In a landmark decision for global cinema, the Cannes Film Festival has appointed acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook as president of its main competition jury for the 79th edition this May. This historic appointment marks the first time a Korean filmmaker will preside over the prestigious jury that determines the Palme d’Or winner.
The festival organization released an official statement celebrating Park’s ‘narrative, stylistic, and moral’ cinema, particularly praising his ability to blend genres while addressing profound human themes. The 62-year-old director, known for his visually striking and thematically complex films, expressed honor at the selection, noting that in ‘this age of hatred and division,’ the collective experience of cinema creates ‘a moving, universal sense of solidarity.’
Park’s appointment coincides with unprecedented global recognition for South Korean cultural exports, from Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning ‘Parasite’ to the international phenomenon of ‘Squid Game’ and the worldwide dominance of K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink. The director stands as a pioneering figure in this cultural wave, having achieved international acclaim with his 2003 masterpiece ‘Oldboy,’ which won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004.
Renowned for his exploration of vengeance and redemption through what critics term ‘Korean noir,’ Park’s filmography includes the celebrated ‘Vengeance Trilogy’ and his recent romantic thriller ‘Decision to Leave,’ which earned him the Best Director award at Cannes in 2022. His upcoming project, ‘No Other Choice’ (2025), adapts Donald Westlake’s novel ‘The Ax’ and addresses contemporary anxieties about artificial intelligence and the competitive job market.
Beyond his cinematic achievements, Park is recognized as a profound literary adapter, having transformed works by Émile Zola into his vampire film ‘Thirst’ and Sarah Waters’ ‘Fingersmith’ into the critically acclaimed ‘The Handmaiden.’ His television work includes the English-language mini-series ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ and HBO’s ‘The Sympathizer,’ demonstrating his versatility across mediums and languages.
A philosophy graduate from Seoul’s Sogang University, Park brings both intellectual depth and artistic vision to his role as jury president, positioning him to lead one of the film world’s most prestigious judging panels during this year’s festival.