Lee Myeong-se Fired From MISTER K
While this sort of mid-production replacement is rare in any country - and never a positive sign - it is especially so in Korea where directors are given unusual latitude and control over the films they make. Lee has long been a polarizing director - his work is very much love or hate - and given that his replacement is a first time director whose previous experience comes as an assistant on mass entertainment blockbuster Haeundae and Quick - both about as far from Myeong-se's style as humanly possible - it seems clear that this is at least partially a case of the producers clashing with the original approach and replacing the original director with someone who will give them what they want.
UPDATE:
Film Biz Asia have significantly more on this story and it does not look good for Lee:
At a press conference held in Korea this week, the film's production company JK FILM ＪＫ ＦＩＬＭ spoke of a significant legal problem. It said that Lee had "illegally and secretly registered" himself as the copyright holder of the film through the Korean Copyright Commission website, after he departed from the film.
JK spokesman HAN Ji-seon 한지선 revealed that the producers and Lee had had several artistic and creative differences during the early days of shooting in South Korea and Thailand. It alleged that Lee had made significant deviations from the script and made changes that were no longer appropriate to an action adventure film.
Han said that under the terms of Lee's contract, the copyright resided with JK Film and scriptwriter PARK Su-jin 박수진.
