Cover Song Kang-Ho receives the Award for Best Actor for "BROKER" during the closing ceremony for the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 28, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The South Korean actor is the first Korean male actor to win the acting award at the prestigious film festival

South Korean actor Song Kang-ho took home the Best Actor award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. He is the first South Korean male actor to win the acting award.

The actor wowed the jury with his performance as Sang-hyun in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Broker. The movie is the Japanese director’s first Korean film. It received a 12-minute standing ovation at the 75th edition of the festival.

Broker follows Song’s Sang-hyun, who steals babies left behind in a baby box at a nearby church and sells them to parents who want babies.

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“I’m so grateful and honoured. I would like to thank director Kore-eda, who is a great artist,” says Song in his acceptance speech. He also thanked his cast members.

“I also want to share this gratitude and honour with our cast members of Kang Dong-won, Lee Ji-eun (IU), Bae Doo-na and Lee Joo-young.”

Song previously starred in other Cannes-winning movies including Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite in 2019 and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst in 2009. Song’s acting win comes after Jeon Do-yeon’s Best Actress win in 2007 for Secret Sunshine where Song also starred in.

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