Actor Ha Jung-woo has received the LEAFF Honorary Award at the 10th London East Asia Film Festival.

His agency Walkhouse Company announced on Oct. 24 that Ha was honored for his latest feature "The People Upstairs", which he both directed and stars in.

Opening on Oct. 23 local time, the 10th London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) is a leading European showcase for Korean and Asian cinema, drawing filmmakers and audiences from across the region.

At this year’s festival, Ha’s fourth feature as a director, "The People Upstairs", was praised as a work that fully captures his wit and sensibility. He accepted the career-honoring LEAFF Honorary Award to warm applause from fellow filmmakers at the ceremony.

The LEAFF Honorary Award recognizes figures who have helped elevate the global profile of Asian cinema. Past honorees include director Chung Ji-young, actor Lee Jung-jae, and more. 

Even after opening night, Ha kept a packed festival schedule. On Oct. 24 local time, "The People Upstairs" had its first screening for London audiences. Ha walked the red carpet and hosted a special screening followed by an audience Q&A with about 800 attendees.

"The People Upstairs" follows two couples brought together by nightly noise between floors: the upstairs pair (Ha Jung-woo and Lee Hanee) and the downstairs duo (Gong Hyo-jin and Kim Dong-wook). What begins as a tense dinner spirals into an unpredictable night. The film is slated to open in early December.

Ha is currently preparing for the film’s release while shooting tvN’s upcoming drama "How to Become a Building Owner in Korea" (literal translation).

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)