Actress Youn Yuh-jung wins Woman in Film of the Year
Youn Yuh-jung was named the Woman in Film of the Year at the 2016 Women in Film Korea Festival, Monday. / Courtesy of organizing committee of the Women in Film Korea Festival
By Baek Byung-yeul
Veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung has been honored with the Woman in Film of the Year award at the 2016 Women in Film Korea Festival, Monday, for her role in 2016 film “The Bacchus Lady.”
The organizing committee said it chose Youn, 69, as the recipient of the award, recognizing her “passion to acting as she is still active in playing such dignified and sophisticated roles.”
Directed by E J-yong, well known for directing “An Affair” (1998), “Untold Scandal” (2003) and “My Brilliant Life” (2014), “The Bacchus Lady” revolves around 65-year-old prostitute So-young, played by Youn, who sells her body to old men at a park in downtown Seoul. In Korea, old prostitutes are often referred as “Bacchus ladies” because they sell small bottles of the popular energy drink Bacchus while selling sex. Since its release in October, the film earned strong reviews in a society where prostitution is banned.
With the film, Youn also recently won the Jury Grand Prize at the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards on Nov. 24. Kim Dong-ho, chairman of the Busan International Film Festival and a jury member of the awards, said “the role was very difficult, and her performance was outstanding.”
Youn made her acting debut in 1966 and was recognized as one of the leading actresses in Korea for her role in director Kim Ki-young’s 1971 film “Woman of Fire.” With the film, she won the best actress award at the Blue Dragon Awards, one of Korea’s top film honors that year.
The Women in Film Festival has recognized notable female filmmakers and actresses who have contributed enormously to the country’s film industry since 2000.
Emceed by Yoona, actress and a member of popular K-pop girl band Girl’s Generation, this year’s award ceremony will take place at Megabox Artnine Theater in Seoul, on Dec. 7.