Seoul: Director Jeong Jin-woo, a key figure in Korean cinema's formative years, has died at the age of 88, according to his family. He passed away at a hospital in Seoul around 8 p.m. on Sunday. Jeong had been hospitalized following a fall while walking his dog approximately two months ago, and his condition reportedly deteriorated after contracting COVID-19.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeong Jin-woo was a leading director in Korean cinema from the 1960s and played a significant role in shaping the renaissance of Korean filmmaking. He made his directing debut with "The Only Son" in 1962 and directed over 50 films during his career. Jeong was known for innovative storytelling and visual experimentation in films such as "Does Cuckoo Cry at Night" (1980) and "Mugoonghwa-Korean National Flower" (1995).

Jeong was among the few Korean directors whose movies gained global recognition in the 70s and 80s. His film "Long Live the Island Frogs!" competed at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1972, while "The Family Tree" was invited to the 42nd Venice International Film Festival in 1985. In 1967, Jeong co-founded the Korean Film Directors Association and served as chairman of the Motion Picture Artists Association in 1985. Through his production company, Woojin Film, he produced 135 films.

His contributions to cinema were internationally acknowledged when the French government honored him at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. Jeong also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 51st Daejong Awards in 2014.