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Kim Woo-taek

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Kim Woo-taek, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 202519 sources
Kim Woo-taek
Born (1964-07-04) July 4, 1964 (age 62)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupation(s)Entertainment executive, producer
Known forFounder and chairman of Next Entertainment World (NEW); producer of Descendants of the Sun, Miracle in Cell No. 7, Train to Busan

Kim Woo-taek (; born ) is a prominent South Korean entertainment executive and producer. He is the founder and chairman of Next Entertainment World (NEW), which initially focused on film investment and distribution before broadening its scope to include musicals, music production, and television dramas. Kim gained recognition as a top content producer in South Korea through major successes such as the drama Descendants of the Sun and films like Miracle in Cell No. 7 and Train to Busan, with the latter drawing an audience exceeding 10 million.

From 2001 to 2007, Kim was consecutively featured in Cine21 magazine’s list of the '50 Most Influential Figures in Korean Cinema.'

Early life and education

Kim Woo-taek was born on July 4, 1964, in Seoul. He completed his secondary education at Hwanil High School in 1984. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Seoul National University in 1988, followed by an MBA from the Graduate School of Emory University in 1990.

To further strengthen his leadership capabilities within the entertainment sector, Kim undertook executive education programs at Sogang University, Hanyang University, and Seoul National University’s Cultural Content Global Leader Course.

Career

Following his MBA completion in 1990, Kim embarked on his professional journey as an M&A specialist within Samsung C&T’s New York planning division. By 1996, he had advanced to a role at Dongyang Global.

In 1997, Kim transitioned into the film industry by joining On-Media, a subsidiary spun off from Dongyang under Orion Group. There, he oversaw Tooniverse, a children’s television channel. In 1999, he moved to Mediaplex, operator of Megabox Cineplex located in Seoul’s Gangnam area. By 2001, Kim had been promoted to assistant managing director at Megabox, where he introduced initiatives such as film festivals and theater membership programs under the motto "A movie theater that is more fun than a movie."

In December 2002, while serving as managing director of Mediaplex, Kim announced plans to launch Showbox to focus on producing Korean films and distributing foreign titles. The company targeted releasing roughly twenty films annually.

The following year, Mediaplex merged with Showbox with Kim appointed CEO. Under his leadership, several box office hits emerged including Taegukgi (2004), Marathon (which attracted 5.18 million viewers), Welcome to Dongmakgol (8 million viewers), and Family Crisis (5.4 million viewers), all ranking among South Korea’s top-performing films. The success of the 2006 film The Host further enhanced his standing in the industry.

In April 2008, Kim assumed the CEO position at Megabox.

That same year marked the founding of Next Entertainment World (NEW) by Kim along with four colleagues and an initial capital investment of two billion won; notable co-founders included Seo Dong-wook and Jang Kyung-ik. The company’s headquarters were established in Samseong-dong. Shortly after opening, a fire damaged the building; however, Kim regarded this setback as a chance for reconstruction and growth.

NEW quickly made its mark by distributing Hollywood’s Twilight during its inaugural year.

By 2010, NEW had shifted focus toward Korean cinema with an investment approach that emphasized multiple smaller-budget projects. Titles like The Fixer and Hello Ghost, which garnered three million viewers, brought industry recognition. NEW also took chances on films rejected by larger studios such as Late Blossom and Pietà, the latter earning the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival.

In 2011, Kim stepped down from his CEO role at Showbox Mediaplex to dedicate himself fully to leading NEW.

The year 2012 saw NEW rise further through releases including All About My Wife, The Grand Heist, and Pietà. In 2013, successes like Miracle in Cell No. 7, Hide and Seek (5.6 million viewers), and New World (4.68 million viewers) propelled NEW ahead of competitors such as CJ E&M, Showbox, and Lotte.

Kim was particularly drawn to projects that other companies declined; for instance, despite initial resistance toward New World, it achieved success largely due to its strong character development. He consistently prioritized investments based on audience satisfaction.

