Park Chan-wook, Cannes Film Festival Jury President

Director Park Chan-wook has been appointed as the Jury President for the 79th Cannes Film Festival's competition section, becoming the first Korean to hold this prestigious position. This marks a monumental achievement in Korean cinema history. Director Park will lead the jury, succeeding French actress Juliette Binoche, and is the second Asian director to do so in 20 years, following Wong Kar-wai.

Director Park's relationship with the Cannes Film Festival is deep. He first gained recognition in 2004 when he won the Grand Prix for 'Oldboy'. Since then, he has become a regular at the festival and a master filmmaker with films like 'Thirst' (2009 Jury Prize), 'The Handmaiden' (2016 Competition), and 'Decision to Leave' (2022 Best Director Award).

The President and General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival issued a joint statement praising Director Park, stating, "His originality, visual mastery, and ability to capture the impulses of beings with strange destinies have given us unforgettable moments in contemporary cinema history." They expressed their joy in honoring his talent and the Korean film industry.

Regarding his appointment, Director Park Chan-wook shared his philosophical thoughts: "The reason theaters are dark is to see the light that is cinema. The reason we are confined to theaters is for our souls to be liberated through the window of cinema. I await this double voluntary confinement, watching films and judging them, with an excited heart."

Furthermore, he emphasized the social significance of film, stating, "In this era of mutual hatred and division, I believe that the very act of gathering in a theater to watch a single film simultaneously, in sync with each other's breath and pulse, is a moving act of solidarity."