The Hollywood Reporter Honors ‘The Koreans’ Star Han Ji-min With Trailblazer Award at Busan Gala

Korean star Han Ji-min accepted The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award at a glitzy gala high above Busan on Wednesday night, promising that her creative journey was only just beginning. The award was presented during American Film Night, a collaboration between THR and the Motion Picture Association (MPA), staged on the 33rd floor of the Park Hyatt Busan with sweeping views of the waterfront and Gwangan Bridge. The star, who will soon appear alongside Lee Byung-hun in The Koreans, Disney+’s much-anticipated reimagining of The Americans, said she was thrilled to receive the award and to work “beyond the borders of languages.” “I really enjoyed watching the original drama, so I was looking forward to seeing how it would change in a new Korean style, and it was a very meaningful time for me to be able to take part in that process. This is also a new challenge for me, so please look forward to it.” With the 31st Busan International Film Festival entering its second night, an array of international industry figures took time away from the films and fanfare to honor Han and her two-decade career across television and film. THR’s Asia bureau chief Patrick Brzeski presented the award following welcoming remarks from Urmila Venugopalan, the MPA’s Asia-Pacific president and managing director. Han was recognized as an artist “whose work expands the reach of storytelling, bringing craft, courage, and a distinctive point of view to every new chapter.” The ceremony marked the first time THR has presented its Trailblazer Award in Korea. The honor recognizes artists whose careers and creative choices illuminate complex, boundary-crossing stories and expand representation in global entertainment. Past recipients include Jean Smart, David Oyelowo, Eva Longoria, Matt Bomer and America Ferrera, as well as Shogun stars Tadanobu Asano and Takehiro Hira. Among those gathered were Bedford Park star and Busan competition jury member Moon Choi, KPop Demon Hunters producer Agnes Lee and Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chairperson Sang-jun Han. Disney’s contingent included Jon Wax, executive vp of international original television; executive vp Carol Choi, who oversees the studio’s Asian originals; and Kim Soyoun, managing director of the Walt Disney Company Korea. Also attending were Alexander Allen, representing the U.S. Embassy, and Ellen Kim, director of BIFF’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Executives from Korean entertainment companies including CJ ENM, Barunson C&C and KT StudioGenie, as well as Korea-based executives from Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures, were also in attendance. Han first became a fan favorite in Korea with the popular revenge drama Resurrection (2005), going on to star in hit series including Yi San (2007-08), Rooftop Prince (2012), Our Blues (2022) and Love Scout (2025). On the big screen, her performance as an ex-convict protecting an abused girl in Miss Baek (2018) earned her best actress honors at the 2018 Blue Dragon Film Awards and the 2019 Baeksang Arts Awards, two of South Korea’s most prestigious awards ceremonies. She’s been a dynamic presence throughout much of the Korean wave. Ahead comes The Koreans, in which she and Lee will play North Korean spies living in South Korea during the 1990s. The original series won the Golden Globe for best drama in 2019 and routinely lands near the top of lists hailing the best TV series of the past quarter century. Han also expressed hope for more collaboration across borders. “I hope that Koreans and creators from all over the world will communicate and create more meaningful and diverse works,” she said. “I will do my best so that I can do the roles that are entrusted to me well. I would like to thank the people who supported my work and my happiness.” The night also celebrated the continued creative collaboration between Hollywood and Korea. The hope, said KOFIC’s Han, was that the mingling over champagne and canapés might lead to future co-productions and partnerships. “This event goes beyond cultural exchange to forge practical collaboration in investment, screenwriting, and production,” he said. “Also, it will offer us a real opportunity to create more impactful content for the global stage. To realize this potential, we must continue building an environment where creators and professionals from both nations can collaborate freely, honor each other’s cultures, and grow together.” For the MPA’s Venugopalan, the night reflected both those bonds and the possibilities ahead. “It really does show how much all of our studios are doing and investing and prioritizing Korea — and this is a perfect venue to showcase that and to demonstrate our collective commitment to this important market,” she said.