Lee Byung-hun Becomes First Korean Actor to Win Special Tribute Award at Toronto Film Festival

By Yoona, Lee

Sep 09, 2025

Lee Byung-hun Becomes First Korean Actor to Win Special Tribute Award at Toronto Film Festival



Actor Lee Byung-hun became the first Korean actor to win the 'Special Tribute Award' trophy at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which marks its 50th anniversary this year.

The Special Achievement Award was held on the 7th (local time) at the TIFF's annual fundraising event, 'TIFF Tribute Awards' Gala.

Lee Byung-hun's special achievement award is not an audience vote or a jury verdict, but a non-competitive category given by the pre-selection of the TIFF board and organizing committee, which is allowed to those who have made outstanding and independent contributions to the film industry.




Last year, Chinese actor Zhao Tao won the same category, followed by Lee Byung-hun as the first Korean actor to win the award this year.

Lee Byung-hun delivered his feelings in fluent English through SNS on the 9th.

Lee Byung-hun Becomes First Korean Actor to Win Special Tribute Award at Toronto Film Festival
Lee Byung-hun congratulates the Toronto Film Festival on its 50th anniversary. This is my 5th time with TIFF. It's a small part, but I'm happy to be with you."I started acting in a TV drama 35 years ago. But there was always a love for movies in my heart. In 2000, he appeared in Director Park Chan-wook's 'JSA'Joint Security Area'. Finally, I was able to achieve my dream of appearing in a box office movie. Twenty-five years later, he is greeting the director again with a new movie called 'I Can't Help It'. I think it's been more than 15 years since I first heard this movie from the director, but I'm finally in the world. I believe this work will be a must-see story. I want to greet the public with works that I have to watch in the future," he said in English. In addition, he was applauded for showing pride in K culture, saying, `I think this award is not just for me, but for the meaningful growth and achievements of Korean culture around the world.'




Lee Byung-hun's award is meaningful because the TIFF Tribute Awards are also called a kind of 'Oscar Season Foreshadowing' that can first gauge the flow of the Academy Awards.

In fact, actors such as Joaquin Phoenix, Anthony Hopkins, and Jessica Chastain, who received attention at the ceremony, won the Oscar trophy in the same year.

'Can't help it's not won in Venice earlier, but it opened the race with about eight to nine minutes of standing ovations and favorable reviews, so expectations are high on how it will continue through Toronto to the Oscars. starring Lee Byung-hun 'I can't help it' is expected to be officially released in Korea on the 24th after meeting the audience with the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival on the 17th.






lyn@sportschosun.com