‘Drunken Master’ Star Hwang Jang-lee Dies at 82; Legendary Kicks Once Challenged Jackie Chan

The legacy of a kicking master who helped lead Hong Kong martial arts films’ golden age

Veteran action actor and president of the Hwang Jung-lee World Martial Arts Federation Hwang Jang-lee, who left a powerful impression around the world as Jackie Chan’s rival in the Hong Kong film ‘Drunken Master,’ died on the 12th. He was 82.

Born in 1944 in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, Hwang was a traditional taekwondo instructor before beginning his acting career in 1974 with the film ‘The Return of the One-Legged Man.’ He made his formal entry into Hong Kong cinema in 1976 with director Oh Sa-won’s ‘Namgwon Bukpyeon,’ launching his career overseas in earnest.

Hwang established himself as a distinctive presence with a succession of martial arts classics, including ‘Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow’ (1978), ‘Drunken Master’ (1978) and ‘Tower of Death’ (1980). In particular, his high-difficulty kicking action as the ruthless master Yim Tit-sam in ‘Drunken Master,’ released in 1978, left a lasting impression on movie fans around the world. His lightning-fast combinations, rooted in taekwondo, were considered a weapon unmatched even in Hong Kong’s martial arts scene at the time.

Over more than three decades, Hwang appeared in an astonishing more than 340 films in South Korea and Hong Kong. A key figure in the boom in Asian martial arts films in the 1980s, he expanded into directing with the 1983 film ‘The Cantonese Snake Man.’ He also served as martial arts director on the SBS drama ‘Sandglass,’ which aired in 1995, crafting action sequences praised for their realism.

Beyond the screen, Hwang devoted his life to promoting taekwondo. He served as a taekwondo instructor for South Korean troops deployed to the Vietnam War and held seminars across the Americas, Europe and Latin America, widely promoting the excellence of Korean martial arts. He was also known for personally teaching kicking techniques to top Hong Kong stars, including Sammo Hung and Michelle Yeoh.

During his lifetime, Hwang served as president of the Hwang Jung-lee World Martial Arts Federation and as a promotional ambassador for Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, championing global martial arts exchange. His funeral will be held in Room 13 at the funeral hall of Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. The funeral procession is scheduled for 8:50 a.m. on the 15th.