Actor Han Gi-chan lit up the Busan International Film Festival, stepping in as a poised breakout brimming with confidence and charm.
Officially invited to the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Han connected with audiences through "The Wedding Banquet", sharing time and stories with festivalgoers.
Screening in BIFF’s World Cinema section, "The Wedding Banquet" is a comedy about a gay couple’s sham marriage scheme for a green card―until a tough Korean grandma crashes the plan and chaos ensues. Han leads the film as Min.
Kicking off his schedule on Sept. 17 with the opening-night red carpet, Han kept busy with a post-screening Q&A, a press conference and more, deepening anticipation for the film. At BIFF’s Open Talk on Sept. 19 at the Busan Cinema Center’s outdoor stage, he drew attention by effortlessly engaging the large crowd for about ten minutes.
“Everything that’s happened because of 'The Wedding Banquet' has been a first for me,” Han shared onstage. “It was my first time acting in English and my first overseas casting. It was an honor to share the screen with the legendary Youn Yuh-jung. From international festivals to U.S. TV shows, it’s been an unbelievable ride.”
Explaining his character, he added, “Min is dating a guy named Chris. He secretly enters a sham marriage to get a green card and stay, without his grandmother (played by Youn Yuh-jung) knowing. When she shows up, the story takes an unexpected turn.”
Later at the press conference, Han spoke candidly about his mindset and preparation. Asked about his process, he said, “I tried to love the soul of the person. Regardless of gender, when you love someone, it’s about what’s inside. I prepared this role with the message, ‘Whoever you are, go find the person you love.’ I approached Min simply as a person―as a man.”
Despite it being his first international festival, Han handled every engagement with polish, drawing strong interest from industry players and audiences―and raising expectations for what comes next.
"The Wedding Banquet", starring Han Gi-chan as the mastermind Min, opens in theaters on Sept. 24.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)