Moon Ji-won

Moon Ji-won (, born 1 January 1982) is a South Korean film director and scriptwriter. Moon made her debut as a director in 2002 by directing the short film Keeping The Sea. She is also a columnist who publishes drama critiques from the perspective of a viewer in a sports magazine. Her notable work as scriptwriter includes the film Innocent Witness and the legal drama series Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which tells about a young autistic woman lawyer.

Early years and education Moon Ji-won was born in Incheon in 1982. She dreamed of becoming a film director during her middle school years. Despite her reluctance, she enrolled in high school due to her mother's persuasion. She dedicated herself to her studies, formed a band, and actively participated in various activities. Although she faced academic setbacks, she gradually improved her grades. However, the school's early mornings and late dismissals, lack of independent thinking, and rigid structure made her lose interest. Unable to continue attending a school she had no passion for, she withdrew in her second year of high school. She said,I wanted to become a film director when I was in the 9th grade. I decided that finding my desired path was better than going to college. That's why I quit high school. Four months leaving her previous school, Moon attended Haja Center, an alternative workshop-based school.

Career

Early career

In 2003, Moon worked as an instructor on a cable TV program dedicated to providing advice for teenagers. "I thought there should be a framework dedicated to dramas. It was a good opportunity to think about how to express films while watching dramas." "Movies are a microphone through which I can clearly convey the stories I want to tell. 'Helmet,' 'Holding onto the Sea,' 'Stars Beyond the Window,' and others are films I made on the themes of concerns faced by people of my age." As part of the program, she received a monthly stipend of one million won and dedicated her time to writing scenarios. Reflecting on this period, she revealed in an interview that despite facing financial constraints, being chosen for the project provided her with the means to sustain herself while allowing her creative abilities to flourish. Furthermore, she emphasized the valuable lessons she learned during this time, which continue to shape her work.

Debut as feature film scriptwriter In 2016, Moon's talent gained recognition when she won the esteemed Grand Prize at the 5th Lotte Scenario Contest, during the 21st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The contest received 964 entries, which underwent a rigorous blind judging process by prominent figures in the Korean film industry, unaware of the works' titles or authors' names. Moon's winning screenplay, which later transformed into the film Innocent Witness, earned her a prize of 100 million won.

Under the direction of Lee Han, known for his work on the coming-of-age film Punch and The Truth Beneath, the screenplay came to life in 2018.

Innocent Witness premiered in South Korea on February 13, 2019. The film achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the break-even point of 2 million admissions. According to the Korean Films Commission, by March 3, it had garnered a total of 2,288,410 admissions. The film received critical acclaim, resulting in Moon and Lee Han being nominated for Best Screenplay at 55th Baeksang Arts Awards and 56th Grand Bell Awards. Moon developed the character Woo Young-woo, drawing inspiration from both the autistic character Ji-woo in Innocent Witness and the real-life rookie lawyer Shin Ju-young. Moon adapted Shin Ju-young's book "Master of the Court" for the drama, which vividly depicts courtroom stories based on Shin Ju-young's firsthand experiences as a rookie lawyer. The drama effectively captures the relentless pursuit of truth and the genuine concerns of clients while incorporating the passionate energy embodied by Shin Ju-young. Moon Ji-won, said,I unfolded the book "Master of the Court" to find the material for the legal drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. What was in the book was not a simple case material, but the passionate dedication of lawyers who do not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for their clients. The book is a source of inspiration for the passion of lawyers. Additionally, it became a Netflix Simulcast Original Series available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions within one hour of its airing. The drama quickly gained immense popularity and generated significant buzz, leading to what is now known as the "Woo Young-woo Syndrome". It achieved remarkable success, with nationwide viewer ratings reaching 17.5% and metropolitan area ratings surpassing 19%. Notably, this marked the triumphant debut of writer Moon Ji-won in the drama genre.

Upcoming projects Moon will make her directorial debut with the film 'Deaf Voice'. 'Deaf Voice' is based on Masaki Murayama's novel Deaf Voice Courtroom Sign Language Interpreter, which tells the story of the protagonist catching the real culprit of a terrible murder that occurred 20 years ago. produced by Barunson Studio, is scheduled to begin production in 2024 after the casting process is completed.

Filmography

Film

Television drama +Television drama of MoonYearTitleCredited as English KoreanDirectorScreenplay2022 Extraordinary Attorney Woo 이상한 변호사 우영우

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Listicles +Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placementPublisherYearListiclePlacementCine21 2022[Planning] 2022 Series Writer of the Year,Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Director Moon Ji-won 2023 22 Writers