This year's Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest class of the nation's top government honor for culture, on Nov. 24 went to director Park Chan-wook (left) and the late actor Kang Soo-yeon at the Korea Broadcasting Awards. (CJ ENM Movie's official Facebook page and Busan International Film Festival)

By Lee Kyoung Mi

This year's Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the country's second-highest government honor for culture, has gone to director Park Chan-wook and the late actor Kang Soo-yeon for raising the standing of Korean cinema.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency on Nov. 24 held the ceremony for this year's Korea Broadcasting Awards at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District, giving orders of merit and other commendations to those contributing to the development of Korean pop culture and arts.

At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Park won Best Director for "Decision to Leave," making him the Korean director with the most honors from the event. He won the Jury Prize for "Thirst" in 2009 and the Grand Prix for "Old Boy" in 2004.

Kang, who died in May this year, was the first Asian to win Best Actress at the 1987 Venice International Film Festival for "The Surrogate Womb." She also won the same prize at the 1989 Moscow International Film Festival for "Come, Come, Come Upward."

Dubbed Korean film's "world star," Kang served for years as co-executive director of the Busan International Film Festival and received recognition for her major contributions to the development of cinematic arts.

Launched in 2010, the annual Korea Broadcasting Awards seek to encourage those who raise the social standing of Korean pop culture and arts and contribute to the development and spread of Hallyu (Korean Wave).

km137426@korea.kr