Lifting King Kong South Korean Sports Drama Film

Lifting King Kong (Korean: 킹콩을 들다; revised romanization: Kingkongeul Deulda) is a 2009 South Korean sports drama film directed by Park Keon-Hong.

Animated graphic featuring Lifting King Kong — Lifting King Kong promotional graphic

Production and Background

The film is based on a true story involving weightlifters. Principal photography was scheduled to begin on January 12, 2009. The screenplay was written by Park Keon-Hong, Bae Se-Young, and Jung Ik-Hwan, with cinematography by Jung Chan-Hong and production led by Han Kil-Ro.

Plot

Lee Ji-Bong, portrayed by Lee Beom-Soo, is a former bronze medalist from the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics whose weightlifting career ends due to injury. Facing financial destitution and a lack of support from the Korean Olympic Committee, he eventually accepts a coaching position at a high school in Boseong, a rural region in South Korea. There, he trains a group of outcast students in weightlifting.

Actor Lee Beom-Soo — Lee Beom-Soo as Lee Ji-Bong

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast including:

Lee Beom-Soo as Lee Ji-Bong
Jo An as Park Young-Ja
Lee Yun-Hee as Lee Song-Min
Jeon Bo-Mi as Lee Hyeon-Jeong
Kim Min-Young as Lee Bo-Young

Actress Lee Yun-Hee — Lee Yun-Hee as Lee Song-Min

Actress Jeon Bo-Mi — Jeon Bo-Mi as Lee Hyeon-Jeong

Actress Kim Min-Young — Kim Min-Young as Lee Bo-Young

Actress Lee Seul-Bi — Lee Seul-Bi as Lee Su-Wook

Actress Choi Hee-Seo — Choi Hee-Seo as Seo Yeo-Sun

Actress Park Jun-Keum — Park Jun-Keum as Principal

Actor Woo Hyeon — Woo Hyeon as Vice Principal

Actor Byun Hee-Bong — Byun Hee-Bong as School Superintendent

Actor Ki Joo-Bong — Ki Joo-Bong as former national weightlifting coach

Release and Box Office

Distributed by Next Entertainment World, the 120-minute film was released in South Korea on July 2, 2009. During its opening weekend from July 3 to July 5, 2009, it opened at number three at the South Korean box office, selling 248,017 tickets across 528 screens, accounting for 11.8% of total ticket sales.

Scene from Lifting King Kong — Still from Lifting King Kong

Festivals and Awards

The film was screened in the Winds of Asia - Middle East section at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival in 2009. It also received honors at the 29th Critics Choice Awards and the 32nd Golden Cinematography Awards.