| Syd Lim | |||||||||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ko | ||||||||||||
| Other Names: | Im Seung-yong | ||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 20 October 1970 | ||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | South Korea | ||||||||||||
| Alma Mater: | Yonsei University | ||||||||||||
| Years Active: | 2003–present | ||||||||||||
| Module: |
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Syd Lim, also credited in eastern name order as Im Seung-yong (; Born October 20, 1970), is a South Korean film actor, planner, and producer.[1]
Lim started his filmmaking career at Walt Disney, where he worked for two and a half years in the fields of film distribution, marketing, and copyright management. Afterward, he joined Bear Entertainment, marking his producing debut with film Humanist (2001). In 2003, he established SIO Film. Then, in 2009, Lim sold SIO Film to Barunson E&A and joined the company, assuming the dual roles of CEO of SIO Film and Vice President (head of Barunson's film division).[2]
In 2012, Syd Lim established Yong Film. Since 2022, Yong Film has become a subsidiary of CJ ENM. After the merger and acquisition in October 2023, Yong Film has become a label under CJ Studio, with Syd Lim still serving as the CEO of the label.[3]
He is highly regarded in the industry for his exceptional ability to identify and adapt films across various genres. He has successfully developed and produced many projects based on comics, novels, and classic tales, which have garnered both commercial success and critical acclaim. Notable examples include Park Chan-wook's Old Boy (2003) and The Handmaiden (2016), as well as Kim Dae-woo's The Servant (2010), among others.[4] [5]
Lim developed a passion for movies during high school. He would pretend to study hard just to watch MBC's movie program, every Saturday without getting scolded by his mother. When his parents made the decision to emigrate to the United States, he saw it as an opportunity to pursue his passion and chose to stay behind. When he visit his home in US during his three months vacations, he would rent videos from various places, including the USC Library and UCLA Library. He developed a particular fondness for French films like René Clément's Purple Noon which starred Alain Delon, and Claude Lelouch's A Man and a Woman. Despite not fully grasping the storyline Purple Noon, he found it so captivating that he ended up keeping the rented video past its due date. Additionally, he watched Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon more than 30 times, as he had a habit of attentively studying and analyzing a single film. Mystery movies also held a special place in his heart, with Alfred Hitchcock being one of his favorite directors.[6]
Lim graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Korean Language and Literature. He made a decision to renounce his U.S. green card and did his mandatory military enlistment. After serving a full two years, two months, and six days, he was discharged. Prior to that, during a break from military duty, he had a casual conversation over drinks with an acquaintance who offered him an interview opportunity. Soon after discharging, Lim joined Walt Disney Korea's direct distribution agency. During his two and a half years at Disney, he had the privilege of reviewing upcoming film scripts. He also actively participated in an overseas promotional tour. The experience proved to be invaluable in terms of acquiring knowledge and tools related to film distribution, copyright management, and marketing, all of which are important within the commercial film industry.
During his time at Disney, he pursued his studies in the Graduate School of Korean Language and Literature at Yonsei University. His master's thesis, titled 'A Study on Scenario Adaptation of a Novel – Focusing on "The Aimless Bullet" (1961)', analyzed the differences between the screenplay of Yu Hyun-mok's film adaptation of The Aimless Bullet and the original novel by .
Lim began his career as a producer immediately after leaving Disney. This transition came about following a significant event in his life: the unexpected passing of his mother, who was the sole supporter of his filmmaking aspirations.
"It was a significant blow when my mother, who was the only one in my family to support my passion for filmmaking, passed away. At that time, Kim Dae-woo, a renowned screenwriter, unexpectedly summoned me to Chungmuro. He reprimanded me, asking why someone who wanted to pursue filmmaking was hiding. His words deeply resonated with me: "Even if you stumble, get hurt, and tumble, you have to experience it firsthand to understand the path downward. If you continue clinging from above, you will never truly know, right?""Afterward, Lim obtained employment at Bear Entertainment, where he worked under the leadership of CEO Lee Seo-yeol. His inaugural project as a producer was the film (2001), directed by . It was during this time that he had the chance to meet Park Chan-wook, the film's screenwriter.
