Busan International Film Festival to Honor Lee Sun-kyun with Special Program

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will feature a special program titled "Good Person, Lee Sun-kyun" to honor the late actor Lee Sun-kyun.

On August 23, the festival announced that Lee Sun-kyun has been named the recipient of the Korean Film of the Year Award. In addition to this accolade, the festival will present a special program showcasing six of his most notable works, accompanied by special talks.

The program will highlight three of Lee Sun-kyun's early performances that established him as a distinguished actor. The lineup includes "Paju" (2009), for which he won Best Actor at the 2010 Las Palmas International Film Festival. His portrayal of a conflicted character involved in a complex love triangle earned widespread acclaim. The program will also feature "Our Sun-hee" (2013), a film by director Hong Sang-soo that was invited to the Cannes Film Festival Director's Fortnight. Lee Sun-kyun's dynamic role as a morally ambiguous detective in this film was noted for its intensity.

The drama "My Mister," known for its poignant and subtle acting, will also be showcased. This series, which aired in 2018, received critical acclaim and is remembered as one of the best dramas of recent years. The special exhibition will screen the fifth episode, highlighting Lee Sun-kyun's nuanced performance as Park Dong-hoon.

Additionally, the program will include "Parasite" (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and four Academy Awards, represents a high point in Lee Sun-kyun's career. His posthumous film, "The Land of Happiness" (2024), in which he plays an upright soldier entangled in a presidential assassination plot, will also be featured.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will run for ten days, from October 2 to October 11, at the Busan Cinema Center.