THE ACTOR IS PRESENT

[KOREAN ACTORS 200] 

Sep 8 - Dec 9, 2021

Gallery Korea of the Korean Cultural Center New York

460 Park Avenue, Floor 6, New York, NY 10022

Korean film is global. A new chapter in the 100-year history of Korean cinema has opened, catalyzed by Director Bong Joonho's Parasite win of the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, followed by four awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture in February 2020. In April 2021, Youn Yuhjung became the first Korean female actor to win awards at more than 40 international film festivals, including Best Supporting Actress at the U.S. Academy Awards. These splendid achievements are by no means a singular event; news about Korean actors’ achievements at overseas film festivals continues to be heard. These triumphs are the fruit of the history that Korean films have built over the past 102 years and a signal that foretells a significant wave of change in the global film industry in the 21st century. 

In order to further maximize the impact of the Korean film industry following this unprecedented global interest, the Korean Cultural Center New York together with the Korean Film Council is proud to present THE ACTOR IS PRESENT, the first global exhibition of its kind. This exhibition is a bold declaration that each Korean actor is here and present. Through a single photo, celebrated photographers Kim Jungman and Ahn Sungjin have captured the soul and essence of each actor, each image becoming a movie in itself. 

The Korean Film Council took on a bold challenge when there was a pause in the world's film industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The world yearned to know more about Korean actors, but there was a lack of a trustworthy archive of materials to adequately introduce Korean actors to the world. 

The Korean Film Council launched the campaign KOREAN ACTORS 200 to introduce 200 representative Korean actors through writings, photos, and videos. Such a campaign is an unparalleled record for Korean film history. The campaign, available for all to view online,  drew explosive responses from Korean film fans all over the world, affirming that Korean films, along with other beloved Korean cultural contents like K-pop, are center stage in shaping the global cultural landscape of the 21st century.

Rooted in the past 100 years of history, Korean films are at the starting line of another 100 years. Now, we invite you to feel the “infinite energy” that will drive forward the next 100 years of Korean cinema at the Korean Cultural Center New York.