Spring Bears Love is a 2003 film directed by Yong Yi and produced by E-son Film. The film stars Bae Doo-na and Kim Nam-jin. It is a romantic comedy about a female employee of a large retail store who borrows an art book from the library for her ailing father. After seeing a relay love letter written in each book, she sets out to find the main character.[7] The film combines elements of romantic mystery drama and romantic fantasy, drawing inspiration from the novel Le Souligneur (The Underliner) by French writer .[8]
While taking a break at home, Lim received a recommendation from his junior about the Japanese manga series Old Boy, written by Garon Tsuchiya and illustrated by Nobuaki Minegishi. Intrigued, Lim decided to read it and was captivated by the story. Lim was reported to have first contacted Park Chan-wook with the idea for the project, followed by reaching out to actor Choi Min-sik to confirm his involvement. Lim promptly traveled to Japan to visit Futabashiya, the copyright holder for manga series Old Boy, and signed a copyright contract. It took less than two weeks from the moment Lim read the manga to his decision to go to Japan and acquire the copyright. Just two days after signing the contract, a comprehensive agreement on the project was reached over a glass of Soju.[9]
During the production of Oldboy, Lim served as the general producer, overseeing planning, storywriting, filming, post-production, and scheduling, including overseas trips. He had close relationship with the people he worked with on Oldboy, including director Park Chan-wook and screenwriter Hwang Jo-yoon, who was his fellow student for eight years. The production and planning team also consisted of individuals with previous collaborations with Lim.
Oldboy depicts the story of (Choi Min-sik), who is inexplicably confined in a hotel-like cell for 15 years without knowledge of his captor's identity or motives. Upon his release, Dae-su becomes entangled in conspiracy and violence while seeking vengeance against the mysterious Lee Woo-jin (Yoo Ji-tae). As his pursuit unfolds, he falls in love with Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), a young sushi chef. The film Oldboy has received critical acclaim,[10] [11] [12] and is recognized as an influential cult classic.[13] [14] [15] Its action sequences, particularly the noteworthy single shot, have garnered praise.[16]
The tremendous success of Oldboy brought Korean cinema to the attention of film enthusiasts worldwide, leading Lim to establish his own film production company, Sio Film . The production company was already registered as a corporation. Lim had plans to change his title to CEO from the next work. However, Lim continued working as a producer until his next project. He considered the science fiction genre and aimed to create a company that could consistently produce two or three films a year.[17]
SIO Film made its debut in film production with founding work Crying Fist (2005), directed by Ryoo Seung-wan. It was the first Korean film to receive permission to film inside a prison. With a net production cost of 3.9 billion won, it was co-produced with T Film and Bravo Entertainment.[18] [19] The film was showcased in Directors' Fortnight section of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. The film garnered a total of 1,728,477 admissions nationwide.[20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
Lim proceeded to produce (2005), Project Makeover (2006), and Big Bang (2007). However these films received a lukewarm response from audiences.
