By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Hee Young

Korean cinema has scooped up two major prizes at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

At this year's festival in the French city's Grand Theatre Lumiere, Song Kang-ho on May 28 became the first Korean to win Best Actor for his role in "Broker," and Park Chan-wook became the second Korean to win Best Director for "Decision to Leave."

This is the first time for Korean cinema to win two awards in the Competition section since the festival's inception in 1946.

In "Broker," Song plays Sang-hyun, who kidnaps infants abandoned in baby boxes and sells them to wannabe parents.

In his acceptance speech, Song said, "I'm very, very grateful and honored. I express my deep gratitude to the great artist Hirokazu Kore-eda," adding, "I'd also like to deeply thank and share my honor with my co-stars Gang Dong-won, Lee Ji-eun, Lee Jooyoung and Bae Doona."

"This seems to be a huge gift for my family, who came here with me. I deliver the glory of this trophy with my eternal love," he said. "Finally, I also deliver this honor to the numerous cinema fans in Korea."

Invited to Cannes for the seventh time this year, Song was first nominated in the Competition section in 2007 for his role in director Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" and received his first Best Actor nomination in 2019 for his performance in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite." He is the second Korean to win an acting honor at Cannes after Jeon Do-yeon, who won Best Actress for "Secret Sunshine."

Making his film debut in 1996 with a minor role in "The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well" directed by Hong Sang-soo, Song has appeared in the works of Korea's leading directors including Lee, Bong Joon-ho and Park and is considered "the people's actor" in Korea in both name and reality.

Director Park, meanwhile, won Best Director for his 11th feature film six years after presenting "The Handmaiden" in 2016 to the festival. He is the second Korean to win the honor after Im Kwon-taek, who won for his 2002 work "Chihwaseon."

In his acceptance speech, Park said, "There was a time when all humanity raised their borders high due to COVID-19, but we all shared a common fear and concern," adding, "There was a time when customers were cut off from cinema and theaters, but this turned into an opportunity for all of us to realize how precious theaters are."

"Just like we have the hope and strength to overcome the pandemic, I believe that our movies and filmmakers can protect theaters and thus movies forever."

Thanking his film crew, the director said, "Above all, I cannot express in words my love for actors Park Hae-il and Tang Wei," adding, "I have no further explanation."

Debuting in 1992 with "The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream," Park in 2004 won the Grand Prix for "Oldboy" at the 57th festival and the Jury Prize in 2009 for "Thirst" at the 62nd. Thus his latest award is his third Cannes trophy.

This year, Park and Song went to Cannes together 22 years after working together on the 2000 hit film "Joint Security Area."

Meanwhile, Cannes' top honor of the Palme d'Or went to "Triangle of Sadness" directed by Ruben Ostlund, the second time the Swedish director has won the award in five years. He earned the same award in 2017 for "The Square."

etoilejr@korea.kr