[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Kim Dong-ho, former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, has been selected as the recipient of the “2026 Korean Film Achievement Award.”

On the 14th, through the Busan International Film Festival, award recipient Kim Dong-ho shared his thoughts, saying, “Above all, I consider it an infinite honor to receive such a prestigious award,” and added, “I feel even more humbled to be receiving this award from the film festival that I founded and worked at for 15 years.”
He went on to express his passion for cinema, saying, “Even now, I travel to nearly ten international film festivals every year to promote Korean cinema, and I intend to continue this role for as long as I am able.”
Former Chairman Kim is credited with laying the groundwork for international film festivals in a field that was once barren and leading the globalization of Korean cinema. After serving at the Ministry of Culture and Public Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), he held positions such as President of the Korean Film Council, inaugural President of the Seoul Arts Center, and Vice Minister of Culture, thereby establishing the foundation for cultural administration in South Korea.
Subsequently, in 1996, he was appointed as the inaugural Executive Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival and led the festival’s successful launch with his strong drive. In particular, his decisive stance in defending freedom of expression and independence—by opposing the practice of pre-screening reviews for films in the festival’s early days—played a decisive role in helping the Busan International Film Festival gain the trust of the global film community and establish itself as the hub of the Asian film network.
Even after stepping down as Executive Chair, former Chairman Kim continued to contribute tirelessly to the cultivation of future talent in Korean cinema and to cultural policy in general, serving as Dean of the Graduate School of Film and Content at Dankook University, Chair of the Committee for Cultural Prosperity, and Chairman of the Board of the Busan International Film Festival.
Furthermore, he served as jury president and juror at leading domestic and international film festivals—including the Cannes Film Festival’s “Un Certain Regard” section, the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and the Fukuoka International Film Festival—acting as a bridge to introduce Korean and Asian cinema to the world.
Even after retirement, he did not slow down. Following *Young Dong-ho, the Film Enthusiast* (2024)—a film invited to the Cannes Classics section that chronicles his life in cinema—the following year saw the release of *Mr. Kim Goes to the Movies* (2025), which was invited to a special screening at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. The film features world-renowned masters such as Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Hirokazu Kore-eda, was invited for a special screening at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, marking a new milestone as a director.
The Busan International Film Festival stated, “His dedication to the craft—still actively working on set with a camera in hand at the age of 88—demonstrates that his love for film is very much alive.”

The 2026 Korean Film Achievement Award will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, to be held on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Center. The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 6 to October 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and various locations throughout Busan.
Actor Kim Min-ha will host this year’s opening ceremony. The official motif for the festival poster is “Group Portrait.”