Actors Song Kang-ho and Ye Ji-won received the Étoile du Cinéma award on Saturday for contributing to cinematic exchanges between Korea and France.

According to the French embassy on Monday, the two received the honor at the French Night event held at the Paradise Hotel Busan in Haeundae on Saturday. The embassy annually awards people in the movie industry who contributed to cultural exchanges between Korean and French cinema.

“I remember watching a film at the French Cultural Center in Anguk [central Seoul],” said Song after accepting the award. “It was my first step into films. I’m so moved and honored to receive this award 36 years after that.”

“Thank you so much for this great award,” said Ye in French. The actor is well-known as a Francophile in the Korean entertainment industry.

“A lot has happened between France and I. I think this is my destiny. I’m glad that I could receive this award with Song.”

Saturday was the first French Night event held in two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Film producers and actors from both countries attended the event.

“French director Jean Renoir, who is one of my three favorite directors in film history, wrote ‘I would rather be a citizen of the film media than a citizen of France’ in his autobiography,” said Huh Moon-young, director of the Busan International Film Festival currently ongoing in the city. “I want to share his words with every film industry worker here.”

“Korean and French films have respected and influenced each other for a long time,” said Julien Cats, the French Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission. “Through this event, I want to appreciate the efforts of Koreans in the movie industry who are striving to promote the excellence and variety of Korean films.”

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]