Korean director Park Chan-wook’s film “Decision to Leave,” South Korea’s entry to the 95th Oscars, swept the 42nd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards held on Nov. 23 in Seoul.
“Decision to Leave,” which was screened at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, bagged six awards. It won Best Film, Park Chan-wook for Best Director, Tang Wei for Best Actress, Park Chan-wook, Jeong Seo-kyeong for Best Screenplay, Jo Yeong-wook for Best Music and Kim Ji-yong for Best Cinematography,.
“Hunt,” the directorial film debut of “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae, won three awards. Lee Jung-jae won Best New Director while Jung Woo-sung bagged the Best Actor award and Jeon Hye-jin took home the Best Supporting Actress award.
Jo Woo-jin of “Kingmaker” won Best Supporting Actor.
Singer-actress IU (Lee Ji-eun) won Best New Actress for “Broker” while Son Seok-koo, star of “My Liberation Notes,” bagged the Best New Actor award for “The Roundup.”
"I thought I would be much less nervous if I knew the news of the award in advance, but I'm very nervous because you revealed it too much earlier,” said IU as she accepted the award.
She added, “It was a great honor to hear the meaning of the Yeongpyeongsang from many seniors and learn about the award, and I am still standing here with a very grateful feeling. Thank you.”
The Korean Association of Film Critics (KAFC) established the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards in 1980.
“Thanks to director Hirokazu Kore-eda, seniors Song Kang-ho, Bae Doona and Gang Dong-won, Joo-young and all the staff and actors, I was able to see and learn up close how many people’s sincerity and hard work go into making a movie,” she added.
Here are the winners at 42nd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards:
Best Film: “Decision to Leave”
Meritorious Film Award: Ahn Sung-ki
Best Director: Park Chan-wook, “Decision to Leave”
Best Actress: Tang Wei', "Decision Leave"
Best Actor: Jung Woo-sung, 'Hunt'
Best Supporting Actress: Jeon Hye-jin, 'Hunt'
Best Supporting Actor: Jo Woo-jin, "Kingmaker”
Best New Director: Lee Jung-jae, “Hunt”
Best New Actress: IU (Lee Ji-eun), "Broker"
Best New Actor: Son Seok-koo, “The Roundup”
Technical Award: Jeong Seong-jin, Jeong Chol-min, “Hansan: Rising Dragon”
Best Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Jeong Seo-kyeong, “Decision to Leave”
Best Cinematography: Kim Ji-yong, “Decision to Leave”
Best Music: Jo Yeong-wook, “Decision to Leave”
FIPRESCI Award: “Cassiopeia”, Shin Yeon-shick
“After Yang,” Kogonada
“Blue Bayou,” Justin Chon
Best Independent Film Maker: Kim Dong-ryeong, Park Gyeong-tae, “The Pregnant Tree And The Goblin”
Lee Il-ha, “I Am More”