# Historic Milestone: Park Chan-wook Becomes First Korean Jury President at Cannes 2026! Imagine the red carpet glamour of Cannes, where cinematic legends are born—now led by a visionary from South Korea. South Korean director **Park Chan-wook**, celebrated for masterpieces like *Oldboy*, *The Handmaiden*, and *Decision to Leave*, has been named the **first Korean jury president** in the history of the Cannes Film Festival.[1][2][4] This groundbreaking appointment for the **79th edition**, running from **May 12 to 23, 2026**, signals a bold shift toward global diversity in one of cinema's most prestigious events.[1][2] Park Chan-wook's journey to this role is nothing short of inspiring. Since his stunning Cannes debut in 2004 with *Oldboy*, which clinched the Grand Prix, he's directed **12 feature films** that blend stunning visuals with deep moral complexity—often drawing comparisons to icons like Tarantino, De Palma, Fincher, Kurosawa, Bergman, and Hitchcock.[1][2] The festival itself hailed his "mutual loyalty" with Cannes, praising his artistry in images that marry formal beauty with ethical depth.[1] As jury president, he'll guide the international panel in awarding the coveted **Palme d'Or** and other honors, shaping the future of world cinema.[2][5] In his own poignant words, Park reflects on the magic of movies: *"The reason we sit in the dark in a movie theater is to better see the light of the work we're watching... I look forward to sharing this dual act of voluntary captivity with the Jury members... In today's world of hatred and division, I believe that simply gathering in a theater to watch a movie together—synchronizing our breathing and heartbeat—fosters a sense of solidarity that is both touching and universal."*[2] Following Juliette Binoche's presidency last year, this move underscores Cannes' evolving embrace of international talents, marking a **historic first for South Korean cinema**.[2][4]
Citations
1.https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/2/25/park-chan-wook-named-2026-cannes-film-festival-jury-president
2.https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-do-in-paris/cinema-series/articles/290170-cannes-film-festival-2026-park-chan-wook-named-jury-president-for-the-79th-edition
3.https://kmit.com/news/030030-park-chan-wook-will-lead-the-cannes-film-festival-jury-will-be-the-1st-korean-in-the-role/
4.https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2026/02/26/korea-Park-Chan-wook-named-Cannes-jury-president/5151772099434/
5.https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/park-chan-wook-president-of-the-jury-of-the-79th-festival-de-cannes/
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