Similar to MBC, KBS’s 2024 Drama Awards was a subdued celebration in respect to the recent Jeju Air tragedy and the pre-recorded event was broadcast this weekend on January 11. With Jang Sung-kyu, Seohyun, and Moon Sang-min as our ceremony hosts, the night’s big winner was none other than the distinguished Lee Soon-jae, a long-time acting veteran and revered icon in K-entertainment history.
Lee gave a humble acceptance speech, explaining that he witnessed the beginnings of KBS’s TV network in 1961 and even nabbed a small role in KBS’s very first drama series (I Want to Become Human Too, roughly translated) in 1962. Expressing the honor he felt to be recognized with an acting prize (instead of another lifetime nod) for the first time on KBS, he shared the glory with his fellow cast members (including the dogs!). A tearful Lee Soon-jae was also apologetic, sincerely thanking the students taking his college course for understanding and accommodating his absences during the filming of Dog Knows Everything.
A big congratulations to Lee Soon-jae and all the winners listed below! At the end of the awards, a special remembrance epilogue was shown to commemorate the eight actors – including Kim Sumi and Song Jae-rim – who sadly went on in 2024 to shine their brightness as now stars in the sky.
Jung Sang-kyu, Seohyun, Moon Sang-min
Daesang (Grand Prize):
Lee Soon-jae (Dog Knows Everything)
Top Excellence Award
Actor:
Ji Hyun-hoo (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Kim Jung-hyun (Iron Family)
Actress:
Im Soo-hyang (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Park Ji-young (Iron Family)
Best Couple/Trio:
Excellence Award
Miniseries, Actor: Park Ji-hoon (Love Song for Illusion)
Miniseries, Actress:
Han Ji-hyun (Face Me)
Yeonwoo (Dog Knows Everything)
Serial Drama, Actor: Shin Hyun-joon (Iron Family)
Serial Drama, Actress: Geum Sae-rok (Iron Family)
Daily Drama, Actor:
Baek Sung-hyun (Suji & Uri)
Oh Chang-seok (Without Blood or Tears)
Daily Drama, Actress:
Ham Eun-jung (Suji & Uri)
Park Ha-na (My Merry Marriage)
Drama Special Award (Short-Form drama):
Actor: Nam Da-reum (Title)
Actress: Oh Ye-joo (Title)
Writer Award: Seo Sook-hyang (Iron Family)
Seo Sook-hyang
Popularity Award:
Actor: L (a.k.a. Kim Myung-soo) (Dare to Love Me)
Actress: Geum Sae-rok (Iron Family)
Best Supporting Cast
Actor:
Choi Tae-joon (Iron Family)
Kim Yong-gun (Dog Knows Everything)
Actress: Yoon Yoo-sun (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Best New Actor
Park Sang-nam (My Merry Marriage)
Seo Beom-joon (Nothing Uncovered)
Best New Actress
Han Soo-ah (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Hong Ye-ji (Love Song for Illusion)
Best Youth Actor: Moon Sung-hyun (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Best Youth Actress: Lee Seol-ah (Beauty and Mr. Romantic)
Yoon Yoo-sun, Kim Yong-gun, Choi Tae-joon
Han Soo-ah, Park Ha-na, Hong Ye-ji, Ham Eun-jung
Top to bottom, left to right: Seo Beom-joon, Park Sang-nam, Baek Sung-hyun / Oh Chang-seok, Kim Myung-soo, Park Ji-hoon
Top to bottom, left to right: Lee Seol-ah, Han Ji-hyun, Oh Ye-joo / Nam Da-reum, Yeonwoo, Moon Sang-hyun
Top to bottom, left to right: Kim Jung-hyun, Geum Sae-rok, Ji Hyun-woo, Im Soo-hyang / Kim Hye-eun, Shin Hyun-joon, Park Ji-young