T Entertainment CEO Kim Tae-eun made an announcement on March 15, 2007, stating that the company would acquire Siofilm. Through the acquisition of existing shares, T Entertainment obtained a 29.3% stake in Siofilm, which accounted for a total of 190,832 shares, at a cost of 2.29 billion won. As part of the transaction, Sio film's CEO Lim allocated 1.825 billion won of the stake sale amount to a third party.[26]
Then, in 2009, Lim made the decision to sell Sio Film to Barunson E&A and joined the company, assuming the dual roles of CEO of Sio Film and Vice President (head of Barunson's film division).[27]
Lim's first project in his dual roles at Barunson was Director Jeong Yong-ki's . The film centers around a modern-day family of robbers, comprising Hong Moo-hyuk (Lee Beom-soo), a high school music teacher and the 18th-generation descendant of Hong Gil-dong, his father Hong Man-seok (Park In-hwan), his mother Seok Myeong-ae (Kim Ja-ok), and his younger brother Hong Chan-hyuk (Jang Ki-bum). Other key characters include Hong Moo-hyuk's lover Song Yeon-hwa (Lee Si-young), prosecutor Song Jae-pil (Sung Dong-il), and detective Lee Jeong-min (Kim Su-ro).[28]
It was followed by The Servant, a 2010 South Korean historical romantic drama directed and written by Kim Dae-woo. Starring Kim Joo-hyuk, Jo Yeo-jeong and Ryoo Seung-bum, the film offers a unique perspective on the renowned Korean folktale Chunhyangjeon by narrating the story from the viewpoint of Lee Mong-ryong's servant, the male protagonist.[29] [30] [31] [32] The film surpassed 1 million viewers within a week of its release, and then surpassed 2 million within 17 days. Despite the June 2nd local elections and the South Africa World Cup, the film achieved great success at the box office, attracting a total of 3,014,523 viewers.[33] [34] [35]
Lim once again collaborated with Kim Joo-hyuk in the 2011 film Couples. Directed by Jeong Yong-ki, Couples is a romantic comedy film that serves as a remake of Kenji Uchida's 2005 Japanese film A Stranger of Mine. The screenplay for the movie was adapted by Lee Gae-byok. The film features an ensemble cast including Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Yoon-ji, Lee Si-young, Oh Jeong-se, and Gong Hyeong-jin. Notably, this movie marks the screen debut of Lee Yoon-ji who had previously worked in theater. The production of Couples were led by producer duo, Seo Woo-sik and Syd Lim.[36]
In August 2012, Lim established his new film production company, Yong Film ((주)용필름).[37] The company's motto, "Crazy, Story, Imagination," is featured beneath its logo. During the logo design process, Lim collaborated with three directors he worked with to define Yong Film's desired identity, as the company serves as their current and future workplace. Park Chan-wook chose "Crazy" to capture the essence of chaos and passion in their work. Jung Ji-woo suggested "Story," as Yong Film places great importance on storytelling and engages in discussions with directors during the development stage, regardless of their personal style. Baik's suggestion of "Imagination" resonated with Lim's preference for narrative experiences that stimulate the viewer's imagination, rather than relying on real-life scenarios. Baik, a close friend who understands Lim's personality well, believed that the combined words chosen by the directors perfectly aligned with Yong Film's overarching motto. These phrases represent a commitment to creating movies with these qualities in the future.[38]
First work of Yong Film was the action thriller film The Target. This movie is a remake of Fred Cavayé's 2010 French film Point Blank.[39] [40] [41] Initially, Jeon Jae-hong was slated to direct the project,[42] [43] but ultimately, it was handed over to Yoon Hong-seung (who also goes by the pseudonym Chang).[44] [45] The screenplay was penned by writer Jeon Cheol-hong.[46] Co-produced by Barunson, the film later secured a production and supply contract with a budget of approximately 4.2 billion won, in collaboration with CJ E&M. The partnership between the two companies stipulated a 20% share of the net profit upon its realization. The movie generated significant buzz in Chungmuro even before production commenced, thanks to the involvement of esteemed actors such as Ryu Seung-ryong, Yoo Jun-sang, Jo Yeo-jeong, Kim Seong-ryeong, Lee Jin-wook, Jin Goo, and Jo Eun-ji.[46]
The Target was also showcased out of competition in the Midnight Screenings section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.[47] [48] [49] It was released on April 30, 2014, and despite placing third at the box office, it had a solid opening, behind The Fatal Encounter (another Korean film released on the same day) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In its first week, The Target attracted 1.35 million admissions and earned ₩6.63 billion (US$6.46 million), capturing a market share of 21.5%.[50] [51] On its second week, the film rose to second place at the box office, accumulating a total of over 2 million admissions from 716 screens nationwide.[52]
