Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' takes six awards at Blue Dragon Film Awards

Director Park Chan-wook’s 2022 Cannes-winning film “Decision to Leave" nabbed six awards including the Best Picture Award during this year's Blue Dragon Film Awards, one of Korea’s major film honors. The awards ceremony, hosted by actors...

Actors Tang Wei, left, and Park Hae-il attend the red carpet event of the 2022 Blue Dragon Film Awards at KBS Hall in western Seoul on Friday. The two were each named Best Actor and Best Actress for their performances on romance thriller "Decision to Leave" (2022). [NEWS1]

Director Park Chan-wook’s 2022 Cannes-winning film “Decision to Leave" nabbed six awards including the Best Picture Award during this year's Blue Dragon Film Awards, one of Korea’s major film honors.

The awards ceremony, hosted by actors Kim Hye-soo and Yoo Yeon-seok, was held at KBS Hall in western Seoul on Friday night.

“Decision to Leave” follows police detective Hae-jun, portrayed by Park Hae-il, who begins to fall for a suspect: a Chinese widow named Seo-rae, portrayed by Tang Wei. The pair meet after Hae-jun begins to investigate a mysterious death of a man — Seo-rae’s husband — who was found dead after falling from a mountain.

Riding a fine line between investigative drama and romance, the film earned director Park the best director award at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

At the recent Blue Dragon Film Awards, the film also won the Best Director Award for Park Chan-wook; Best Screen Play for Park Chan-wook and Jeong Seo-Gyeong; Best Music for Jo Yeong-wook; Best Actor for Park Hae-il; and Best Actress for Tang Wei.

Tang Wei's award marked the first time for a foreigner to be presented with the award in the 43-year history of the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

"I love this so much," she said in Korean during her acceptance speech, holding the trophy. "Thank you to the Blue Dragon Film Awards."

Director Park was not present at the ceremony to receive the Best Director Award himself, but comedian Kim Shin-young, who was a supporting actor in "Decision to Leave," gave a speech in his place.

Kim was nominated for Best New Actress, but lost to Kim Hye-yoon, who appeared on the drama film "The Girl on a Bulldozer." Kim Dong-hwi won Best New Actor for his work in drama film "In Our Prime."

Comedian Kim Shin-young attends the red carpet event of the 2022 Blue Dragon Film Awards in western Seoul on Friday. [NEWS1]

Thriller mystery "Hunt" took home three awards — Best New Director Award for for Emmy-winning "Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae; Best Editing; and Best Cinematography and Lighting.

Action crime film "The Roundup" which was the highest-grossing film of the year with over 10 million tickets sold, received Most Popular Film and the Technical Award.

Byun Yo-han of historical action film "Hansan: Rising Dragon" won Best Supporting Actor, and Oh Na-ra of romance comedy "Perhaps Love" won Best Supporting Actress.

Actors Kim Hye-soo, left, and Yoo Yeon-seok attend the red carpet event of the 2022 Blue Dragon Film Awards as hosts in western Seoul on Friday. [NEWS1]

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]