Kim Hye-ja (김혜자)

Poster for film "Thirst" [CJ Entertainment]

Song Kang-ho and Kim Hye-ja have been recognized last year's top film actors by Korean film journalists.

The Korea Film Reporters Association (KOFRA) held the 1st Korean Film Award on Wednesday, naming Song best actor for his role in film "Thirst" and Kim as best actress for her role in "Mother - 2009".

Song, 43, is considered one of Korea's most successful actors who has starred in a handful of hit films including "Memories of Murder", "The Host" and "Thirst", which won the Jury Prize at Cannes earlier last year....More

Director Bong Joon-ho's thriller "Mother - 2009" has been named the 2009 Film of the Year by the Korean film press.

In its inaugural award ceremony, the association of Korean film journalists chose "Mother" for Best Film and the film's heroine Kim Hye-ja as Best Actress.

Best Actor went to Song Gang-ho who starred in "Thirst", and...More

Director Bong Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009" scored six nominations, including best film and director, for the fourth Asian Film Awards, the organizer said Friday.

The thriller about maternal love was also nominated for best actress for Kim Hye-ja, best supporting actor for Won Bin, best screenwriter and best editor for Moon Sae-kyoung. It led the nominations along with Teddy Chan's Hong Kong-China co-production film "Bodyguards and Assassins".

Chinese-language films from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan were led the pack with 32 nominations in 14 categories, followed by South Korea with 17 and Japan with 13.

Director ...More

240 Korean directors have picked the best director, movie and actors for 2009. Most notably, Park Chan-wook picked up the best director award for the Cannes winning "Thirst". Previous to this he had won the award for "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000), "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002) and "Old Boy" (2004). The long awaited "Thirst", as well as being eagerly received in Korea, played at the Fantasia Film Festival in Toronto and...More

By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter

Korean directors picked Park Chan-wook, for his dark vampire thriller "Thirst" (Bakjwi), as the Best Director at the 12th Director's Cut Awards 2009, Thursday.

The Korea Film Director's Network awarded Best Actor to Song Kang-ho in recognition of his exceptional performance in "Thirst". Song played the lead role of a priest who, after receiving a mysterious blood transfusion, turns into a ravenous vampire.

The Best Actress award went to veteran actress ...More