Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook Shine at Cannes

The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on May 12 (local time) in the southern French city of Cannes. This year's festival is expected to be a stage that elevates the status of Korean cinema, with Director Park Chan-wook garnering attention as the first Korean to chair the competition jury. Director Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' aims for the Palme d'Or, marking the first Korean film to enter the competition section in four years. Director Yeon Sang-ho's 'The Ground' has been invited to the Midnight Screening section, and Director Jung Ju-ri's 'Dora' has been selected for the Directors' Fortnight.

Director Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' features domestic actors such as Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Hollywood stars like Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. They will attend the red carpet and world premiere on the 17th, and meet with the global press at a press conference on the 18th. 'Hope' tells the story centered around the head of an outpost in the Demilitarized Zone's Hopohang. With 'Hope', Director Na Hong-jin has set a record as the first Korean director to have all of his feature directorial works invited to the Cannes Film Festival. The Executive Director of the Cannes Film Festival praised 'Hope' by saying, "The genre constantly shifts, unfolding a new story that has never been told before."

Director Yeon Sang-ho's 'The Ground' has been invited to the Midnight Screening section, and actors including Jun Ji-hyun, Gu Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been, and Kim Shin-rok will be in attendance. They met with local media at an official photocall on the 15th and will participate in the official screening and red carpet event on the 16th. 'The Ground' depicts survivors isolated within a building, sealed off due to an unknown infectious outbreak, fighting against evolving infected individuals. This marks Director Yeon Sang-ho's fourth invitation to the Cannes Film Festival, following 'The King of Pigs', 'Train to Busan', and 'Peninsula'. Notably, 'The Ground' is generating buzz as Jun Ji-hyun's return to the big screen after 11 years.

Director Jung Ju-ri has been invited to the Directors' Fortnight with her third feature film, 'Dora'. 'Dora' delves into the complex emotional landscape of two individuals bearing physical and emotional scars, starring Kim Do-yeon and Ando Sakura. With 'Dora', Director Jung Ju-ri has achieved the feat of having all of her feature directorial works invited to the Cannes Film Festival, following 'A Girl at My Door' and 'Next Sohee'. The Executive Director of the Directors' Fortnight commented on Director Jung Ju-ri, stating, "Through a bold and original approach, she explores the desires of a young woman and the passion and confusion that arise from them."

Actress Im Yoon-ah will attend the Cannes Film Festival red carpet as a global ambassador for a jewelry brand. She will also participate in the 'Women in Motion' awards ceremony, which honors the contributions of women in the film industry, and interact with global figures.