[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has selected actor Im Si-wan as the sole host for its closing ceremony.

The Busan International Film Festival announced on the 4th, “We have selected actor Im Si-wan, who possesses profound acting skills behind his bright and cheerful appearance, as the sole host.” The BIFF closing ceremony will also feature the “Busan Awards” ceremony, which honors winners in the competition category established last year.
Im Si-wan made his acting debut in the 2012 drama *The Moon Embracing the Sun* and immediately left a strong impression on the public with his solid acting skills. Subsequently, in his screen debut, the film *The Attorney* (2013), he delivered a powerful performance that completely shattered the limitations and prejudices associated with actors who started out as idols. In *Misaeng* (2014), he played the role of “Jang Geu-rae,” a young professional just starting out, and realistically portrayed the anxieties of the younger generation through his restrained emotional performance.
He went on to build a boundless filmography, spanning the big screen, television, and OTT platforms with works such as *The Outlaws* (2017), *Run On* (2020), *Boyhood* (2023), and *I Just Dropped My Smartphone* (2023).
In particular, he solidified his status as a global star by appearing consecutively in Seasons 2 and 3 of the global hit *Squid Game*, and demonstrated his acting versatility—spanning both dramatic and genre-based works—through diverse projects such as the film *Mantis* (2025).
Thanks to these dazzling achievements, he has received honors at major domestic award ceremonies, including the Popular Star Award at the 2014 Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Best New Actor in a TV Series Award at the 2015 Baeksang Arts Awards, the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 2022 Buil Film Awards, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation at the 2023 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, and the Best Actor Award at the 2024 Blue Dragon Series Awards.
The Busan International Film Festival stated, “The selection of this host is the result of closely observing the career of actor Im Si-wan, who has deeply resonated with audiences through his solid foundation and acting skills that penetrate the essence of his characters,” adding, “We expect Im Si-wan’s steady hosting to further enhance the honor and emotion of the ‘Busan Awards’ in the competition section and bring the festival to a close.”
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held from the 6th to the 15th of next month at the Busan Cinema Center and throughout Busan.
Ticket sales for the opening and closing ceremonies will begin at 2:00 p.m. on the 17th. Tickets for Open Cinema’s outdoor screenings, Midnight Fashion’s late-night screenings, Actors’ House, and Community BIFF screenings will also go on sale on the same day. Tickets for general screenings, Cine Class, and Master Class sessions will go on sale starting at 2:00 p.m. on the 21st.