Assistant Directors
Skilled 1st and 2nd ADs managing shoots across Seoul, Busan, and South Korea's K-content studios.
The assistant director drives the intense pace of Korean production, where shoots keep a rapid tempo that reflects the country's position as a global entertainment powerhouse. From setting up K-drama shoots at CJ ENM studios to managing global features at Busan Cinema Studios or location work at historic palaces, the 1st AD must match Korean production's legendary speed without sacrificing quality or safety.
NeedAFixer connects you with Korean ADs who know the intersection of global shoots standards and Korean working culture. Our network has pros skilled at Busan Cinema Studios, Art Service Studios in Paju, and on location across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with practical knowledge of KOFIC incentives, Korea Heritage Service protocols for palace filming, and the logistics of Korea's compact but demanding production environment.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete AD Services
From pre-production scheduling through wrap, our assistant directors provide the organizational leadership that keeps productions efficient and on track.
01
1st Assistant Director
- Set management & control
- Shooting schedule execution
- Director collaboration
- Crew coordination
- Safety oversight
Set Leadership
02
2nd Assistant Director
- Call sheet preparation
- Talent coordination
- Background management
- Paperwork & reports
- 1st AD support
Production Support
03
AD Team Services
- 2nd 2nd ADs
- Key set PAs
- Crowd marshals
- Base camp coordination
- Multi-unit support
Complete Teams
04
Pre-Production
- Schedule breakdown
- Day-out-of-days
- Strip board creation
- Location logistics
- Shooting order planning
Prep Excellence
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Assistant Directors
01.
K-Content Production Expertise
Our ADs have credits on global co-productions, K-dramas, and major commercials. They manage the intense pace of Korean production while keeping global safety and quality standards.
02.
Studio & Heritage Knowledge
ADs familiar with Busan Cinema Studios, Art Service Studios in Paju, and CJ Powercast Studio. They handle KOFIC location incentives and Korea Heritage Service protocols for filming at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces.
03.
Korean-English Bilingual Communication
Fluent Korean and English speakers bridging global shoots expectations with Korean crew culture. They handle hierarchical dynamics and translate both language and production conventions between teams.
04.
High-Tempo Scheduling
Pro schedule management matching Korean production's fast pace. Our ADs plan efficient shooting days across Seoul's dense urban environment, manage palace filming windows, and set up multi-site shoots across the compact Seoul-Gyeonggi corridor.
On Location
Bilingual AD teams driving Korea's high-tempo sets
The 1st assistant director sets the pace of each Korean production. That pace is famously fast. K-drama series shot for Studio Dragon, CJ ENM and JTBC Studios routinely compress feature-grade workloads into compact schedules. Global features visiting Busan Cinema Studios or Art Service Studios in Paju arrive expecting the same efficiency. Our AD roster is built around that demand.
We work with two-language 1st ADs, 2nd ADs, 2nd 2nd ADs and key set PAs who have crewed on global co-productions, Korean theatrical features, K-drama episodics and major commercials, each one comfortable running call sheets in Korean while briefing teams heads in English. They prepare day-out-of-days breakdowns, strip boards and shooting orders during prep, then carry the schedule across stages in The DMC hub, Paju and the wider Seoul-Gyeonggi corridor without losing momentum.
On the floor our 1st ADs handle set control, director joint work and safety oversight in line with both KOFIC expectations and global insurance standards. The 2nd AD desk takes responsibility for call sheets, talent movements, background running and the daily forms trail. Productions filming at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung or Jongmyo Shrine get ADs who already work to Korea Heritage Service protocols and the 2025 heritage impact assessment guidelines.
Those ADs know how palace filming windows interact with the surrounding district permits. For multi-unit shoots we staff complete AD teams across main, second and splinter units. We keep steady communication between Seoul, Busan and Jeju locations, so creative leadership never has to translate logistics in real time. Safety on set follows KOSHA standards, and our 1st ADs build those checks into the shooting day without slowing the tempo Korean producers expect.
We vet every AD on credits, set references and bilingual fluency before we deploy them. Each one runs the floor in Korean while briefing visiting heads in English, which keeps a co-production moving without a translator in the loop. Our roster covers shoots at the DMC hub in Mapo, Paju Studio Cube and Namyangju, plus location days at the Han River, Bukchon Hanok Village and across Busan's Centum City. We match the AD's experience to the unit count and shoot scale.
Day rates are quoted in Korean Won and set by experience, unit size and shoot length, with the standard 10% VAT shown clearly. We confirm prep days, overtime terms and turnaround in writing before the first call sheet. For visiting productions, our ADs slot straight into an international crew structure, holding the line on schedule, safety and KOFIC incentive compliance while keeping pace with Korea's fast shooting culture.
ACT 03
FAQ
AD Department Expertise
What does a 1st Assistant Director do in Korea?
The 1st AD runs the set — managing the shooting schedule, setting up all departments, and making sure the director focuses on creative decisions. In Korea, the 1st AD also manages the rapid production tempo, sets up with KOFIC for incentive compliance, and navigates Korea Heritage Service needs for palace and temple locations.
What's the difference between 1st and 2nd AD?
The 1st AD runs the set during shooting, while the 2nd AD handles logistics off-set — preparing call sheets, setting up talent movements, managing background artists, and handling production forms. On larger shoots, they work as a team with the 2nd supporting the 1st's set management.
How does Korean production pace differ from Western standards?
Korean shoots mostly operate at a faster pace with longer shooting days. Our ADs know this dynamic and can manage global crews who may be unfamiliar with the tempo, making sure safety and quality while meeting Korean production expectations.
Do your ADs speak both Korean and English?
Yes, all our ADs for global shoots are fluent in Korean and English. This is key for setting up between global directors and Korean crews, specific on co-productions where cultural and pro expectations may differ.
Can you provide AD teams for multi-unit productions?
Yes, we staff complete AD departments including 1st ADs, 2nd ADs, 2nd 2nd ADs, and extra support for main unit, second unit, and splinter units. We set up to make sure steady communication across all units.
What experience do your ADs have?
Our AD roster has bilingual pros with credits on global co-productions, Korean features, K-drama series, and major commercials shot across Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
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