KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — South Korean superstar Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun) has etched her name into the history books as the first Korean actress to be honoured with the Extraordinary Star Asia Award at the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

The prestigious accolade recognises actors who have made transformative contributions to the growth and evolution of Asian cinema.

Jun earned the distinction for her powerhouse performance in the latest thriller, Colony, according to film distributor Showbox. The zombie-horror epic served as this year’s opening film for the festival, with Jun attending the gala alongside director Yeon Sang-ho.

“Films are a special medium that connects people beyond culture and language,” she said in response to the award.

“We made Colony with that spirit in mind, and I’m delighted to be able to share it with audiences here in New York.”

Directed by Yeon, the visionary behind Train to Busan and Peninsula, Colony plunges viewers into a claustrophobic nightmare. The plot follows a group of survivors trapped within a sealed building during a viral outbreak, facing horrors as the infected evolve into unpredictable, lethal forms. Jun leads the cast as Professor Kwon Se-jung, a biotechnologist who must step up as the unlikely leader of the survivors.

The film's critical acclaim is matched by its commercial dominance. Since its South Korean release on May 21, Colony has drawn 5.91 million viewers nationwide.

The "Jun Ji-hyun effect" has resonated strongly in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia. Colony has amassed more than RM30.6 million at the local box office, crowning it the highest-grossing film in Malaysia for 2026 so far and the highest-grossing Korean film of all time in the country.