Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong Details Production Challenges of Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love'
At the Busan International Film Festival, cinematographer Kim Ji-yong discussed the intensive production process behind director Lee Chang-dong's latest film, 'Possible Love.' Kim highlighted the team's commitment to naturalism, which involved extensive pre-production planning, including the construction of specific sets to optimize natural light. The film, which serves as South Korea's international feature Oscar submission, is scheduled for a Netflix release on November 6.
NewsRadar AI DeskPublished Oct 13, 2026, 1:43 AM UTCUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 1:43 AM UTC · 0 updates
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Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong detailed the production of 'Possible Love' during a masterclass at the Busan International Film Festival.
The film emphasizes natural lighting, with artificial fixtures used only to supplement existing conditions.
Crew members manually shook trees with ropes to simulate wind for a key scene after natural weather conditions failed to provide the desired effect.
The production involved significant pre-production planning, including building a vacation home specifically designed to capture light.
'Possible Love' is South Korea's submission for the international feature Oscar and will launch on Netflix on Nov. 6.
What happened
Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong, known for his work on 'Decision to Leave' and 'Squid Game' Season 2, presented a masterclass titled 'Cinematography of Possible Love: Quiet, Yet Deeper' at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). During the session, Kim discussed the technical and creative efforts required to achieve the film's naturalistic aesthetic under director Lee Chang-dong.
Context for Lee Chang-dong. Related archive image: Lee Chang-dong at the 2026 New York Film Festival 02.jpg. Not a photograph of this news event. Resized with padding to preserve the full portrait. Credit: LR.127. Image source · Image licence
Background
'Possible Love' is Lee Chang-dong's first film in eight years. The drama explores the lives of two married couples from different economic backgrounds, portrayed by Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Zo In-sung. The film recently received the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and is South Korea's official submission for the international feature Oscar.
Production techniques
Kim emphasized that the film's natural look was the result of rigorous calculation rather than chance. To maintain a naturalistic lighting style, the team relied on existing streetlights and lamps for night scenes, using film fixtures only when necessary. For a pivotal forest scene, the crew resorted to manually shaking trees with ropes to simulate wind when natural conditions did not align with the script.
The production also involved building a vacation home from scratch during two months of pre-production, with every window positioned to control the entry of natural light. Kim noted that the film was shot primarily with a single handheld camera to avoid an exaggerated or overly clinical perspective.
What's next
'Possible Love' is scheduled to launch on Netflix on Nov. 6.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Why it matters
The production details reveal the extreme lengths taken to achieve a naturalistic visual style in modern cinema, highlighting the tension between constructed sets and the desire for authentic environmental conditions.
What we know
Kim Ji-yong is the cinematographer for the film 'Possible Love'.
The film was directed by Lee Chang-dong.
The film is South Korea's submission for the international feature Oscar.
The film is scheduled for a Netflix release on Nov. 6.
Crew members manually shook trees to simulate wind for a scene in the film.
The film won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
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Kim Ji-yong Discusses Possible Love Cinematography at BIFF
