Korean screen icon Jang Dong-gun and acclaimed Chinese actor Tang Wei will be honored with the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award at the upcoming 18th Asian Film Awards.
Jang, a leading figure in the Korean Wave (“Hallyu”) with a career spanning three decades, said: “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award, and I sincerely thank the Asian Film Awards for this recognition. Having my three-decade acting career acknowledged is deeply meaningful and inspires me to keep going.”
The actor, who debuted in 1992 with “Son and Daughter” before skyrocketing to fame with “The Last Match,” reflected on Hong Kong cinema’s influence on his development. “I can’t talk about my growth without mentioning Hong Kong films. The first movie I ever watched in a theatre was Jackie Chan’s ‘Drunken Master,’” Jang said, calling the 1980s “a golden age that still resonates with me today.”
His filmography includes the 2001 gangster classic “Friend” and the war epic “Tae Guk Gi,” which earned him best actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Jang has collaborated with Hong Kong talents including Cecilia Cheung and Nicholas Tse in “The Promise,” and later reunited with Cheung in “Dangerous Liaisons.” He also expressed admiration for Tony Leung, stating, “If I had the chance to work with him, it would truly be an honor.”
Tang Wei, who made history as the first international actress to win best actress at Korea’s Baeksang Arts Awards for “Late Autumn” (2010), said: “I am truly grateful to the Asian Film Awards for recognizing my work. Hong Kong has always been special to me, and I’m thrilled to return for this honor.”
Known for her versatility across Chinese, Korean and international productions, Tang has delivered acclaimed performances in Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution,” “Finding Mr. Right,” Ann Hui’s “The Golden Era,” and more recently in Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave,” which earned her multiple best actress accolades.
The 18th Asian Film Awards, founded by Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals, will be broadcast live on the Academy’s YouTube channel and exclusively on TVB Plus. The ceremony is set for March 16 at the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District.