Lim and Baik met for the first time while working on Oldboy. Lim was a producer, and Baik handled the title design. Although they were good friends for a long time, they never talked about making a movie together. Baik saw the 2012 American social film The Beauty Inside and recommended Lim to take a look. Lim later called him to offer Baik to do the film himself. Initially hesitant, Baik ultimately accepted Lim's offer due to the appeal of exploring an ingenious subject matter.[53] [54] It is Baik's feature film debut, after a career directing commercials.[55] [56] [57]
The Beauty Inside is a romantic comedy that revolves around a man named Woo-jin who wakes up in a different body and face each day, with only his mother, Moon-sook, and his friend, Sang-baek, portrayed by Lee Dong-hwi, being aware of his secret. However, when Woo-jin accidentally encounters Lee Soo, played by Han Hyo-joo, he falls in love with her and decides to reveal his extraordinary secret? The film features an impressive cast of 123 individuals as Woo-jin, including 21 actors such as Kim Dae-myung, Do Ji-han, Bae Seong-woo, Park Shin-hye, Lee Beom-soo, Park Seo-jun, Kim Sang-ho, Chun Woo-hee, Ueno Juri, Lee Jae-jun, Kim Min-jae, Lee Hyun-woo, Jo Dal-hwan, Lee Jin-wook, Hong Da-mi, Seo Kang-jun, Kim Hee-won, Lee Dong-wook, Go Ah-seong, Kim Joo-hyuk, and Yoo Yeon-seok.[58] [59] [60] Many of the 21 actors who played Woo-jin participated in the work due to their relationship with Lim.[61]
The Beauty Inside was released on August 20, 2015, in South Korea.[62] [63] [64] [65] The Beauty Inside garnered a total gross of US$14,291,242 from 2,057,896 ticket admissions in total.[66]
Lim's subsequent production, Luck Key is an action comedy film directed by Lee Gae-byok, starring Yoo Hae-jin in the lead role. The original work of Luck Key is Kenji Uchida's Japanese comedy film Key of Life.[67] [68] [69] [70] [71] Lee Gae-byok has been in a relationship with Lim since their collaboration on director Park Chan-wook's film Oldboy in 2003. During the production of Oldboy, Lee Gae-byok served as an assistant director, while Lim was the head of the production company and a producer.[72]
Luck Key was released on October 13, 2016. Prior to its release, the target audience discussed with the investment company was estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 Million people, with 2.5 Million as the break-even point. However, to everyone's surprise, the film garnered an enormous audience of 6.8 million people by November 14, surpassing expectations and achieving remarkable success at the box office. In fact, the final number exceeded 6.9 million, making it one of highest-grossing films in South Korea.[73] [74] [75]
Lim read Sarah Waters' novel Fingersmith and wanted to adapt it into a film. This novel had never been made into a film, except for the BBC drama Fingersmith (2005) starring Sally Hawkins and Elaine Cassidy. Lim recommended the novel to Park Chan-wook. Acting upon Lim's suggestion, Park and his wife read the novel Fingersmith together. When Director Park was thinking about his next film after Thirst, his wife suggested, "Why don't you do Fingersmith?"[76] Lim acquired the copyright in 2012. However Park had decided to do Hollywood film called Stoker first, so He asked Lim to postpone the project. In 2013, Park Chan-wook invited writer Sarah Waters to attend the London premiere of Stoker, where they had a pleasant exchange. Waters did not provide any specific instructions for the film adaptation.[77] [78]
The original Fingersmith is set in Victorian England during the 1860s, focusing on the intricate scheme involving two women, Susan and Maud. As the producer, Lim suggested changing the time and setting of the story to 1930s Korea and Japan. The main characters include Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), a noble heiress; Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo), a con man posing as a Japanese count; and Nam Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a pickpocket who becomes Lady Hideko's maid. The film is divided into three parts. Part one is narrated by Nam Sook-hee, who is hired by Fujiwara to work as a maid and assist him in deceiving Lady Hideko. The second part shifts to Lady Hideko's perspective and delves into her traumatic upbringing by her aunt (Moon So-ri) and her uncle Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong). Twists and turns unfold before reaching a thrilling conclusion in the final chapter. While the first part closely follows the novel, the other two parts are loosely adapted.
