"I feel great since the actress in 'Secret Sunshine' won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival," said Kang Myung-gon, a 40-year-old operator of a car repair shop in Milyang, where much of the movie was shot. "Milyang is in the world spotlight thanks to that movie," Kang said, beaming with pride.

As the news spread on Monday that Jeon Do-yeon won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her performance in "Secret Sunshine," which in Korean is simply "Milyang," the residents of this small inland city in South Gyeongsang province, population 120,000, were very excited.

In the movie, Jeon Do-yeon plays a widow who moves with her young son to Milyang, her husband's hometown. There her woes are multiplied when her son is abducted and found dead.

Jong-chan, played by Song Gang-ho, is a car repair shop owner who falls in love with her and helps her. Milyang, which is also the name of the local region, in Chinese characters means "secret sunshine."

As word got out, a large banner was hung on the front of the city hall. "Congratulations for Winning Best Actress in the Cannes Film Festival for 'Milyang'," it said. Several more banners were placed throughout the city in locations where the movie was shot, such as Milyang train station.

"Since the movie came out, a lot of tourists have asked me the location of the private piano school that Jeon Do-yeon's character runs," said Oh Hwa-ja, owner of a small store nearby the school. "It seems more visitors will come to Milyang thanks to the movie."

Before the news, Milyang citizens were concerned that the movie showed the city through a gloomy filter, but the atmosphere has changed with the award.

"I was actually concerned about the movie since it described an abduction in Milyang," said Kim Doo-young, a 51-year-old Milyang resident. "Now I'm relieved because more tourists are expected to visit Milyang thanks to Jeon winning the award at the film festival."

Ninety percent of the movie was shot in Milyang, from last September to February this year. The city lent its full support to the shoot, and now it seems that favor will be repaid.

Um Yong-su, mayor of Milyang, has ordered the formation of a taskforce to help develop the city. "There will be countless benefits from the movie 'Milyang'," Um said. "Milyang is now known to the world thanks to the movie. We are going to seize this opportunity to develop Milyang into a Mecca of the arts."