Actress Yoon to receive top French culture honor

Yoon Jeong-hee, the star of the award-winning South Korean film "Poetry," will receive a top French cultural order this week in recognition of her contributions to films, sources said.

According to the French Ministry of Culture and Communication and industry sources, Yoon has been named as the winner of "Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et Lettres," an order of France presented by the French culture minister. Sources said the French National Center of Cinematography and the Moving Image recommended the 66-year-old actress for the honor.

Yoon joins her husband, pianist Paik Kun-woo, as an honoree of the French order. The classical pianist received his honor in 2001. They're the first South Korean couple to be so recognized by the French government.

"I am pleased that the French culture ministry recognized my acting career," Yoon said. "And the fact that my husband won the same honor 10 years ago makes it extra special."

"Poetry," about a woman in her 60s who develops a belated interest in poetry while battling Alzheimer's disease, has won a slew of international awards, including the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It was Yoon's first role in a film in 16 years, and she grabbed the best actress honors at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Grand Bell Awards, South Korea's oldest film awards. (Yonhap)