[Exclusive] Who Casts 'Controversy' on Lee Byung-hun's Historic Moment? [Here is Cannes]

On-site Coverage of the 74th Cannes Film Festival

[Cannes (France) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] A controversy arises when a problem occurs and the response to it is deemed inappropriate. It is said to be a controversy when the exact facts are identified and the majority clearly believes one side is reasonable. Who would tarnish Lee Byung-hun's glory with an "Arigato"?

Actor Lee Byung-hun attended the photo call for "Emergency Declaration" at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival at 10:50 a.m. on the 16th (local time). At that time, he showed a slight smile in response to a foreign reporter's greeting of "Arigato," which domestic media have reported as causing controversy. But is it really appropriate to label this as a controversy?

Our outlet is covering the Cannes Film Festival on-site, and from the perspective of having reported the situation firsthand, this is merely a kind of "happening." The term "controversy" is inappropriate as it diminishes the historic moment of Lee Byung-hun, the first Korean actor to appear as a presenter at the global stage of the closing ceremony.

Lee Byung-hun has earned a good reputation among Hollywood insiders through consistent effort over a long time, reaching his current position. At a time when Korea was considered a remote part of the East and the global perspective on Korean cinema was not as it is now, he proved his abilities and steadily built trust by facing challenges head-on. Although "Parasite" elevated the status of Korean cinema by winning the Palme d'Or at the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival and four Oscars at the 92nd Academy Awards, we know that Lee Byung-hun was there before that. No one can deny that his efforts laid the foundation for trust in Korean cinema.

The film "A Bittersweet Life" was invited to the Midnight Screening section at the Cannes International Film Festival 16 years ago in 2005. At that time, Lee Byung-hun walked the Cannes red carpet for the first time in his life with director Kim Jee-woon. Through this, he revealed to the world that there was a great actor named Lee Byung-hun in Korea, and this moment led to his partnership with his current American agent, CAA.

This year, Lee Byung-hun will be the first Korean actor to appear as a presenter on the closing ceremony stage of the 74th Cannes International Film Festival. Since this festival is being held after 2 years and 2 months, outstanding works by directors such as Leos Carax, Wes Anderson, and Sean Baker have been invited to the competition section. Glamorous actors and directors will be seated in the Lumi?re Theater audience, focusing on Lee Byung-hun's words. It is not yet known which category he will present, but it is expected to be a major award.

Lee Byung-hun's presence at Cannes as the first closing ceremony presenter, prior to starring in the Out of Competition film "Emergency Declaration" at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival, carries special significance. This is also a first in Korean film history. It is a historic moment where director Bong Joon-ho opens the festival and Lee Byung-hun closes it. It is a meaningful and well-deserved occasion to celebrate.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection), not many domestic reporters traveled to cover the event on-site this year, but in Europe and the Americas, many reporters have come to cover the festival.

The Cannes Film Festival photo call differs from the red carpet event. The red carpet involves walking on the red carpet laid out before screenings and posing in front of cameras, whereas the photo call is a photo event where participants pose at designated spots. This is a distinction from domestic film festivals. Understanding this is essential. At Cannes, where film professionals from around the world gather, reporters from various countries and ethnicities come together to pay respect to films and each other, expressing their passion for cinema in a festival atmosphere.

Of course, Lee Byung-hun's name is well remembered by many audiences both domestically and internationally. Even the most famous actors sometimes confuse countries and greet in the wrong language at photo calls. While it would be more professional to know beforehand which country's work is being presented and prepare accordingly, anyone with even a single experience of on-site reporting can guess how difficult that is. Saying "Arigato" is not something to criticize to the extent of calling it a "controversy."

The most important thing is Lee Byung-hun's position. He may feel regretful about the controversy being amplified and reproduced. When we met Lee Byung-hun at a hotel restaurant in Cannes on the 16th, he said, "I am nervous about presenting at the closing ceremony. I was also worried about whether to greet in Korean, French, or English. Being a presenter is always delicate, so I am very nervous," revealing his burden. For someone who is diligently preparing with a heavy sense of responsibility somewhere, the term "controversy" diminishes the glory he deserves. This is especially regrettable if it comes from domestic media.

Photo by Showbox

Moreover, Lee Byung-hun has been invited to numerous overseas film festivals and has walked many red carpets. Domestically, people may question, "Why did our actor greet in Japanese?" and call it a problem. Based on this, it may be called a controversy domestically, but overseas film festivals are different from those in Korea. Knowing this well, Lee Byung-hun likely took the situation lightly and moved on, so he might be bewildered by the belated spread of this "controversy."

If you support Lee Byung-hun, wouldn't it be better to stop labeling this as a "controversy" and instead cheer him on so that he can successfully conclude the Cannes Film Festival on the closing ceremony stage?

ssmoly6@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.