Park Chan-wook’s Full Circle Moment at Cannes
By James Moreau | 21 May, 2026

After a career defined by multiple prestigious Cannes honors, the No Other Choice director makes history as the first Korean to lead the festival’s Main Competition jury.

Park Chan-wook will serve as the Jury President for the Main Competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time a Korean filmmaker has held the prestigious position.

The appointment follows the 2025 release of his dark satire No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun.  Despite being shortlisted and acclaimed, the project was considered the definitive 2026 Oscar snub after failing to land a nomination at the 98th Academy Awards.

Park’s international profile reached a new peak in 2022 with the romantic mystery Decision to Leave, which earned him the Best Director award at Cannes.  The film was selected as the South Korean entry for the 95th Academy Awards and maintains a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

The 2016 psych thriller The Handmaiden remains Park’s most celebrated period piece.  The movie won the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language and shattered several international box office records.  It maintains an 8.1 rating on IMDb, his highest on the platform.

In 2013, Park made his English-language debut with Stoker, starring Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska.

Park’s early career was defined by the legendary “Vengeance Trilogy,” which includes 2002’s Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, 2003’s Oldboy, and 2005’s Lady Vengeance.  Oldboy won the Grand Prix at Cannes, famously receiving a standing ovation from jury president Quentin Tarantino.

The Seoul-native studied philosophy at Sogang University at which point he started a cinema club and transitioned from film criticism to filmmaking.

Late April it was announced that Park will return to English-language features to direct the western thriller The Brigands of Rattlecreek.  The high-budget adaptation will feature an ensemble cast including Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and Tang Wei.