations with other directors and writers.
Bong's second film, Memories of Murder (2003), a much larger project, was adapted from a stage play centered on a real-life serial killer who terrorized a rural town in the 1980s. Production of the film was a difficult process (the film set a local record for the number of locations it used).
It was released in April 2003 and proved a critical and popular success.
Word of mouth drove the film to sell over five million tickets (rescuing Cha Seung-jae's production company Sidus from near-bankruptcy), and a string of local honors followed, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Song Kang-Ho) and Best Lighting prizes at the Grand Bell Awards in 2003.
Although passed over by the Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival, the film eventually received its international premiere, again at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it picked up three awards including Best Director.
The film also received an unusually strong critical reception on its release in foreign territories, such as France and the U.S.
Social Network
Bong Joon Ho has a commendable presence on social media, although he tends to maintain a low profile. His verified accounts are platforms where he shares insights about his films, engages with fans, and supports fellow filmmakers. His followers appreciate his candid updates and thought-provoking commentary on cinema and society.
In 2015, Bong's next film, Okja, was announced. On April 30, 2015, screenwriter Jon Ronson announced on his Twitter account that he was writing the second draft of Bong's screenplay for the film. Darius Khondji joined the film as cinematographer in February 2016. Filming for the project began in April 2016.
It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and sparked controversy due to it being produced by Netflix.
The film was met with boos, mixed with applause, during a press screening at the film festival, once the Netflix logo appeared on screen and again during a technical glitch; the film was projected in the incorrect aspect ratio for its first seven minutes. The festival later issued an apology to the filmmakers.
However, despite the studio's negative response, the film itself received a four-minute standing ovation following its actual premiere. The film was later released on Netflix on June 28, 2017, and received positive reviews.
On the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 86% based on 235 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.54/10.
The site's critical consensus reads: "Okja sees Bong Joon Ho continuing to create defiantly eclectic entertainment – and still hitting more than enough of his narrative targets in the midst of a tricky tonal juggling act." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 75 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
New York Times critic A. O. Scott wrote: "Okja is a miracle of imagination and technique, and Okja insists, with abundant mischief and absolute sincerity, that she possesses a soul."
Education
Bong Joon Ho attended the prestigious Hoseo University, where he earned a degree in Sociology. He later honed his craft at the Korean Academy of Film Arts, where he developed skills that would define his unique filmmaking style. His education laid the groundwork for his future success, allowing him to merge social themes with compelling narratives.
Bong Joon Ho (, ; born September 14, 1969) is a South Korean filmmaker. His work is characterized by emphasis on social and class themes, genre-mixing, dark comedy, and sudden tone shifts. The recipient of numerous accolades, Bong has won three Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and five Asian Film Awards.
In 2017, he was included on Metacritic's list of the 25 best film directors of the 21st century, and in 2020, he was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time and among the Bloomberg 50.
