So Yun Um

About So Yun Um

So Yun Um is a Korean American director and producer born and based in Los Angeles. She explores intimate and challenging stories of marginalized people with piercing humanity and poignant editing style.

Her directorial debut documentary feature film, LIQUOR STORE DREAMS, which is about second generation Korean American children of Liquor Store owners in the LA area, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. The film screened at 24+ film festivals including Busan International Film Festival, BFI London, TIFF Next Wave, and more.

So Yun is the Co-Producer of THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME (Tribeca ‘25) which follows the Korean rock group, The Rose, and their rise from an indie band to a global sensation. She is also a Co-producer on Elizabeth Ai’s film, NEW WAVE (Tribeca ‘24), about the Vietnamese New Wave music scene in Orange County, California.

She was 2022-2023 BAFTA Breakthrough USA participant, an alumnus of the 2021 CAAM Fellowship, Armed with a Camera Fellowship by Visual Communication.

As of 2026, she is working on her sophomore feature documentary called AMERICANA BANG BANG (Supported by Firelight Fund and Catapult Fund).

She has also produced a variety of branded K-pop content and documentaries for Snapchat, Teen Vogue, Meta, YouTube, and more.