The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has tapped programmer Jung Hanseok as its new festival director, the organization announced Thursday.
Jung, who has served as the festival’s Korean cinema programmer since 2019, was officially appointed following a board meeting and subsequent general meeting held at the Busan Cinema Center on March 20. He will begin his four-year term on March 21, overseeing the landmark 30th edition scheduled for Sept. 17-26 this year.
The appointment comes after the festival’s executive recommendation committee conducted two rounds of open recruitment in January and March 2025.
Chair Park Kwang-su formally endorsed Jung before the final approval was granted by the board. In announcing their selection, the committee praised Jung as “a highly qualified candidate with a deep understanding of the festival’s internal and external landscape,” adding that he “possesses the capabilities necessary to take the festival to the next level.”
Jung’s industry credentials stretch back to 2002 when he first entered the film scene after winning the Cine21 Film Criticism Award. He built his reputation as a journalist and critic for the influential Korean film magazine Cine21, where he became known for his analytical insight and industry knowledge. During his tenure as BIFF’s Korean cinema programmer, Jung has been credited with successfully bridging the local film industry with the festival and playing a pivotal role in discovering and supporting emerging Korean filmmaking talent. His extensive professional network includes jury positions for numerous Korean film events including the Buil Film Awards, Jeonju International Film Festival, and Seoul Independent Film Festival.
Internationally, he has served as an advisor for the Florence Korea Film Fest and the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.
The appointment positions Jung to guide one of Asia’s premier film festival through its fourth decade while continuing to cultivate new Asian cinema and maintaining the festival’s global significance in the international film circuit.
