A Journey from Gwangju to Hollywood
In 1989, a small art academy in Gwangju opened its doors just before dawn. Among the early visitors was Jang Seong-ho, a high school student who had spent the previous night closing up the facility. He returned quietly, not because he was allowed, but because he had no choice. Unable to afford tuition, he earned his place by cleaning and running errands. When he needed supplies, he took leftover drawing paper from classrooms and borrowed paint from friends. His determination was tested further when his father passed away during his sophomore year of high school. As the fourth of five siblings, he knew he had to take responsibility and figure out his own path.
This self-reliance became the driving force behind his life. The same perseverance that helped him through art school eventually led him to Hollywood and into the world of filmmaking. Now 55 years old, Jang is the director of King of Kings, an animated film that has made history for Korean animation. In a recent interview, he shared, “For someone like me, who was always fighting to survive, failure was never an option. What helped was constantly trying to view myself objectively, no matter the circumstances.”
A Breakthrough in the Box Office
The film, which tells the story of Jesus, initially went unnoticed before its North American release in April. However, everything changed after its opening weekend, where it debuted at number two with $19 million in ticket sales. This surpassed the $14.5 million debut of The Prince of Egypt in 1998. To date, King of Kings has grossed $60 million in North America, surpassing the $53 million earned by Parasite in 2019. This achievement came from Jang’s belief—held even 10 years ago, when many dismissed the idea of entering Hollywood as a fantasy—that global success was possible.
Jang’s confidence was built on years of experience. While studying visual design at Hongik University, he illustrated company newsletters for over 60 firms to fund his education and worked on post-production for films. His directorial debut came with The Gate of Destiny in 1996, followed by visual effects work on major Korean films such as Tidal Wave and The Admiral: Roaring Currents, as well as dramas like Happy Time, The Legend, and My Love from the Star. “I learned how to control the rhythm of an audience—when to hold their breath, when to let go—by cutting movie trailers,” he explained. Since working on The Foul King in 2000, Jang has created over 450 trailers.
From Korean Films to Hollywood Dreams
By 2015, Jang set his sights on a directorial debut in Hollywood, aiming for a nationwide release. At the time, many considered this unrealistic, especially since groups like BTS and directors like Bong Joon-ho were still unknown. However, Jang saw Hollywood as a reachable goal. While working on the CGI for Happy Time, The Legend, he connected with staff at Wētā FX, known for The Lord of the Rings, who later helped him navigate the industry through his work on the American TV series Spartacus. Alongside him was former Disney casting director Jamie Thomason, who was initially skeptical. “If the script’s weak, I can’t back it,” he said. But after reading Jang’s screenplay, he changed his mind. “I never imagined a story about Jesus could be this entertaining,” he added, joining the project enthusiastically. Soon after, big names like Uma Thurman and Mark Hamill signed on to the cast.
A Legacy of Faith and Support
For Jang, one of his greatest supporters was cinematographer Kim Woo-hyung. Kim, a senior from Jang’s middle school days, was the man behind the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Cinematography (Photography & Lighting) for Park Chan-wook’s The Little Drummer Girl in 2018. He led the virtual production of King of Kings. “Director Kim is my greatest benefactor,” Jang said. “Just as I was strengthened by his faith in me, I made King of Kings as a universal story—about love and trust that transcends religion.”
