Lee Yong-kwan graduated in film studies from Chung-Ang University. As a teacher, he successively held several positions at Chung-Ang University and the Central Academy of Drama in China. He is also director of the Seoul Short Film Festival, president of the Seoul International Youth Film Festival and the Busan Cinematheque. He is one of the main founding members of the Busan International Film Festival, of which he was the chief programmer from its inception. After having been for five years the co-director of the Busan International Film Festival with Kim Dong-ho, he is since 2010 the sole director of the Busan International Film Festival.
He is the president of the international jury.