Park Chan-wook enlisted his frequent collaborators for the project. Writer Jeong Seo-kyeong worked on the screenplay, while production designer Ryu Seong-hui, editor Kim Jae-bum, and cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon contributed to the film's aesthetic and technical aspects. The Handmaiden received numerous accolades and recognition, including several awards at international film festivals and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. The film was praised for its intricate plot twists, lush cinematography, and the performances of its cast.[79]
After 12 years, Lim and Choi Min-shik reunited for the Korean film Heart Blackened, which is a remake of Fei Xing's Chinese film Silent Witness. This project marks their third collaboration, as they had previously worked together on Old Boy and Crying Fist.[80] [81] Additionally, this film serves as a reunion between Director Jeong Ji-woo and actor Choi Min-sik, who had previously worked together 18 years earlier on Happy End (1999).[82] [83]
The story begins with the tragic murder of singer Yoo-na (Lee Ha-nui), the fiancée of Lim Tae-san (Choi Min-sik), a powerful and influential man. Lim Tae-san's own daughter, Lim Mira (Lee Soo-kyung), becomes the prime suspect in the crime. Determined to prove Mira's innocence, Lim Tae-san seeks the help of Choi Hee-jeong (Park Shin-hye), a young lawyer who firmly believes in Mira's innocence and rejects the assistance of high-profile attorneys. The courtroom battle intensifies as they strive to uncover the truth behind the events of that fateful day, a seven-hour period. Despite Mira's lack of memory, the presence of Kim Dong-myeong (Ryu Jun-yeol), a devoted fan of Yoo-na, possessing crucial CCTV footage, takes the case in an unforeseen direction.[84] [85]
After discussing with director Jeong Ji-woo, Lim decided to include Lee Chung-hyun in the screenplay adaptation for this project. As the producer, Lim was impressed by Lee's talent after viewing his short film Bargain and recognized Lee's potential. Rather than immediately assigning Lee to direct his own film, Lim had him contribute to the scripts of Heart Blackened.
Yong Film's next project was an action crime film that a remake of Johnnie To's 2012 film Drug War. For a few years, Lim and director Lee Hae-young had occasional meetings over tea before Lim proposed the idea for Believer. Lim recognized the potential in the films that Lee Hae-young had previously shown him, and after their meetings and discussions, he came to admire Lee Hae-young's unique style. Despite having no prior experience in directing action movies, director Lee Hae-young took charge of the project.[86]
Believer[87] showcases the posthumous film performance of actor Kim Joo-hyuk.[88] [89] Lim and the late Kim Joo-hyuk had a strong bond and had the opportunity to collaborate on multiple occasions. It was Lim who personally recommended Kim Joo-hyuk for the role of Jin Ha-rim. Lim had been encouraging Kim Joo-hyuk to act a villainous character since their previous work together on The Servant.
Believer premiered in South Korea on May 22, 2018, and an extended version was later released in theaters on July 18, 2018. The film achieved great success with an audience of 5.2 million viewers. Lim considered this to be a pivotal one for Yong Film.
In 2019, Yong Film released their first film with an original screenplay, Cheer Up, Mr. Lee. The film tells the story of Cheol-soo (Cha Seung-won), a physically fit and handsome man with a mental disability, who lives with his younger brother's family (Park Hae-joon) and works at their restaurant. One day, Cheol-soo's ex-mother-in-law (Kim Hye-ok) asks him to help find a nearby hospital. At the hospital, Cheol-soo encounters Saet-byeol (Um Chae-young), his sick daughter. Saet-byeol decides to sneak out of the hospital to get an autograph from a famous baseball player, and Cheol-soo unexpectedly joins her on the journey.
