Actress Lee Yeon has been named the 12th SIWFFstar, the official ambassador of the 28th Seoul International Women's Film Festival (SIWFF), organizers announced.
The appointment reflects Lee's growing presence across both Korea's independent film scene and mainstream screen productions. After beginning her career in short and independent films, she earned critical recognition with feature performances in Ivy (2020) and The Land of Seclusion (2023), establishing herself as one of the country's emerging dramatic talents.
She later reached a wider audience through projects including Netflix's D.P., Juvenile Justice and Kill Boksoon, Wavve's Weak Hero Class 1, and tvN drama Delightfully Deceitful. Most recently, Lee appeared as chief secretary Do Hye-jeong in MBC's The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife.
As SIWFFstar, Lee will represent this year's festival through a series of official promotional activities. The ambassador title has previously been held by actresses including Kim Ah-joong, Han Ye-ri, Lee Young-jin, Kim Min-jung, Esom, Moon Ga-young, Bang Min-ah, Ok Ja-yeon, Son Soo-hyun and Choi Sung-eun.
Her appointment also comes ahead of the release of Gyeongju Journey, an upcoming feature with deep ties to the festival. The project received the Pitch & Catch Award at SIWFF in 2022 before moving into production.
Directed by Kim Mi-jo, whose debut feature Galmaegi drew critical acclaim, Gyeongju Journey follows four women from the same family who set out on a revenge-fueled journey eight years after their youngest daughter disappears during a school trip. Lee stars as Dong-ju, the family's third daughter.
The selection marks a rare full-circle moment for the festival, with a project first recognized through its Pitch & Catch development program returning as a completed feature while its lead actor serves as the event's official ambassador.
"SIWFF has always been a place where the voices of women filmmakers are discovered and shared with audiences," Lee said in a statement.
"I'm honored to reconnect with the festival through Gyeongju Journey and to take on this new role as SIWFFstar. I hope more audiences will discover the work of women creators, and I look forward to celebrating the beginning of this year's festival with them."
Founded in 1997, the Seoul International Women's Film Festival has championed women filmmakers and supported new voices in Korean cinema through screenings, industry programs and filmmaker development initiatives.
The 28th edition of the festival will run from July 20 to 26 at Megabox Sinchon and the Korean Film Archive.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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