Exciting news for film enthusiasts! The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has officially announced that the charming Park Bo Young and the versatile Ahn Jae Hong will be gracing the stage as hosts for the highly anticipated opening ceremony. Mark your calendars for October 2, 2024, at 7 PM, as the dynamic duo will take the spotlight at the Busan Cinema Center's outdoor theater in Haeundae.

Park Bo Young, who first captured hearts in the 2006 drama Secret Campus, skyrocketed to fame with her standout role in the 2008 blockbuster Speed Scandal.

Since then, she’s dazzled audiences in a variety of roles, from A Werewolf Boy (2012) to Your Wedding (2018), and memorable dramas like Oh My Ghostess (2015) and Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017).

Last year, she captivated viewers with her powerful performances in Concrete Utopia and the Netflix hit Mental Health Ward, earning prestigious accolades such as the Best Actress Award at the 2024 Blue Dragon Series Awards and the Star of the Year Award at the 2023 Busan Film Critics Awards.

Her return to BIFF isn’t new; she was previously seen at the festival in 2015 with films Mutant and The King’s Case Note.

Ahn Jae Hong has also made a name for himself with unforgettable roles, starting with his impressive turn in the 2014 film Soccer Player. He continued to win hearts in hit dramas like Reply 1988 (2015-2016), Fight for My Way (2017), and Melo is My Nature (2019). His recent performance in the Netflix original series Mask Girl (2023) showcased his remarkable range, leading to accolades including Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Blue Dragon Series Awards and the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards, and Best Actor in a Series at the 2024 Director's Cut Awards.

Ahn Jae Hong’s connection to BIFF is notable too, having been part of the festival in 2013 with 1999, Meeting and returning last year with the TVING original series LTNS (2024).

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will run from October 2 to October 11, 2024, kicking off with the opening ceremony on October 2 at the Busan Cinema Center.

The festival’s opening film is the much-anticipated Netflix movie The Old Way, directed by Park Chan-wook and Kim Sang-man, featuring a stellar cast including Kang Dong-won, Park Jung-min, and Cha Seung-won.

Stay tuned for more updates as BIFF 2024 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of cinema!

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IU recently revealed that she watched her own concert film in a public theater, but shockingly, no one recognized her—even when she dropped a hint!

On February 27, a new video featuring IU was released, showing her inside a car on her way to Daejeon.

She excitedly shared, “This is a surprise stage greeting for UAENA! I picked this location through a ladder game when I did stage greetings.”

Previously, IU had let fate decide which city she would visit after her stage greetings. She happily said, “There are UAENAs everywhere I go. Wherever I go, it's a flowery path.” The game ultimately led her to Daejeon.

IU originally hoped to explore the city, saying, “I wanted to visit Daejeon's pride, Sung Sim Dang, and walk around, but my team said it wouldn’t be possible. The lines are too long, and it’s freezing outside.” She sighed, adding, “So, things turned out this way.”

Dressed up for the occasion, IU smiled, saying, “I don’t get to meet UAENAs in Daejeon often, so I wanted to make a surprise appearance looking my best.”

She also joked about enjoying surprise events, adding, “As long as Hanteo oppa drives me safely, I’m happy.”

But what really caught fans' attention was IU’s unexpected confession—she had secretly watched her concert film in a theater, but no one noticed her! “No one recognized me at all. There weren’t that many people, and it was a weekday… but still! I even gave a hint!” she said, sounding both amused and surprised.

Later, when IU finally appeared at the theater, her fans were overwhelmed with emotion. Some even burst into tears, prompting her to gently say, “You really didn’t expect me to come, right?”

After wrapping up her stage greeting, IU laughed at herself, saying, “Wait, did I just do a 40-minute one-woman show? I must have talked so much.”

On her way back to Seoul, IU reflected on the day, sharing, “It was so cold today. I shook hands with all the UAENAs. My hands are usually cold, and since the weather was freezing, I think I made a lot of people’s hands cold, too. But after touching so many warm hands, mine became warm, too. I still haven’t washed them.”

Her love for her fans truly knows no bounds!

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