In August 2013, NEW established Content Panda to manage content distribution rights. The year concluded robustly with the blockbuster film The Attorney, which exceeded ten million viewers.

November 2013 marked NEW’s expansion into live entertainment with production of the large-scale musical December, directed by Jang Jin and starring Kim Junsu.

Despite financial challenges during 2014-2015 that affected stock prices and earnings at Heosamgwan and Daeho, Kim broadened NEW's portfolio to include musicals and sports marketing via Bravo & New—an agency managing national curling athletes—as well as music ventures while cultivating relationships within China’s financial markets.

In October 2014, Chinese media conglomerate Huache Media invested approximately 53.5 billion won into NEW. Kim clarified that although Huache co-produced Descendants of the Sun, most profits remained with NEW and KBS.

By April 2016, NEW entered theater ownership by acquiring CGV Sindorim multiplex for thirty billion won; this venue featured ten screens with nearly 1,500 seats.

During that summer, NEW released Train to Busan, which set new daily attendance records with 1.28 million viewers and surpassed ten million total—the only film in 2016 to reach this milestone—earning acclaim for its innovative adaptation of the zombie genre tailored to Korean audiences.

NEW's debut drama production was KBS's Descendants of the Sun, which achieved a peak viewership rating of 38.8% early in 2016 and secured the grand prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

In 2018, Kim was appointed Chairman of NEW.

By 2021, NEW had entered into a content supply agreement with OTT platform Coupang Play to provide twenty-five films.

Personal life

Kim Woo-taek is a devout Christian who lives by the principle of expressing gratitude in all circumstances, a belief influenced by a scripture from the Bible.

To enhance team spirit, he organizes social gatherings such as dinners at rock-themed cafés and encourages conversations centered around theatrical performances like plays and musicals.

On June 16, 1990, Kim wed Han Mi, and together they have two children—a son and a daughter. His father-in-law is Han Wan-sang, who previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Unification.

Film

Feature films produced by NEW
Year English Title Original Title
2008 Cyborg She 僕の彼女はサイボーグ
2009 A Season of Good Rain 호우시절
2010 Poetry 시
Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp 고死 두번째 이야기 : 교생실습
Haunters 초능력자
Late Blossom 그대를 사랑합니다
Hello Ghost 헬로우 고스트
2011 Poongsan 풍산개
Blind 블라인드
Marrying the Mafia IV 가문의 영광4 – 가문의 수난
Unbowed 부러진 화살
Come Rain, Come Shine 사랑한다, 사랑하지 않는다
The Cat 고양이: 죽음을보는 두개의눈
2012 Dangerously Excited 나는 공무원이다
Miss Conspirator 미쓰 GO
The Grand Heist 바람과 함께 사라지다
Pietà 피에타
Ghost Sweepers 점쟁이들
Love Fiction 러브 픽션
All About My Wife 내 아내의 모든 것
Love 911 반창꼬
2013 The Attorney 변호인
Cold Eyes 감시자들
Miracle in Cell No. 7 7번방의 선물
New World 신세계
The Fake 사이비
Hide and Seek 숨바꼭질
2014 Sea Fog 해무
For the Emperor 황제를 위하여
Fashion King 패션왕
Man in Love 남자가 사랑할 때
2015 Twenty 스물
Chronicle of a Blood Merchant 허삼관
The Phone 더 폰
Northern Limit Line 연평해전
The Beauty Inside 뷰티 인사이드
You Call It Passion 열정 같은 소리 하고 있네
The Tiger 대호
2016 | Train to Busan | 부산행
' Pandora' | 판도라
2017 | ' Because I Love You' | 사랑하기 때문에
' The Mimic' | 장산범
2017 ' The King' | 더킹
' Lucid Dream' | 루시드 드림
' One Line' | 원라인
' What a Man Wants' | 바람 바람 바람
' The Villainess' | 악녀
' Steel Rain' | 강철비
2018 ' Psychokinesis' | 염력
' Herstory' | 허스토리
' Believer' | 독전
' The Great Battle' | 안시성
' Rampant' | 창궐
2019 ' Homme Fatale' | 기방도령
' Birthday' | 생일
' Inseparable Bros' | 나의 특별한 형제
' Cheer Up, Mr. Lee' | 힘을 내요, 미스터 리
' Start-Up' | 시동
2020 ' Honest Candidate ' | 정직한 후보
' Peninsula' | 반도
' Night in Paradise' | 낙원의 밤
' The Call' | 콜
2021 ' Hostage: Missing Celebrity' | 인질
' Perhaps Love' | 장르만 로맨스
2022 ' Special Delivery' | 특송
' The Witch: Part 2. The Other One' | 마녀 2: the other one
' Honest Candidate 2' | 정직한 후보 2
' The Night Owl' | 올빼미
2023 ' Soulmate' | 소울메이트
롱디
' The Childe' | 귀공자
' Smugglers' | 밀수
가문의 영광:리턴즈


