Actress Jeon to Get French Knight Order

The French government will award Korea's highly-acclaimed actress Jeon Do-yeon, with the title of the Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest (Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur), her agency said Thursday.

Launched in 1802 by Napoleon, the Legion of Honor is granted regardless of the nationality of its recipient.

The title recognizes Jeon's contribution to the culture and art fields, especially her efforts to promote Korean cinema in France. She won the Best Actress Award for her leading role in Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

The award ceremony will take place at the French Night event on the sideline of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which started on Thursday in the nation's largest southern port city.

Jeon spent five years starring in television dramas before achieving instant star status with her film debut opposite Han Seok-Kyu in "The Contact". She has established a reputation as a "chameleon" who can take on a wide variety of roles, from her performance as a doctor in the hit melodrama "A Promise", to that of a wife having an adulterous affair in "Happy End".

The 36-year-old won a number awards with "Secret Sunshine".On the heels of the Cannes' win, Jeon took home the special award from Korea's Daejong Film Festival, the Okgwan Order of Culture Merit from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Best Actress Award from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (where the film also won the prize for Best Feature Film).