Jung Jin-woo, a South Korean film director and producer, died on February 8, 2026.
He was 88. Jung made his directorial debut with The Only Son in 1963, at age 23, setting a Korean record as the youngest person to direct a film.
He later directed The Ran’s Elegy, The Secret Meeting, The Student Boarder and Early Rain, and was active in film from 1963 to 1995.
Jung Jin-woo (Korean: 정진우; January 17, 1938 – February 8, 2026) was a South Korean film director and producer. Jung made his directorial debut with The Only Son (1963) at the age of 23, setting the Korean record for the youngest person to direct a movie. After finishing Early Rain (1966), one of the most famous teenage movies of the 1960s, he went on to direct The Ran’s Elegy (1965), The Secret Meeting (1965), and The Student Boarder (1966), showcasing his superb skills as a film director.