is a Japanese filmmaker. He is a third generation Zainichi Korean born and raised in Niigata, Japan. His filmography is characterized by a deep exploration of human conflict and the dark sides of society, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. He has been nominated multiple times at the Japan Academy Film Prize, winning Best Picture twice and Best Director twice.
Lee began his career with his graduation project from the Japan Institute of the Moving Image, Chong (1999). The film features a main character who attends a North Korean-affiliated high school, a setting that mirrors Lee's own background. It won four awards, including the Grand Prix, at the Pia Film Festival (PFF) Award 2000. His fifth film, Hula Girls (2006), which depicts coal miners' daughters saving their declining town through hula dancing, was a major success. It won numerous accolades, including Best Picture and Best Director at the Japan Academy Film Prize. He continued to garner acclaim with adaptations of Shuichi Yoshida's novels. His seventh film, Villain (2010), which depicts the complex line between good and evil in the wake of a murder, and his eighth film, Rage (2016), which depicts how suspicion destroys trust among three groups of people, both received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to winning several acting awards. His ninth film Wandering (2022) explored the controversial bond between a former kidnapping victim and her abductor. His 10th film, Kokuho (2025), marked his third adaptation of a Shuichi Yoshida novel. Depicting the life and rivalry of Kabuki actors, the film grossed over billion ( million). It became the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film in history and recorded the 11th highest domestic box office revenue of all time, including anime films.
Lee Sang-il was born in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture on January 6, 1974. He studied at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
Lee's first film Chong was a featurette about the lives of third-generation Koreans in Japan. His film Hula Girls was declared the best Japanese film of 2006 by Kinema Jumpo, and earned Lee Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 2007 Japanese Academy Awards. His film Unforgiven was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. His film Kokuho (2025) became one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time. At the 2025 Tokyo International Film Festival, he received the honorary Akira Kurosawa Award, which is given each year for extraordinary contributions to world cinema.