Park Chan-wook Appointed as Jury President of Cannes Film Festival This Year... First Korean to Hold the Position

〈Decision to Leave〉 director Park Chan-wook has been appointed as the jury president of the 79th Cannes Film Festival this year. He will serve as the jury president for the competitive section that determines the winner of the festival's highest honor, the Palme d'Or, marking the first time a Korean has been appointed to this role. Director Park Chan-wook first connected with the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 when he won the Jury Prize for 〈Oldboy〉, under jury president Quentin Tarantino, and has since won the Jury Prize in 2009 for 〈Thirst〉 and the Best Director award in 2022 for 〈Decision to Leave〉. His film 〈The Handmaiden〉 was also invited to the competition section in 2016, earning him the nickname 'Kanne Park.'

The chair of the Cannes Film Festival, Iris Knobloch, and the executive director, Thierry Frémaux, stated in a press release, "Director Park Chan-wook has provided unforgettable moments in modern cinema. We are pleased to honor the cinema of a nation that has deeply engaged with the questions of our time through his exceptional talent." According to the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee, Director Park Chan-wook accepted the position of jury president and shared his thoughts, saying, "In an era of hatred and division, I believe that the act of watching films together in theaters can move hearts and create a universal sense of solidarity." The 79th Cannes Film Festival will open on May 12 this year.