Im Si-wan to Host Closing Ceremony of 31st Busan International Film Festival

Actor Im Si-wan will host the grand finale of the 31st Busan International Film Festival.

The Busan International Film Festival organizers announced on the morning of the 4th that "actor Im Si-wan has been selected as the sole host for the closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which will be held for ten days from Tuesday, October 6 to Thursday, October 15."

The closing ceremony will also feature the "Busan Awards" ceremony to select the winners of the competitive section, which was newly established last year. Actor Im Si-wan, known for his innocent appearance coupled with profound acting depth, has been chosen as the sole host for this event, which will bring the festival to a magnificent close.

Im Si-wan embarked on his acting career with the 2012 drama The Moon Embracing the Sun, making a strong impression on the public with his stable acting skills from the start. Through his screen debut in the film The Attorney (2013), he delivered a powerful performance that completely shattered the limitations and prejudices associated with idol-turned-actors. He then firmly established himself as a leading actor by realistically portraying the anxieties of the youth generation with restrained emotional acting as the rookie office worker Jang Geure in Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014). He has since built a boundless filmography spanning the big screen, television, and OTT platforms through works such as The Merciless (2017), Run On (2020), Boyhood (2023), and Unlocked (2023).

In particular, he solidified his status as a global star by appearing consecutively in the globally acclaimed series Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3, and proved his versatile acting spectrum encompassing both serious dramas and genre pieces through diverse works such as the film Mantis (2025). Building on these achievements, he has received honors at major domestic award ceremonies, including the Popular Star Award at the 2014 Blue Dragon Film Awards, Best New Actor in Television at the 2015 Baeksang Arts Awards, Best Supporting Actor at the 2022 Buil Film Awards, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation at the 2023 Republic of Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, and Best Actor at the 2024 Blue Dragon Series Awards.

The Busan International Film Festival stated, "This selection of the host is the result of closely following the journey of actor Im Si-wan, who has delivered deep resonance to audiences with his solid experience and acting skills that pierce through the essence of his characters," adding, "We expect that his trustworthy and stable hosting will further heighten the honor and emotion of the Busan Awards winners as the festival comes to a close."

The 31st Busan International Film Festival, which will brilliantly decorate the finale of the festival with Im Si-wan, will run for 10 days from Tuesday, October 6 to Thursday, October 15 around the Busan Cinema Center.

(Photo: SBS Entertainment News, by Kim Ji-hye)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.