Lee Sun-kyun has been selected as the recipient of the Korean Cinema Award at this year's festival

The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will host a special program titled 'A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun-kyun.'

On the 23rd, the BIFF committee announced, "We will screen six of Lee Sun-kyun's representative works and hold a special talk session. Through this special retrospective of the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who has been a prominent figure in Korean cinema with his diverse and profound acting, we aim to reflect on his career and achievements while providing a meaningful tribute." They also added, "We have selected Lee Sun-kyun as this year's recipient of the Korean Cinema Award."

The Korean Cinema Award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the prestige and global growth of Korean cinema. The festival committee explained, "We have chosen Lee Sun-kyun, who has received immense love from both domestic and international film fans through various works, and the award will be presented at the opening ceremony."

The special program will feature three of Lee Sun-kyun's early works that left a lasting impression on the public. In 'Paju' (2009), for which he won the Best Actor award at the Las Palmas International Film Festival in 2010, he portrayed a character with a dual nature—an activist with a sense of duty who falls in love with his sister-in-law. His nuanced performance received critical acclaim. Other films include 'Our Sunhi' (2013), directed by Hong Sang-soo, which showcased Lee's vibrant acting and was a hit at the Locarno Film Festival, and 'A Hard Day' (2014), where he played a corrupt detective, delivering intense action and suspenseful performances. This film was invited to the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

The drama 'My Mister,' known for its warm and comforting narrative, will also be screened as part of this special program. Produced by Studio Dragon, 'My Mister' aired in 2018 and remains a beloved series among many viewers. The festival will screen the fifth episode, which captures the emotions and essence of Lee Sun-kyun's character, Park Dong-hoon, as if it were a standalone film.

Additionally, the program will feature 'Parasite' (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and four Oscars at the Academy Awards, marking the pinnacle of Lee Sun-kyun's acting career. His final film, 'Land of Happiness' (2024), where he played a principled soldier involved in a presidential assassination plot, will also be showcased.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 2 to October 11 at the Busan Cinema Center.

Reporter: Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr