Korean actress Yoon Jeong-hee, the heroine of “Poetry,” received a French cultural order on Tuesday, according to the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

Yoon was awarded “Officier dans l’ordre des Arts et Lettres,” the second-highest French order, in recognition of her performance for the award-winning film by director Lee Chang-dong.

The Korean actress had earlier been linked to receive “Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et Lettres,” one step below the Officier order. But the 66-year-old was made Officier by Frederic Mitterrand, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, the ministry said.

“I’m delighted because my husband won an honor 10 years ago,” she said. Yoon’s husband, pianist Paik Kun-woo, received the Chevalier order in 2001. 

Yoon returned to the screen last year after a 16-year hiatus with “Poetry” and won many best actress awards, including at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Grand Bell Awards.

“Poetry” tells the story of an elderly woman who discovers writing poems enables her to live her dreams and escape the harsh realities of life. The film premiered in France last August.

The veteran actress said she was delighted to be recognized for her acting career by the French culture ministry and the French people. “Receiving this order has given me the confidence to work harder in the future,” she said.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)