Foreign media reports were confirmed as facts.
Director Kim Ki-deok, 59, died of complications from Corona 19 in Latvia. Previously, local media such as Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Russia reported the news of Kim Ki-deok's death at once, and this was confirmed to be true after half a day through close friends and family in the film industry.
Director Kim Ki-duk arrived in Latvia on the 20th of last month and arranged a lodging with the help of local filmmakers. Since then, however, he was admitted to the hospital due to recent symptoms of Corona 19, and passed away after two days. The cause of death is presumed to be a complication of Corona 19.
Regarding the late news of the death, a diplomatic source explained, "We have not yet accurately confirmed the death of director Kim Ki-deok due to the strict privacy protection of the hospital."
My family also encountered this fact only in the afternoon of today (11th). It is known that the funeral procedure was not confirmed due to no circumstances.
Director Ki-deok Kim is the first Korean filmmaker to conquer the Berlin, Venice and Cannes Film Festivals. He won the Silver Bear Award (Director Award) at the Berlin Film Festival for'Samaria', the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival for'Pieta', and the Grand Prize in the Notable Gaze at the Cannes Film Festival for'Arirang'.
However, in 2018, the domestic activities were discontinued after a series of revelations that they had sexually harassed actresses who appeared in the past films. Afterwards, he moved to Russia to continue making films, and it is known that he had recently tried to set up a house and acquire a green card to emigrate to Latvia.
(Reporter Jihye Kim, SBS Entertainment News)