A couple of weeks ago, it was revealed that South Korean investigators had apparently solved a decades-old case that rocked the country and inspired one of the best crime films of that era — Bong Joon-ho’s “Memories of Murder.” The 2003 film was inspired by the first Korean serial killer and the cold-case that surrounded the crimes. However, with the good news that the criminal apparently found (and already in custody), Bong isn’t sure how to process the revelation.
Speaking at Beyond Fest (via LA Times), the filmmaker discussed his feelings about the recent discovery. And while he’s quick to applaud the efforts of the police, he’s not exactly sure how he feels about everything that has transpired.
“It felt very complicated to hear that news,” said the director. “These serial killings, they were a horrendous incident that happened in Korea. In Korea, this incident was a big trauma to our society.”
He added, “When I made the film, I was very curious, and I also thought a lot about this murderer. I wondered what he looks like,”
Bong went on to explain that in the preparation for the film, he did extensive research into the case, speaking to journalists, authorities, and others. But obviously, to tell the full story, there was one person that was missing from his list of interviews.
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“The only one who I could not meet was, of course, the murderer,” he explained. “Finally last week, I was able to see a photo of his face. And I think I need more time to really explain my emotions from that, but right now I’d just like to applaud the police force for their endless effort to find the culprit.”
Obviously, while the DNA match is a great sign that the police have found their killer, there’s still plenty of work that has to be done. But as of now, the authorities believe that they’ve uncovered the killer’s identity, a 56-year-old man that is already in prison after the murder of his sister-in-law.
And for those that are fans of “Memories of Murder,” there’s a new chapter to one of Bong’s greatest works.