Filmmaker Kim Chang-min, who directed “Someone’s Daughter” (literal translation), has died at 40 and saved four lives through organ donation following brain death.
On Nov. 11, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency (KODA) announced that Kim, 40, was declared brain-dead at Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital on Nov. 7. He donated his heart, liver and both kidneys, saving four patients. “We are deeply grateful to Mr. Kim and his family for sharing the gift of life. His warm gaze became a miracle that saved lives, and his love will continue to brighten our society,” KODA said in an official statement from President Lee Sam-yeol.
Kim suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Oct. 20 and, in accordance with his family’s wishes, made his final act one of life-sharing through donation.
“We prayed he would come back to us, but we chose to honor our son’s wishes and give others a chance at life,” his family said, noting Kim often told them, “At the end of my life, I want to be someone who saves another.”
His father added tearfully, “Son, your films were just about to meet the world, and you’re leaving with that moment in sight. I’ll start a film festival in your name so you can watch from heaven. I love you.” The family plans to gather Kim’s unreleased works and launch the Kim Chang-min Film Festival.
Kim first drew attention in 2016 when “Someone’s Daughter” won the Best Director award at the Police Human Rights Film Festival, a sensitive portrait of a sex offender’s daughter navigating stigma and trauma with dignity and resilience. He continued his socially minded storytelling with “Guui Station Exit 3” (2019). Behind the scenes, he left his mark across Chungmuro―Korea’s film industry hub―working on art and storyboarding teams for a number of major titles, including "Man of Will" (2017), "The Witch" (2018), "The Drug King" (2018), "Forbidden Dream" (2019), "Waiting for Rain" (2021) and "Firefighters" (2024).
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)