Actors Kang Dong-won and Yoo Tae-oh to Become Members of the US Academy

Invited Alongside Music Director Jo Young-wook and Others

Actors Kang Dong-won and Yoo Tae-oh, along with music director Jo Young-wook, have been invited as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization that oversees the Academy Awards. Their names were listed among the 487 new members announced by AMPAS on the 25th (local time). Upon accepting the invitation, they will become official members with voting rights for the Academy Awards.

The list also included Korean-American actress Greta Lee and Korean-Canadian director and screenwriter Celine Song, who collaborated with Yoo Tae-oh on the film Fast Lives. This film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards but did not win.

Korean film professionals have been steadily gaining membership in the Academy since 2015. Previously invited actors include Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Bae Doo-na, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Min-hee, Cho Jin-woong, Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hye-jin, Cho Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun, Park So-dam, Youn Yuh-jung, and Park Hae-il. Directors include Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Im Kwon-taek, Lee Chang-dong, Hong Sang-soo, and Im Soon-rye.