Television Series

Dramatic television credits
Year Title Broadcast Network Director Production Company Reference
English Korean
2016 Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예 KBS2
  • KBS
  • Next Entertainment World
  • Barunson Inc.
  • Descendants of the Sun SPC
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2018 Ms. Hammurabi 미스 함무라비 JTBC Kwak Jung-hwan Studio&NEW [1]
The Beauty Inside 뷰티 인사이드 Song Hyun-wook
  • Studio&NEW *Yong Film
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2019 Chief of Staff 보좌관 Kwak Jung-hwan
  • Studio&NEW
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2020 Oh My Baby 오 마이 베이비 tvN Nam Ki-hoon
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Graceful Friends 우아한 친구들 JTBC Song Hyun-wook
  • Studio&NEW *SLL *JCN
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2020–2021 Delayed Justice 날아라 개천용 SBS TV Kwak Jung-hwan
  • Studio&NEW
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2021 Doom at Your Service 어느 날 우리 집 현관으로 멸망이 들어왔다 tvN Kwon Young-il
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The Devil Judge 악마판사 Choi Jung-kyu Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
2023 Doctor Cha 닥터 차정숙 JTBC
  • Kim Dae-jin *Kim Jung-wook
  • Studio&NEW *SLL *JCN
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2023–2024 Tell Me That You Love Me '사랑한다고 말해줘' ENA Kim Yoon-jin
  • Studio&NEW *Artist Studio

|- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2024 |'Good Partner' |'굿파트너' |'SBS TV' |'Kim Ga-ram' | | |- |'Good Boy' |'굿보이' |'JTBC' |'Shim Na-yeon'

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  • SLL
  • Drama House Studio

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Web series

Web series credits
Year Title Streaming Platform Director Production Company Role credited as Reference(s)
English Korean Planner Investor
2022 Rookie Cops 너와 나의 경찰수업 Disney+ Kim Byung-soo
  • Studio&NEW
  • The Walt Disney Company (Korea)
 No Yes [2]

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Stage

Credits for Musical Performances
Year Title Role credited as Revival Reference(s)
English Korean
2013 December: Unfinished Song 디셈버: 끝나지 않은 노래 Investor 2014


Awards and Nominations

List of Awards and Nominations Received by Kim
Award Year Category Recipient Outcome
2nd Cultural Contents Global Leader Award
Presented by Seoul National University
Cultural Contents Global Leader Course Alumni Association 		2009 Global Leader Award Kim Woo-taek Template:Won
69th Venice International Film Festival 2012 Golden Lion Award Pietà Template:Won
Golden Mouse Award Template:Won
Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola Award (Little Golden Lion) Template:Won
Nazareno Taddei Award Template:Won
Black Movie Film Festival 2012 Critics Prize Template:Nom
Tokyo Filmex 2012 Audience Award Template:Won
32nd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2012 Best Film Template:Won
FIPRESCI Award Template:Won
49th Grand Bell Awards Best Film Template:Nom
33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Template:Won
17th Satellite Awards Best Foreign Language Film Template:Won
4th KOFRA Film Awards Best Film Template:Won
23rd Fantasporto Director's Week Best Film Template:Won
7th Asian Film Awards Best Film Template:Nom
49th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film Template:Nom
5th Filmmaker of the Year Award
hosted by Korean Film Journalists Association 		2014 Filmmaker of the Year Award Kim Woo-taek Template:Won
16th Udine Far East Film Festival 2014 Black Dragon Audience Award The Attorney[lower-alpha 1] Template:Won
First Runner-up, Golden Mulberry Award Template:Won
50th Baeksang Arts Awards 2014 Best Film Template:Won
23rd Buil Film Awards 2014 Best Film Template:Nom
Buil Reader's Jury Award getWon
35th Blue Dragon Film Awards getBest Film getWon
51st Grand Bell Awards 2014 getBest Film getNominee
Max Movie Award 2014 getBest Film getNominee


