Actor Lee Jun-ki has won the Rising Star award of the 27th Hawaiian International Film Festival.

Lee rose to stardom for his role in the movie "King and the Clown." His popularity has soared in Asia after the joint Korean-Japanese movie "First Snow" opened this year.

An official from the festival's organizing committee said the Rising Star award is given to young movie stars and attests to Lee's potential to grow into a next-generation movie actor who will garner great recognition not only in Korea but abroad.

The movie "May 18," which also stars Lee, has been nominated for the Golden Orchid award of the festival.

Lee plans to attend the Hawaiian International Film Festival during his promotion tour in Japan and Asia.