Lim, who shared the behind-the-scenes details of Cheer Up, Mr. Lee, revealed that the screenplay was a collaboration between director Lee Gae-byok and director Han Jang-hyuk, who served as the assistant director of the film Old Boy (2003). Originally centered around a mother and son, the script went through several development stages. Lim suggested to director Lee Gae-byok that he should direct the film. After reading the script, Lee Gae-byok decided to change the story to focus on a father and daughter, reflecting his own personal experience. The project has numerous connections with a development process spanning over 15 years.[90]
Lim produced The Call, director Lee Chung-hyun's feature film debut as a director. It is a psychological thriller film that is based on the 2011 British and Puerto Rican film The Caller, which was released in Korea in 2012. The Korean adaptation revolves around two women, Seo-yeon (played by Park Shin-hye) and Young-sook (played by Jeon Jong-seo), who exist in different time periods. Through a mysterious phone call, their fates become entangled, leading to a series of unexpected events. The film explores themes of destiny, connection, and the consequences of altering the course of one's life. Originally, The Call was intended for a theatrical release. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plans had to be changed, and the film's theatrical release was canceled.[91]
Lee Chung-hyun's next project was the short film Heart Attack! It was a romantic time travel story starring Lee Sung-kyung and produced in collaboration between Samsung and Yong Film. Lee Chung-hyun, known for his passion for short films, accepted Samsung's offer immediately after completing The Call. The film reunited director of photography Kim Sang-il from "Ransom" and the staff of The Call. Kim Sang-il was able to film the extensive storyboard within a three-day timeframe using five Galaxy phones. The story followed a woman who fell in love at first sight with a man but tragically lost him. She then turned back time to save him. The short film was exclusively released on October 6 through the OTT service Watcha.[92]
20th Century Girl is the second feature film produced by Yong Film with an original story, showcasing the creative vision of director Bang Woo-ri. The script was inspired by the director's personal experience of exchanging diaries with a close friend. The film is set in Cheongju, the director's hometown. Starring Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Roh Yoon-seo, the story revolves around themes of friendship and first love, capturing the essence of youthful emotions and experiences. The story takes place in the year 1999.[93] It was made available exclusively on Netflix on October 21, 2022.[94]
In February 2022, CJ ENM acquired a stake in Yong Film through a mutual transfer. This acquisition made Yong Film a subsidiary of CJ ENM under the Film Division.[95]
In April 2023, CJ ENM established CJ ENM Studios as a 100% owned subsidiary, led by CEO Ha Yong-su. The establishment of CJ Studios involved a significant in-kind investment of 70 billion won. The primary objective of CJ Studios is to produce diverse content across various genres for global OTT (online video service) platforms. By leveraging the content production capabilities of its different subsidiaries, CJ Studios aims to create synergy and position itself as a major production company. The proven success of Studio Dragon, another production company under CJ ENM, serves as an inspiring model for this ambitious endeavor.
In July 2022, CJ Studios made key leadership appointments. Yoon Je-kyoon, the CEO of JK Film, joined as co-CEO of CJ Studios, overseeing the content division, while CEO Ha Yong-su assumed responsibility for the management division. Additionally, Oh Kwang-hee, the CEO of Bon Factory, was appointed as the head of CJ Studios Content Division.
On October 25, 2022, CJ ENM announced its intention to consolidate its production house subsidiaries under the umbrella of CJ ENM Studios. This consolidation encompasses several companies that CJ ENM acquired shares in and transformed into subsidiaries between 2016 and 2021. These companies include Bone Factory Co., Ltd., JK Film Co., Ltd., Vlad Studio Co., Ltd., M Makers Co., Ltd., Moho Film Co., Ltd., Yong Film Co., Ltd., Cartoon Family Co., Ltd., and Egg Is Coming Co., Ltd. The plan involves two steps: first, acquiring any remaining shares to make each subsidiary a 100% owned subsidiary, and then merging them into CJ Studios. Throughout this process, the company name will be retained as a brand or label.[96] [97] As part of the merger and acquisition (M&A) process, CJ Studios acquired shares of Yong Film worth approximately KRW 15.886 billion, leading to an increased shareholding ratio of 100%. The acquisition involved 5,000 shares at an acquisition price of 3,177,100 won. As a result, Lim, the CEO of Yong Film, received a payout of 15.9 billion won.[98]
Yong Film hosted its annual event, Yong Night, on December 7, 2022, following its new status as label under CJ Studio. At the event, CEO Lim revealed Yong Film's upcoming lineup, which comprised numerous film titles in the planning phase and several titles for OTT series.