Listicle

Listicle featuring Kim
Publisher Year List Title Ranking Ref.
Cine21 2001 Chungmuro 50 Power Filmmaker Template:Shortlisted [3]
2002 Template:Shortlisted [4]
2003 Template:Shortlisted [5]
2004 Template:Shortlisted [6]
2005 Template:Shortlisted [7][8]
2006 Template:Shortlisted [9]
2007 Template:Shortlisted [10][11]
E-Daily 2016 Best Cultural Leader Template:Shortlisted [12]
Herald Economy 2013 Pop Culture Power Leader Big 30 Template:Shortlisted [13]
2014 Template:Shortlisted [14]
Korea CXO Research Institute[lower-alpha 2] 2023 Among the '10 billion club' comprising cultural and content stock leaders Template:Shortlist [15]
Leader+[lower-alpha 3] 2019 Ten Influential Leaders Driving K-Culture Forward Template:Shortlist [16][17]
MaxMovie 2016 Power Creator Top 30
(Selection by MaxMovie Film Research Institute) 		Template:Longlisted [18][19]


External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ref1
  2. ↑ Lee Kyung-ho (June 5, 2021). [단독]박유나, '너와 나의 경찰수업' 합류..강다니엘X채수빈과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Park Yu-na joins 'You and My Police Class'... Breathing with Daniel Kang X Chae Soo-bin] (in 한국어). Star News. Retrieved June 5, 2021 – via Naver.
  3. ↑ "2001 충무로 파워 50 – [3] 11위~20위" [2001 Chungmuro Power 50 – [3] 11st to 20th]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2001-05-03. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  4. ↑ "2002 충무로 파워 50 – [3] 11위~20위" [2002 Chungmuro Power 50 – [3] 11st to 20th]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2002-05-03. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  5. ↑ "2003 충무로 파워 50 – [1] 1위~10위" [2003 Chungmuro Power 50 – [1] 1st to 10th]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2003-05-02. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  6. ↑ "2004 충무로 파워 50 – [2] 1위~10위" [2004 Chungmuro Power 50 – [2] 1st to 10th]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  7. ↑ "2005 충무로 파워 50 [2] – 1위~10위" [2005 Chungmuro Power 50 [2] – 1st to 10th]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  8. ↑ '충무로 파워맨' 바뀌었네! ['Chungmuro Power Man' has changed!]. The Chosun Ilbo (in 한국어). 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  9. ↑ 한국 영화산업 파워 50 [2] – 1위~10위 [Korean Film Industry Power 50 [2] – Top Ten Positions]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  10. ↑ "[2007 한국 영화산업 파워50] 영화노사가 파워 실세로!" [[2007 Korean Film Industry Power 50] Filmmakers as Leading Forces!]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  11. ↑ "[2007 한국 영화산업 파워50] 1위~10위" [[2007 Korean Film Industry Power 50] Top Ten Rankings]. Cine21 (in 한국어). 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  12. ↑ "[2016문화파워] 올해 최고의 문화리더 '소설가 한강'" [[2016 Cultural Power] This Year's Top Cultural Leader 'Novelist Han Kang']. 2016-10-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ↑ Lee Hyung-seok (2013-12-26). {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  14. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  15. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  16. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  17. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  18. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  19. ↑ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)


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