Kim Minha to Host BIFF's 31st Opening Ceremony Solo

Actor Kim Minha will take the stage as the sole MC of the 31st Busan International Film Festival's opening ceremony on October 6, the festival confirmed. The selection connects to a broader pattern at BIFF: after introducing a competition section last year to raise its international standing, the festival appears to be aligning its ceremonial choices with that same outward-facing momentum.

For most international audiences, Kim registered first through Apple TV+'s Pachinko (2022, 2024), where she played young Sunja across two seasons, carrying the early narrative of a character navigating colonial-era Korea with precision and restraint. The performance earned her a Best Newcomer prize at the 2022 Asian American Awards in the television category, an early signal that her work was being noticed beyond domestic critical circles.

She debuted in 2016 and spent her first years building a filmography steadily across both theatrical and television work. Since Pachinko, the range has widened: the drama Lighting Shop (2024), A Week Before My Death (2025), and Typhoon Boss (2025) have followed, with the film Hana Korea scheduled for 2026. Awards have accumulated alongside the credits. She received the Best Actress prize in the international competition section at the 2025 Seoul Drama Awards, a Best New Actress award at the 2025 Blue Dragon Series Awards, and a Rising Star recognition at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards.

BIFF described Kim as "the most distinctly growing actor at this moment," framing her selection as a reflection of her ability to inhabit characters with depth rather than any single breakout moment. For a festival that has spent the past two years repositioning itself closer to the competitive festival circuit, the choice of a host who has already built a foothold with international audiences carries some logic.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs October 6 through 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and surrounding venues.