KBS Drama Award: SongSong win Grand Prize, Best Couple
SEOUL: As expected, the Grand Prize ( Daesang) of the 2016 KBS Drama Award went to Song Joong-ki and Song Hye Kyo of ‘Descendants of the Sun’.
Besides the Grand Prize, the Song- Song couple was one of three couples given the Best Couple Award. But beside the two, a surprise winner is Kim Ji Won who got the Best New Actress Award and Best Actress in a Mini- Series Award, beating co-star and crowd favourite Song Hye Kyo.
The 16- episode blockbuster drama, shown from late February through mid-April via KBS 2TV in South Korea and iQiyi in China, broke viewership record with 40 per cent rating for its final episode. Its writers, Kim Eun Sook and Kim Won Suk got the Writers Award.
In her acceptance speech, Song Hye Kyo said that since the drama finished filming a long time ago, she missed the staff, and despite feeling inadequate, she was able to film such a great drama. She admitted that when she got the offer, she was not sure if she wanted to accept the role.
“But, the only reason why I am able to get this award is because of Song Joong Ki. I wouldn’t be here without him,” the 35-year- old actress said. She also acknowledged Jin Goo, the Alpha team and emergency team as well as her mother and fans.
Like Song Hye Kyo, Song Joong-ki said he felt inadequate in so many ways, but the staff of ‘ Descendants of the Sun’ was a lot of help. He also acknowledged the help of Jin Goo and thanked his parents and fans. “Usually, the woman should cry, but we’re reversed. I want to give her all this honour to my lovely partner, Song Hye Kyo,” he said.
It was the second time the couple attended an award ceremony since they accepted the Most Popular Actor and Most Popular Actress awards at the 52nd Baeksang Art Awards in June. Song Joong-ki attended the 11th Seoul Awards in August, APAN Art Awards and Korea Drama Award in October.
But it was Song Hye Kyo’s first time to attend the KBS Drama Awards in 12 years when she won the Best Actress Award in 2004 for ‘Full House’. It is the 2nd Grand Prize ( Daesang) for Song Joong-ki.
Meanwhile, the webtoon ‘ W Two Worlds’ was the biggest winner with seven total awards.
Actor Lee Jong Suk won the Grand Prize Daesang award also, but his very short acceptance speech and win were criticised by netizens, AllKPop reported.
Besides Lee Jong Suk, Song Jae Jung won Best Scriptwriter of the Year, Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk were the Best Couple, Kim Eui Sung got the Golden Acting Award, both Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk received the High Excellence Awards in the Mini- series category, and “W” won Drama of the Year, Soompi reported.
In his 40- second speech, Lee Jong Suk thanked fans and some people, but because it was very brief, the MCs asked the actor to add more. He admitted taking two herbal supplement relaxation pills and becoming drowsy because of the pills, so he could not say more.
However, his reply was seen as rude by some netizens. It further led to netizens questioning the Daesang which was determined 100 per cent by fan votes while others opined that Kim So Yeon was more deserving of the award than Lee Jong Suk.
Frustration led one netizen to comment, “From next year, just do one award for the most popular and one for actual acting ability. This Daesang is a joke....If you do it by fan votes, of course, a young male actor will win!” The award ceremony was held on Dec 31 in Seoul.