Park Chan-wook, the renowned South Korean filmmaker, has been appointed to chair the jury of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, marking a significant milestone as he becomes the first South Korean to hold this position in the festival's over seventy-year history. He will take over from the acclaimed French actress Juliette Binoche. Chan-wook is well-known for his prior involvement in the festival, having premiered his first feature film, "Oldboy," at Cannes in 2004, where it won the Grand Prize, and returning with other successful projects that include "Thirst," "The Handmaiden," and "Decision to Leave," for which he received the Best Director award in 2022.

His latest film, "The Only Way Out," garnered attention last year, securing nominations in three categories at the Golden Globes. The festival's president Iris Knobloch and the event's director Thierry Frémaux commended Chan-wook's creativity and his remarkable ability to portray the complexities of human relationships, highlighting his impact on contemporary cinema. Their enthusiasm for his appointment underlines the festival's commitment to recognizing diverse voices and talents in filmmaking, and it anticipates a fruitful year ahead for both Chan-wook and the festival in general.