Lumpens is a South Korean-based video production company formed and led by art director Yong-seok Choi. They consist of a group of directors and producers in the field of video production, specializing mostly in the production of music videos, television advertisements, experimental films, graphic design, and visual art.
Starting as a visual art production company by Yeon-seok Choi, 'Lumpens' was a nickname given to Choi by a college professor referring to the German insult.[1] The company initially focused on commercials and fashion shoots. In 2010, their V.A.J.P (Visual Art Jam Performance) garnered some attention,[2] but Choi says the first real recognition came after he showcased a 3D version of animation Robot Taekwon V at a fan convention in January 2011.[1] As part of 'thecreatorsproject',[3] they began making popular music videos with Yoon Mi-rae, working with her on the music video for "Get It In" in 2011.[4] [5]
Since then, they have worked with various South Korean artists, including BTS, MFBTY,[6] Cho Yong-pil,[7] Rain,[8] Lee Hyori,[9] Sistar,[10] Wonder Girls,[10] Younha,[11] Hyuna, Spica,[12] ENHYPEN[13] and IU among others. When discussing the filming of Sunmi's Lalalay music video, she remarked, "this time it was directed by Lumpens, who seems to know me best. Because of this, he [Choi] was able to catch every move and there were minimal difficulties during filming."[14] In 2014, the company began working with Big Hit Entertainment, starting a prolific partnership with BTS.[15] [16] They have also worked closely with a small number of independent artists, such as ee and Guckkasten.[17]
Their work has received multiple honors, including the nomination for 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards Music Video of the Year for Cho Yong-pil's "Hello",[18] 2017 Melon Music Awards Music Video of the Year for BTS' "DNA",[19] 2018 Melon Music Awards Best Music Video Award for Ko Yoo-jeong's direction on GFriend's "Time for the Moon Night",[20] 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards Fan Choice Best Music Video for BTS' "Idol",[21] 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Video Director of the Year for BTS' "Butter",[22] and 2021 nomination for MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing Yong Seok Choi's work on BTS' "Butter"[23] [24]
| Music Video | Year | Performer | Credited Director(s) | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Tonight" | 2013 | Spica | Lumpens | 3:42 | [25] |
| "Boy In Luv" (Korean: 상남자) | 2014 | BTS | Choi Yongseok & Edie Ko (Lumpens) | 4:42 | [26] |
| "Just One Day" (Korean: 하루만) | Lumpens | 4:09 | [27] | ||
| "Danger" | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 4:52 | [28] | ||
| "Danger (Japanese Ver.)" | Edie Ko (Lumpens) | 4:12 | |||
| "I Need U" | 2015 | Lumpens | 3:40 | [29] | |
| "Run" | Choi Yongseok & Edie Ko (Lumpens) | 7:31 | |||
| "Fire (Korean: 불타오르네)" | 2016 | Lumpens | 4:55 | ||
| "Blood Sweat & Tears" (Korean: 피 땀 눈물) | 6:04 | [30] | |||
| "Spring Day" (Korean: 봄날)[31] | 2017 | 5:29 | |||
| "Blood Sweat & Tears" (Japanese Ver.) (Japanese: 血、汗、涙) | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 4:12 | [32] | ||
| "DNA" | 4:16 | [33] | |||
| "Fake Love"[34] | 2018 | 5:19 | |||
| "Idol" | 3:52 | ||||
| "Idol" (feat. Nicki Minaj) | 4:55 | ||||
| "Airplane Pt. 2 (Japanese Ver.)" | 3:47 | [35] | |||
| "작은 것들을 위한 시 (Boy with Luv)" (feat. Halsey) | 2019 | 4:12 | |||
| "Chicken Noodle Soup" (feat. Becky G) | J-Hope | 4:29 | [36] | ||
| "Make It Right (feat. Lauv)" | BTS | Guzza (Lumpens) | 4:17 | ||
| "Make It Right (Vertical ver.)" | 4:00 | ||||
| "9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)" (9와 4분의 3 승강장에서 너를 기다려) | TXT | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 5:16 | ||
| "Apple" | 2020 | GFriend | Lumpens | 4:05 | [37] |
| " 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto Film : Come Prima" | BTS | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 4:58 | ||
| "ON" | 5:54 | ||||
| "Puma" (동물원을 빠져나온 퓨마) | TXT | Guzza (Lumpens) | 3:36 | ||
| "Daechwita" (대취타) | Agust D | Choi Yongseok & Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) | 4:28 | ||
| "Black Swan" | BTS | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 3:37 | ||
| "Dynamite" | Choi Yongseok & Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) | 3:44 | |||
| "MAGO" | GFriend | Guzza (Lumpens) | 3:30 | ||
| "Blue Hour" (5시 53분의 하늘에서 발견한 너와 나) | TXT | 5:03 | |||
| "Life Goes On" | BTS | Jeon Jungkook, Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) & Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) | 3:50 | [38] | |
| "Given-Taken" | Enhypen | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) & Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) | 3:52 | ||
| "Film Out" | 2021 | BTS | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 3:48 | [39] |
| "Drunk-Dazed" | Enhypen | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens), Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 4:42 | ||
| "0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)" (feat. Seori) | TXT | Choi Yongseok, Guzza (Lumpens) | 4:35 | ||
| "Butter" | BTS | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 3:02 | [40] | |
| "Permission to Dance" | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) & Woogie Kim (MOTHER) | 5:00 | [41] | ||
| "LO$ER=LO♡ER" | TXT | Guzza (Lumpens) | 3:56 | ||
| "Tamed-Dashed" | Enhypen | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens), Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 4:10 | ||
| "Blessed-Cursed" | 2022 | 3:08 | |||
| "That That" | PSY | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 3:37 | ||
| "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" | BTS | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens), Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 4:40 | ||
| "Impurities" | Le Sserafim | Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 3:42 | [42] | |
| "Blade" (Korean: 철학보다 무서운건 비비의 총알) | Bibi | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens), Yoon Jihye (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 3:18 | [43] | |
| "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife" | 2023 | Le Sserafim | Yoon Jihye (Lumpens), Ro Ran (Lumpens) & Kim Chanyang | 3:47 | [44] |
| "Smart" | 2024 | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) | 3:14 | [45] | |
| "Spot!" | Zico featuring Jennie | Choi Yongseok (Lumpens) & Ro Ran (Lumpens) | 3:12 | [46] |