Yong Film is preparing The Jailbreaker (working title) with Director Park Chan-wook. Based on the Michael Robotum's novel Life or Death, the story revolves around a man who escapes from prison one day before his release. Yong Film and director Park Chan-wook's Moho Film will co-produce the film, with Park Chan-wook directing and writing the screenplay.
One of the highlighted series in the lineup is currently referred to as "Mangnaein." This series is a collaboration between renowned directors Kim Jee-woon and Park Bo-ram. It is an adaptation of the crime novel 'Second Sister' by Hong Kong writer Chan Ho Kei. Yong Film is partnering with Anthology Studio and SK Global to produce the series.[99]
In Believer 2, an action crime film directed by Baek Jong-yul and a sequel to the 2018 film Believer. the story continues with Won-ho's investigation as he searches for "Rak," who disappeared after Brian's arrest. The film delves deep into the intricate workings of an elusive drug cartel. Released in 2023, it features an ensemble cast including Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Dong-young, and Lee Joo-young.[100] The movie premiered at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section on October 5, 2023.[101] Following its premiere, Believer 2 became available for streaming on Netflix starting from November 17, 2023.[102] [103]
Syd Lim will be involved in the collaboration between Lionsgate Television and Park Chan-wook to create an English-language TV adaptation of Park's renowned movie Oldboy. Syd Lim together with Park Chan-wook, will serve as a producer for the upcoming series. The project is being supervised by Lionsgate Television executives Courtney Mock and Tara Joshi, while the deal was negotiated by Bryan Weiser.[104]
Lim's spouse, Jeong Yeon-hee, earned her degree in Library Science from Sookmyung Women's University and previously worked as a librarian. Currently, she acts as an advisor to Lim, actively engaging in reading diverse scenarios and collaborating with him to produce films. She frequently travels overseas for work.
Lim's father, Lim Hae-hom, served as the chairman of Rock Heaven. Furthermore, Lim has two younger brothers named Lim Yeon-sung and Hugh Lim.
Lim has many hobbies. He collects film CDs and DVDs as a cinephile, enjoys building a collection of various liquors, with a particular love for whiskey. He is also a collector of fountain pens.[105]
| Title | Credited as | Director | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | Planner | Executive Producer | Producer | ||||
| 2001 | The Humanist | 휴머니스트 | Syd Lim | Syd Lim | Lee Moo-young | Bear Entertainment | [106] | |
| 2003 | Spring Bears Love | 봄날의 곰을 좋아하세요? | Syd Lim | Yi Yong | Eson Film | [107] | ||
| Oldboy | 올드보이 | Syd Lim | Park Chan-wook | Park Chan-wook | Show East Egg Film CJ Entertainment | [108] | ||
| 2005 | Crying Fist | 주먹이 운다 | Ryoo Seung-wan | SIO Film Bravo Entertainment | [109] | |||
| The Beast and the Beauty | 야수와 미녀 | Syd Lim | Lee Gae-byok | SIO Film | [110] | |||
| 2007 | Project Makeover | 언니가 간다 | Kim Chang-rae | [111] | ||||
| 2007 | Big Bang | 쏜다 | Syd Lim | Park Jung-woo | [112] | |||
