Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh has revealed that Lee Chang Dong, Bong Joon Ho, and Park Chan Wook are among the Korean filmmakers she hopes to work with in the future.
Yeoh shared her interest in Korean cinema during a press conference at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, where she received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award.
Speaking about Korean directors, Yeoh first mentioned Lee Chang Dong and said she has been closely following Korean films, including his work.
She then added, “I would really like to work with director Park Chan Wook and director Bong Joon Ho as well.”
Yeoh also noted that she has previously worked with Korean actor Jung Woo Sung and expressed her wider appreciation for Korean entertainment and culture.
“I really like K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean food, but most of all, I like the Korean people,” she said.
The actress went on to praise the strength of South Korea's film industry, describing Korean cinema as an example that filmmakers across Asia can learn from.
“Korean cinema is doing incredibly well. I think it is a great example that we can learn from,” Yeoh said, adding that she hopes Asian cinema will continue moving forward with confidence.
Yeoh made history in 2023 when she won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for Everything Everywhere All at Once, becoming the first Asian woman to win the category.
Reflecting on the growing recognition of Asian performers internationally, she also mentioned Youn Yuh Jung's historic Best Supporting Actress Oscar win in 2021 and said achievements like these can encourage others to believe that similar opportunities are possible.
For Yeoh, however, there are still major collaborations left on her wish list, with Lee Chang Dong, Bong Joon Ho, and Park Chan Wook now publicly named among the Korean directors she hopes to work with.
