Champion (2002 film)

Champion (Korean: 챔피언) is a 2002 South Korean biographical sport drama film directed by Kwak Kyung-taek, about South Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, portrayed by Yu Oh-seong.

Champion
Theatrical poster
Korean name
Hangul	챔피언
Revised Romanization	Chaempieon
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'aemp'iŏn
Directed by	Kwak Kyung-taek
Written by	Kwak Kyung-taek
Based on	Life of Duk Koo Kim
Produced by	Jo Weon-jang
Starring	Yu Oh-seong Chae Min-seo
Cinematography	Hong Kyung-pyo
Edited by	Park Gok-ji
Music by	Laurent Sauvagnac - Stéphane Zidi - Matthieu Gain
Distributed by	Media Suits
Release date	June 28, 2002 (2002-06-28)
Running time	117 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	US$10,569,737[1]

Background

A biopic, Champion details the life of Duk Koo Kim, South Korea's most popular boxer, who, in his rise to international fame, faced the reigning lightweight champion Ray Mancini at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 13, 1982. Kim ultimately lost the match after fourteen rounds, and within minutes, dropped into a coma from which he never recovered. The match changed boxing rules around the world; and affected South Korea especially.

Cast

• Yu Oh-seong - Duk Koo Kim
• Chae Min-seo - Lee Kyeong-mi
• Yun Seung-won - Kim Hyeon-ji
• Jung Doo-hong - Lee Sang-bok
• Kim Byeong-seo - Park Jong-pal
• Ji Dae-han - Hwang Jun-seok
• Shin Jung-geun - Kim Yun-gu
• Kim Hyun-sook - Bus driver
• Han Dae-gwan
• Matthew Ray Phillips - Ray Mancini
• Hoss Mortezaie - Mancini's Cornerman