Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun has won the Extraordinary Star Asia Award at the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).
Jun Ji Hyun received the award at the 25th NYAFF gala held in New York on the 11th (local time). This accolade is one of the festival’s signature awards, presented to actors who have significantly contributed to the development of Asian cinema and distinguished themselves on the international stage.
Marking its 25th anniversary this year, the New York Asian Film Festival spotlights exceptional works and filmmakers from across Asia. This year’s opening film was “Colony,” starring Jun Ji Hyun. The actress attended the festival alongside director Yeon Sang-ho, adding star power to the opening ceremony.
Jun Ji Hyun has established herself as an iconic South Korean actress, showcasing her unique screen presence and versatile acting across various genres in acclaimed films such as “Il Mare,” “My Sassy Girl,” “Windstruck,” “The Thieves,” “The Berlin File,” and “Assassination.”
In “Colony,” she delivers a powerful performance as Kwon Se-jeong, a biotechnology professor and the leader of a survivor group, portraying a character who maintains her faith even in the most extreme situations. “Colony” follows a group of survivors isolated inside a building sealed off due to an unidentified infection, where they must confront entities that evolve in unpredictable ways.
Jun Ji Hyun firmly anchors the film by convincingly portraying her character’s cool judgment, strong leadership, and deep human anguish.
Driven by her passionate performance, “Colony” became a major box office success, recording the highest opening score among domestic films in 2026 and surpassing 5 million viewers—far exceeding its break-even point. The film was also officially invited to the Midnight Screenings section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, earning recognition for both its artistic quality and commercial appeal.
“Film is a special medium that connects people beyond culture and language. I worked on ‘Colony’ with that mindset, and I am thrilled to present it to the New York audience,” Jun Ji Hyun expressed in her acceptance speech.
Following her success at the Cannes International Film Festival and now the New York Asian Film Festival, Jun Ji Hyun has further solidified her position as a global superstar.
Meanwhile, Jun Ji Hyun has chosen JTBC’s upcoming drama “Human X Gumiho” as her next project. She is set to display perfect chemistry once again with Ji Chang-wook, her co-star from “Colony.” The drama is scheduled to air in the first half of 2027 and will be available to global viewers via the OTT platform Amazon Prime.
