He moved to the United States at the age of 15 and after graduating from the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, he continued studying the art of singing in Vienna, Austria.
"[2] After making the decision to pursue filmmaking, he moved back to New York City, paid US$200 for a hand-held camera and started shooting short films.
"[2] Juhn wanted to direct an array of movie genres and styles, like his favorite directors Ang Lee and Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
[2] Based on Kim Ki-duk's original story, Juhn wrote, directed, and edited his feature film debut Beautiful.
Calling it "a dark fairytale for adults that is deeply rooted in reality," Juhn made a film about a woman who becomes the object of men's obsessions and abuse due to her beauty.
"[6] Beautiful displayed artistic sensibilities and thematic trappings that are automatically identified with Kim, such as explicit expressions of fascination and loathing with the human body, and an examination of ethics and morality through violence.
Poongsan follows a mysterious messenger (played Yoon Kye-sang) who delivers letters and cherished memorabilia to separated families in North and South Korea.
Things take an unexpected turn when the taciturn young man is commissioned with the task of transporting the beautiful lover (Kim Gyu-ri) of a high-ranking Northern official who escaped to the South.
[7] Unlike the perception that he was an arthouse filmmaker, with Poongsan, Juhn hoped to make a film that was first and foremost popcorn entertainment — something young, fun, and edgy.
Despite competition from Hollywood film Transformers: Dark of the Moon (which occupied 70% of Korean movie theaters), Poongsan was successful at the box office.
[11] But Juhn later had creative differences with production company Yong Film regarding The Target, and in September 2013, a press release from distributor CJ E&M stated that he had been replaced by Death Bell director Chang.