Actor Sim Su-bin Wins Best New Performer at Asia Pacific Screen Awards for ‘The World Before,’ Cementing Her Status as a Rising Star in Korean Cinema

Actor Sim Su-bin has proved herself one of the most promising newcomers in Korean cinema, taking home an international film award for 〈The World Before〉, directed by Yoon Dan-bi. Sim won the Best New Performer award at the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), held in Australia on October 30.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is a prestigious international ceremony whose past winners include leading Korean actors Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Youn Yuh-jung and Lee Jung-eun. Sim joined their ranks just one year after her debut, drawing the attention of the global film industry as well as audiences at home.

After receiving the award, Sim said, "'The World Before' was the first film I was cast in after I began acting, and it gave me a special experience. Winning this major award seems to make the film even more meaningful." She continued, "Thanks to director Yoon Dan-bi’s warm and distinctive way of looking at people, I was able to shine on screen, too. I want to express my sincere gratitude and respect to her." She added, "To repay everyone for their kindness, I’ll keep working hard until I become a 'Best Old Performer' someday."

〈The World Before〉 drew international attention early on after being selected for the Platform section, a competition at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. Sim plays the lead character, Jin, and has earned praise for her nuanced portrayal of the character’s complex inner life and delicate emotional shifts.

Sim made her debut as the lead in the 2025 film 〈The Road to the Eraser〉, which won the New Currents Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival and quickly put her on the film industry’s radar. She has since broadened her acting range with roles in a variety of talked-about dramas, including 〈The Auditors〉, 〈Girigo〉 and 〈The Best Education〉.

Meanwhile, 〈The World Before〉, the film that earned Sim the award, has been invited to the 31st Busan International Film Festival and the 74th San Sebastian International Film Festival. It is also set to screen at the 75th Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival in November and at the 2026 Tokyo FILMeX, among other major festivals, and is expected to attract continued interest from cinephiles around the world.