[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Director Heo Beom-wook passed away while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a fire. He was 43 years old. As a result, the release of the feature-length animated film *The Pig Who Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease*, which was scheduled to open on the 5th of next month, has been temporarily postponed.

Distributor Indie Story issued an official statement on the 28th, announcing, “Director Heo Beom-wook, who directed *The Pig That Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease*, passed away early this morning while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a fire that occurred on the 23rd.”
They continued, “It is with a heavy heart that we share this sudden and tragic news with the audience and media representatives who have been eagerly awaiting the film’s release,” adding, “We have decided to temporarily postpone the release of *The Pig That Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease*, which was scheduled for August 5.”
The distributor added, “We will provide an update on the release date and related schedules once the bereaved family and production team have had time to come to terms with their loss,” and requested, “We ask for your deep understanding and generous patience.”

Director Heo, who made his debut with the 2009 short animated film *An Ordinary Meal*, gained recognition in 2014 when his first feature-length animated film, *Pale Faces*, won the Grand Prize in the Feature Film category at the 30th Holland Animation Film Festival. “The Pig That Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease,” which was scheduled for release next month, is a hard-boiled hellish fairy tale in which a “pig” striving to become human and a “human” striving to become an animal become entangled. Through the survival struggle of the pig “H” and the human “Jeong Seok” as they attempt to break free from the control of a massive “system,” the film explores the violence of modern society and the essence of humanity. It has been invited to 35 film festivals worldwide, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival—the world’s largest animation festival—as well as the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, emerging as this year’s most anticipated animated film.
The wake for the deceased has been set up in Room 3 of the Han River Sacred Heart Hospital Funeral Home, and the funeral procession will depart at 8:00 a.m. on the 30th. The burial will take place at Seoul Memorial Park.