Park Chan-wook is a South Korean filmmaker who has earned extensive international acclaim. His most notable honors include three major awards from the Cannes Film Festival: the Grand Prix for Oldboy (2003), the Jury Prize for Thirst (2009), and Best Director for Decision to Leave (2022). He also won a BAFTA for The Handmaiden (2016) and two awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, including a Golden Bear for his short film, Night Fishing (2011).
His recent work has continued this winning streak, with his satirical thriller No Other Choice (2025) sweeping the Blue Dragon Film Awards, winning both Best Film and Best Director, and earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture. Beyond his international success, Park remains a titan of South Korean cinema, having collected dozens of trophies from the Blue Dragon, Grand Bell, and Baeksang Arts Awards.
In recognition of his massive contribution to the global spread of Korean culture, the South Korean government has twice bestowed upon him the Order of Cultural Merit. He first received the Bogwan (Precious Crown, 3rd Class) in 2004 following the global success of Oldboy. In 2022, he was elevated to the Eungwan (Silver Crown, 2nd Class), the nation's second-highest cultural honor, which is reserved for individuals whose work has significantly raised the prestige of South Korean arts on the world stage.
Awards and nominations
Award ceremonyYear CategoryNominated workResult AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 2026 Best Foreign Language Film No Other Choice Academy Awards 2023 Best International Feature Film Decision to Leave 2026 No Other Choice Adelaide Film Festival 2025 Audience Award for Feature Fiction Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2016 Best Non-English-Language Film The Handmaiden 2023 Best Non-English Language Film Decision to Leave 2025 Best International Film No Other Choice Apolo Awards 2017 Best Film The Handmaiden Best Director Best Adapted Screenplay Asia-Pacific Film Festival 2003 Best Director Oldboy Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2022 Best Screenplay Decision to Leave Asian Film Awards 2017 Best Screenplay The Handmaiden 2023 Best Film Decision to Leave Best Director Best Screenplay Astra Film Awards 2026 Best International Feature No Other Choice Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Best Adapted Screenplay Honorary awards - Filmmaking Achievement Award Atlanta Film Critics Circle 2025 Top 10 FilmsNo Other Choice Best International Feature Austin Film Critics Association 2003 Best Film Oldboy Best Foreign Film 2016 Best Film The Handmaiden Best Director Best Adapted Screenplay Best Foreign Language Film 2023 Best Director Decision to Leave Best International Film 2025 Best Adapted Screenplay No Other Choice Best International Film Baeksang Arts Awards 2006 Best Film Lady Vengeance Best Director 2010 Best Film Thirst 2017 Grand Prize (Daesang) The Handmaiden Best Film Best Director Best Screenplay 2023 Grand Prize (Daesang) – Film Decision to Leave Best Film Best Director Best Screenplay 2025 Best Film Uprising Best Screenplay 2026 Best Film No Other Choice Best Director Bangkok International Film Festival 2003 Best Film Oldboy Best Director 2005 Best Director Lady Vengeance Beautiful Art Awards 2025 Film Art Impression Award Belgian Film Critics Association 2003 Grand Prix Oldboy Bergen International Film Festival 2003 Audience Award Berlin International Film Festival2001 Golden Bear Joint Security Area 2007 Golden BearI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK Alfred Bauer Prize 2010 Alfred Bauer Award Jeanine Tan, Oldboy director cast Rain for his sex appeal but it's okay , Channel News Asia, March 8, 2007. Retrieved on March 24, 2008. 2011 Golden Bear for Best Short Film Night Fishing Black Film Critics Circle 2025Top Ten Films of 2025 No Other Choice Blue Dragon Film Awards 2000 Best Film Joint Security Area Best Director 2002 Best FilmSympathy for Mr. Vengeance Best Director 2003 Best Director Oldboy 2005 Best Film Lady Vengeance Best Director 2009 Best Film Thirst Best Director 2016 Best Film The Handmaiden Best Director 2022 Best DirectorDecision to Leave Best Film Best Screenplay 2025 Best Film No Other Choice Best Director Best Screenplay Uprising Blue Ribbon Awards 2001 Best Foreign Film Joint Security Area Boston Online Film Critics Association 2025 Top Ten Films of 2025No Other Choice Best International Film Boston Society of Film Critics 2016 Best Foreign Language Film The Handmaiden British Academy Film Awards 2018 Best Film Not in the English Language 2023 Best Director Decision to Leave Best Film Not in the English Language Best Original Screenplay 2026 Best Film Not in the English Language No Other Choice British Independent Film Awards 2003 Best Foreign Independent Film Oldboy 2022Best International Independent FilmDecision to Leave Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2010 Silver Raven Thirst 2017 Knight of the Raven Buil Film Awards 2016 Best Film The Handmaiden Best Director Buil Readers' Jury Award 2022 Best Film Decision to Leave Best Director Best Screenplay 2025 Best FilmUprising Best Screenplay 2026 Best FilmNo Other Choice Best Director Busan Film Critics Awards 2002 Best Film Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Best Director Cannes Film Festival 2003 Palme d'Or Oldboy Grand Prix 2009 Jury Prize Thirst Palme d'Or 2016 Palme d'Or The Handmaiden Queer Palm 2022 Best Director Decision to Leave Palme d'Or Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2003 Best Foreign Language Film Oldboy 2016 Best Film The Handmaiden Best Director Best Adapted Screenplay Best Foreign Language Film 2022 Best DirectorDecision to Leave Best Film Best Foreign Language Film 2025 Best Adapted ScreenplayNo Other Choice Best Foreign Language Film Chicago Indie Critics 2026 Best International Film Chunsa Film Art Awards 2009 Best Director Thirst 2017 Best Director The Handmaiden 2022 Best Director Decision to Leave Best Screenplay Columbus Film Critics Association 2026 Best FilmNo Other Choice Best Foreign Language Film Best Adapted Screenplay Critics Association Of Central Florida 2026Best International FilmNo Other Choice Critics Choice Awards