Director Park Chan-wook Honored with France’s Highest Cultural Arts Medal, Solidifying His Status as a Global Master!

On May 17 (local time), according to the French Ministry of Culture and foreign media, Director Park Chan-wook received the “Commandeur” medal, the highest grade of the Order of Arts and Letters, in Cannes, France. Park is currently making history as the first Korean to serve as the Jury President for the competition section at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival.

Established by the French Ministry of Culture in 1957, the Order of Arts and Letters is awarded to masters who have demonstrated outstanding creativity in arts and literature or contributed to the global development of culture and arts. The honor is divided into three levels: Chevalier, Officier, and Commandeur, with Park receiving the highest rank. He becomes the fourth Korean to be honored, following the late Kim Jung-ok (2002), conductor Chung Myung-whun (2011), and soprano Sumi Jo (2025).

Director Park’s bond with the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival is legendary. He first put Korean cinema in the global spotlight by winning the Grand Prix for “Oldboy” at the 57th Cannes Film Festival in 2004. He later secured the Jury Prize for “Thirst” (2009) and the Best Director award for “Decision to Leave” (2022), truly earning his nickname “Cannes Park”.

To top it all off, he reached a historic milestone this year at the 79th Cannes Film Festival by becoming the first Korean appointed as the Jury President of the Competition Section, a role dreamed of by filmmakers worldwide. Receiving France’s highest honor while leading the global film industry’s most influential jury proves that Director Park’s artistic authority and influence have reached the absolute peak.

Experts in the arts and culture sector noted, “This award is a result of the world once again recognizing the artistic depth and impact of the ‘Park Chan-wook’ brand,” adding, “His contributions to global visual aesthetics and the development of cultural arts have been rewarded with the highest possible honor.”