Join us in conversation with GYOPO Steering Committee Chair Ellie Lee, Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles General Manager of Cinema and Entertainment Seonji Jang, and Academy Museum Associate Director of Film Programs Hyesung ii as they discuss what Bong Joon Ho’s filmography and legacy mean to Korean and Korean American culture, the impact of his 2020 Oscar sweep, his remarkable journey from Korean cinema to Hollywood blockbusters, and so much more. 

Yoon Ju Ellie Lee is the Steering Committee chair, board secretary and co-founder of GYOPO, and co-founder and Executive Director of Equitable Vitrines, two Los Angeles-based arts organizations. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Korea Arts Foundation of America. Her work within the non-profit sector is to re-imagine the... artist and curator’s role in contemporary society. Over the past decade, she has been committed to experimentation within the realm of institution building, with the aim of facilitating the production of exhibitions, commissions, public programs, and other artistic collaborations that serve the common good by challenging overdetermined relationships to arts and culture. She has taught at California Institute of the Arts, and has delivered lectures at University of Southern California, Roski School of Fine Arts, Occidental College, Scripps College, Pomona College, among other institutions. 

Seonji Jang is currently the General Manager for Cinema and Entertainment at the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles, where she promotes Korean culture, particularly through films, to local communities and fosters cultural exchanges between Korea and the United States through various events and activities. Previously, she served as the Event and Public Relations Officer at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, where she coordinated a wide range of cultural activities, including concerts, festivals, exhibitions, and educational workshops, in partnership with both local government and private sectors. With over five years of experience in promoting Korean culture, Seonji’s goal has always been to enhance global understanding of Korean culture, focusing on building meaningful and lasting connections between Korea and international communities.