Why 'The King and the Clown' director took on short-form dramas, often dismissed as cheap entertainment
When “My Father’s Table” opened at Lotte Cinema theaters nationwide Sept. 9, it filled only about a third of the screen, right down the middle. Originally intended as a short-form drama for smartphones, the production was shot vertically from the outset. Its 61 episodes, each roughly two minutes long, were then assembled into a 146-minute feature. It marks the first theatrical release of a…
When "My Father's Table" premiered at Lotte Cinema theaters across South Korea on September 9, it only filled about one-third of the screen space. Originally conceived as a short-form drama designed for smartphones, the series was shot vertically from the start and later compiled into a 146-minute theatrical feature. This marks the first-ever theatrical release of a short-form drama in Korea, with no known precedent elsewhere.
What makes the story even more intriguing is the director behind it: Lee Joon-ik, the filmmaker whose 2005 hit "The King and the Clown" attracted more than 10 million viewers. His decision to direct a short-form drama, instead of the conventional feature-length film, is a tale in itself. At the film's opening day, Lee candidly admitted in an interview at Kidari Studio's offices in Seoul's Seongdong District that making a short-form drama made him uncomfortable and a little afraid.
While short-form dramas have gained popularity in North America and China over the past two or three years, they are still widely dismissed in South Korea.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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