One of Korea’s most respected director Lee Chang-dong has boycotted the Blue Dragon Film Festival, one of three top film award ceremonies in Korea. He has thus refused to submit his film for the nomination. Consequently, his latest work “Secret Sunshine,” which he directed and produced, was not nominated at all for any of the categories.

The secretariat for the Blue Dragon Film Festival, nonetheless, nominated Jeon Do-yeon, the leading actress in “Secret Sunshine” and the Canne’s best actress award, for the best leading actress category.

Director Lee reportedly boycotted the award ceremony, because it was sponsored by Sports Chosun and Chosun Ilbo, two dailies under the conservative Chosun Newspaper group. He had served as the first Minister of Culture and Tourism under the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

One film industry insider criticized the director for depriving actors and actresses of his film of the chance to receive due recognition at an award ceremony just for the sake of his political inclination.