The Pioneer of the Golden Age of Korean TV Dramas
Maeng Manjae, former KBS producer who opened a new chapter in Korean drama with "TV Munhakgwan," passed away on July 3. According to his family on July 7, he had been battling emphysema since last year, and his condition rapidly deteriorated recently.
The late Maeng graduated from the Department of Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University and began his career as a drama director at Tongyang Broadcasting Company (TBC) in 1969. After moving to KBS, he served as deputy head and vice director of the drama department, producing a variety of works.
His representative works include several pieces from "TV Munhakgwan," such as "Late Autumn." He also directed "Drama Game," "The Woman Who Sets the Table," and "Burning Like a Candle." He is credited with elevating the quality of Korean dramas, having won the TV Directing Award four times.
He is survived by his spouse Chae Osun and his son Maeng Gwanho (CEO of Stanford Hotel Chile), among others. The funeral is being held in Room 1 of the funeral hall at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital. The burial will take place on the morning of July 9, with the grave site in Seonsan, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do.
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