SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - France has awarded South Korean film director Park Chan-wook the Commandeur in the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest rank of its cultural merit.
French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard presented the medal Sunday in Cannes. The ceremony took place during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where the 62-year-old is currently serving as the first South Korean filmmaker to preside over the festival jury.
Established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture, the order recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature. The Commandeur grade is the highest of its three ranks, positioned above the Officier and Chevalier grades.
Park has previously won three major awards at Cannes. He received the Grand Prix in 2004 for "Oldboy," the Jury Prize in 2009 for "Thirst," and the directing prize in 2022 for "Decision to Leave."
He is the fourth South Korean to receive the Commandeur rank. Previous recipients include former Korean Culture and Arts Foundation president Kim Jung-ok in 2002, conductor Chung Myung-whun in 2011, and soprano Jo Su-mi in May of last year.
The French government has decorated several other South Korean film industry figures with lower grades of the order. Directors Bong Joon-ho and Kim Jee-woon received the Officier grade in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
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