Actors Lee Jung-eun and Yoo Teo have been announced as jury members for the Actor of the Year Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
The Actor of the Year Award, established in 2014, aims to discover and spotlight emerging talent within Korean feature-length independent films. It is awarded to one male and one female actor who have delivered the best performances in Korean films featured in the Vision section. It's a meaningful occasion where veteran actors who have led the Korean film industry present the award directly to the next generation of leading actors.
Selected as a jury member, Lee Jung-eun has left a deep impression with her nuanced performances in 'Mr. Sunshine' (2018), 'The Light in Your Eyes' (2019), and 'When the Camellia Blooms' (2019), and swept the Best Supporting Actress awards at major ceremonies for her role as Moon-gwang in 'Parasite' (2019), solidifying her position as a leading character actor in South Korea. With a foundation built on theater and musical stages, she has continued her peak career phase by showcasing a wide acting range across various genres in 'Okja' (2017), 'The Book of Fish' (2021), 'The Day I Died: Unclosed Case' (2020), 'Juvenile Justice' (2022), and 'My Daughter Is a Zombie' (2025).
Yoo Teo made his mark on the international stage with 'Leto' (2018), a competition entry at the Cannes Film Festival, and has since been active both domestically and internationally with works like 'Vertigo' (2019), the drama 'Money Game' (2020), 'The School Nurse Files' (2020), and 'The Recruit Season 2' (2025). Expanding his horizons, he directed the documentary 'Log In Belgium' (2021) and received critical acclaim for his profound performance in 'Past Lives' (2023), becoming the first Korean actor to be nominated for Best Actor at the British Academy Film Awards in 2024, thereby cementing his status as a global actor.
The winners of the Actor of the Year Award will each receive a prize of five million won, and the awards will be presented by Lee Jung-eun and Yoo Teo themselves during the 'Night of Vision' at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
With the announcement of the jury members for the Actor of the Year Award, anticipation is building for the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which will take place from September 17th (Wednesday) to September 26th (Friday) at the Busan Cinema Center over ten days.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)