| 2009 | The Righteous Thief | 홍길동의 후예 | Jeong Yong-ki | Another Life Company, SIO Film | [113] | |||
| 2010 | The Servant | 방자전 | Kim Dae-woo | Sio Film Co., Ltd. Barunson E&A Co., Ltd. | [114] | |||
| 2011 | Couples | 커플즈 | Jeong Yong-ki | [115] | ||||
| 2012 | Mr. XXX-Kisser | 아부의 왕 | Jung Seung-gu | Magic Lamp Co., Ltd. | [116] | |||
| 2014 | The Target | 표적 | Syd Lim | Chang | Yong Film Co., Ltd. Barunson E&A Co., Ltd. | [117] | ||
| 2015 | The Beauty Inside | 뷰티 인사이드 | Syd Lim | Baik | Yong Film | [118] | ||
| 2016 | Luck Key | 럭키 | Syd Lim | Syd Lim | Lee Gae-byok | |||
| 2016 | The Handmaiden | 아가씨 | Park Chan-wook | [119] | ||||
| 2017 | Heart Blackened | 침묵 | Syd Lim | Syd Lim | Jung Ji-woo | [120] | ||
| 2018 | Believer | 독전 | Lee Hae-young | [121] | ||||
| 2019 | Cheer Up, Mr. Lee | 힘을 내요, 미스터 리 | Lee Gae-byok | [122] | ||||
| 2020 | The Call | 콜 | Lee Chung-hyun | Yong Film Netflix | [123] | |||
| Heart Attack | 하트어택 | Yong Film Watcha | [124] | |||||
| 2022 | 20th Century Girl | 20세기 소녀 | Bang Woo-ri | Yong Film Netflix | [125] | |||
| 2023 | Believer 2 | 독전 2 | Baik | [126] | ||||
| 2024 | My Name Is Loh Kiwan | 로기완 | Syd Lim | Syd Lim | Kim Hee-jin | [127] | ||
| New Human War: Resurrection Man | 신인류 전쟁: 부활남 | Baik | Yong Film Superpick | [128] | ||||
| Jeongga's Ranch | 정가네 목장 | Kim Ji-hyun | Yong Film | [129] | ||||
| The Jailbreaker | 더 제일브레이커 | Park Chan-wook | Yong Film and Moho Film | [130] | ||||
| Milky Way | 은하수 | TBD | Yong Film | |||||
| One Table | 원 테이블 | TBD | ||||||
| The Third Man | 제3의 남자 | Yu Kwang-gyung | ||||||
| Black Box | 블박 | TBD | ||||||
| Lady Seven | 레이디 세븐 | TBD | ||||||
| Today | 오늘 | Yoon Dae-won | ||||||
| Title | Planner | Director | Production House | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2025 | In the Net | 망내인 | Syd Lim | Kim Jee-woon Park Bo-ram | Yong Film Anthology Studio SK Global | [131] [132] |
| 2025 | Mercy for None | 광장 | Choi Seong | Yong Film Netflix | [133] | |
| 2025 | Romantic Anonymous | 로맨틱 어나니머스 | Yong Film Netflix Japan | [134] | ||
| Lucky Girl | 럭키걸 | Kim Ji-hyun | Yong Film | |||
| Believer 0 | 독전0 | Baik | ||||
| Spaceship Doctor | 우주선 닥터 | |||||
| At the End of the Repeated Time Loop, Reflected in Your Eyes | 반복되는 타임리프 끝에 네 눈동자에 비치는 사람은 | Bang Woo-ri | ||||
| Swimming Class for Mermaids | 인어를 위한 수영교실 | Bang Woo-ri Kim Soo-hyung | ||||
| Ukishima-ho Project | 태극기 휘날리며 | Kang Je-gyu | Yong Film M Makers | |||
| Star of Judas | 유다의 별 | Yong Film | ||||
| Burning Day | 버닝데이 | |||||
| Oldboy | 올드보이 | Syd Lim Park Chan-wook Courtney Mock Tara Joshi | Park Chan-wook | Moho Film Yong Film Lionsgate Television |
| Year | Category < | -- List wins first (sorted alphabetically), then noms (also alphabetically). Sort pending the same. --> | Nominee / Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bell Awards | 2005 | Best Planning | Crying Fist | [135] | |
| BAFTA Film Award | 2018 | Best Film Not in the English Language | The Handmaiden | ||
| Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Awards | 2017 | Best Foreign Film |
| Year | List | Placement | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cine21 | 2016 | Producer of the Year | [136] |