This year was a special year as the Busan International Film Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary.
We honor the past times of the Busan International Film Festival, which stands in front of a new starting line,
By giving strength to the next step, Marie Claire also prepared a more meaningful event than any other year.
Busan last September, where actors, directors, and movie lovers exchanged friendly greetings.
2025 Marie Claire Asia Star Awards.
Actor Lee Byung-hun, the undisputed winner of the ‘Actor of the Year Award’, is giving his thoughts on receiving the award.
“A film always starts with a vision. And it is a journey to find people who share that vision and join in the vision. Sometimes it starts with a few pictures or a few lines of text, but the work is completed because there are people who believe in that small beginning and join in. So, I dedicate this award to those who believed in me and were with me from the beginning to the end of this film.”
These are the words spoken by director Maggie Kang upon receiving the ‘Director of the Year Award’ at the Marie Claire Asia Star Awards on September 18th. Director Maggie Kang, who created a global phenomenon in 2025, appeared on stage that day and remembered the difficult and difficult time leading up to the completion of the work rather than the glorious day. As he said, a movie begins with a very small piece of vision. The same goes for film festivals. About 30 years ago, the Busan International Film Festival also started with a small ambition to become a ‘window on Asian cinema’, and has grown by overcoming big and small obstacles and falling down during its long journey.
That’s why the Busan International Film Festival, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, was even more special. The support and support for the past time and future steps was warmer than any other year. Beside him, Marie Claire also calmly prepared for the Marie Claire Asia Star Awards, just like any other year. With our support for Korean films going through difficult times and our respect and awe for the achievements of Asian films.
The Marie Claire Asia Star Awards is hosted by the Busan International Film Festival, organized by Marie Claire, and sponsored by Chanel. Marie Claire is the only magazine that holds the ‘Marie Claire Film Festival’ under its name every spring, and has created the official magazine of the Busan International Film Festival,
The first person to go on stage and deliver his first greeting was Executive Chairman Jeong Han-seok, who has been leading the Busan International Film Festival since its 30th edition. “I know that Marie Claire has been holding the Asia Star Awards together with the Busan International Film Festival since 2010. In other words, we have been partners for 15 years. In addition to the brilliant actors who filled the space, I know that they personally brought in unknown directors every year. I am always grateful for this. I hope that my friendship with Marie Claire will continue beyond 15 years and as long as the Busan International Film Festival is held.” Following Executive Chairman Jeong Han-seok’s congratulatory address, Son Ki-yeon, CEO of MCK Publishing, the publisher of
Awards were given in a total of eight categories. Actor Soo-hyun, who hosted the closing ceremony of this year’s Busan International Film Festival, and director Oh Seung-wook, who visited Busan for the 10th anniversary of the release of
Next, to present the ‘Rising Star Award’, which was meant to encourage rising stars in the Asian film industry, actor Kim Geum-soon, who skillfully presented diverse characters in the drama
The ‘Face of Asia Award’, given to young actors representing the Asian film industry, was given to actor Hong Kyung, the previous year’s winner who visited Busan once again with the movie
Next, the ‘Beyond Cinema Award’, which is given to actors who stand out through impressive acting on various platforms, was presented by Kim Shin-rok, the previous year’s winner and a person who is credible, and Taiwanese actor Fu Meng-Po, who visited Busan for the Netflix series ‘The Resurrected’. This year, actors Go Yoon-jung and Lee Soo-hyuk enjoyed the award. At the ‘Asia Wide’ award ceremony, which is given to actors who have expanded beyond the Asian market and into the world, a more special scene unfolded than any other year. Director Kogonada, the director of the movie
Editor-in-Chief Park Yeon-kyung of
The ‘Asian Star Award’, which is given to an Asian actor who receives favorable reviews from the audience for his outstanding acting, was presented to director Sylvia Chang, this year’s protagonist of the ‘Camellia Award’ awarded by the Busan International Film Festival and Chanel to a pioneering female filmmaker, and actor Yoo Teo, who shows genuine acting. Before naming the winner, Teo Yoo talked about his short relationship with the award-winning actor. Furthermore, he expressed his expectations for the winner’s work
At the end of the awards ceremony, director Jeong Ji-young, winner of the Korean Film Achievement Award at the Busan International Film Festival, who has keenly captured the underbelly of Korean society and the challenges of the times for the past 40 years, participated in the award ceremony. Director Jeong Ji-young thanked the attendees of the day and said, “When an actor prepares a character, he interprets it through detailed analysis and then goes through a process of deconstruction when embodying it. That process of deconstruction is probably a process of embodying the person’s emotions and senses. At that time, directors and critics say that the actor does not stop at ‘you analyzed it closely,’ but ‘you acted delicately.’ Many directors in Korea always look at that person’s acting and say, He invited actor Lee Byung-hun to the stage, saying, “The actor who is evaluated as ‘he is a delicate actor’ and the winner of the Actor of the Year Award at the 2025 Marie Claire Asia Star Awards is Lee Byung-hun.” Actor Lee Byung-hun expressed his deep gratitude to director Jeong Ji-young and said, “I had no idea that I would receive an award from director Jeong Ji-young. It is such an honor. I have long felt that Marie Claire is an important magazine that encompasses not only fashion but also culture and arts. I believe that through a long period of effort, the Marie Claire Asia Star Awards has firmly established itself as an indispensable and important event for the Busan International Film Festival. I support your future moves as well.”
Then, for the final ‘Director of the Year Award’ award ceremony, Busan International Film Festival Chairman Park Kwang-soo went on stage and called director Maggie Kang, the leading figure who has led the biggest buzz in 2025. Director Maggie Kang created an ‘Kedehun’ craze around the world with
Actor Rowoon is giving his thoughts on receiving the award.
Actor Teo Yoo wearing the Chanel J12 Blue Caliber 12.1 38mm watch.
Director Maggie Kang, wearing a calfskin flip bag, attended as the recipient of the Director of the Year Award.
Actress Claresta Tauphan, wearing matching necklace and bracelet, attended as the recipient of the Rising Star Award.
Director and actress Sylvia Chang.
White boots from the 2025/26 Fall Winter Ready-to-Wear Collection were matched with chokers, earrings, and rings from the Camellia Fine Jewelry Collection.
Actress Jeon So-ni jointly won the Face of Asia Award.
Actress Go Yoon-jung wearing earrings from the Tweed de Chanel High Jewelry Collection and a ring from the Chanel Paris Russia High Jewelry Collection.
We are here as winners of the Beyond Cinema Award.
The style was completed by adding tweed de Chanel High Jewelry Collection earrings.
He graced the occasion by serving as MC for the awards ceremony.
Actress Soo-hyun styled herself with a necklace, earrings, and rings from the Lyon Soler de Chanel High Jewelry Collection.
The rich 2025 Marie Claire Asia Star Awards scene.
