Joo Sang-wook and Lee Seung-gi wins grand prize at KBS Drama Awards

▲This photo, provided by KBS, shows singer and actor Lee Seung-gi. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by KBS, shows actor Joo Sang-wook. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, January 2 (Yonhap) -- Actors Lee Seung-gi and Joo Sang-wook won the grand prize at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards, which was held at the new building of KBS located in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on December 31.

Lee Seung-gi, who won the grand prize for the drama "The Law Cafe," attended the event with a shaved head.

He explained, "There are many people who assume that my haircut is a change in my personal feelings, but I shaved my head because of the film "The Great Family," in which I will be starring as a Buddhist priest."

Lee Seung-gi said, "This year was probably the hardest year in my life," adding, "In fact, I thought about not attending this Drama Awards for more than a hundred times."

He continued, "As many knows, I am currently going through some personal issues, and I kept changing my mind as it didn't feel right to attend the event with a smiley face and to sit with a straight face as well."

"There is only one reason I decided to participate," he said, adding, "I thought it would be wrong to disregard the efforts of the crew and the actors simply because of my personal issues, because a drama is made in a team."

"I believe I am receiving this grand prize this year on behalf of the entire crew and cast of the drama "The Law Cafe," and "I am sorry for receiving this award as a representative."

Lee Seung-gi who is currently going through a court fight with his former agency, Hook Entertainment, for not getting his settlements for 18 years since his debut, talked about his honest feelings.

He said, "I thought to myself that these kinds of situations, where we have to fight for our achievements, should not be continued for the juniors who will be seated here in the next years," adding, "All the messages people sent me meant so much."

Lee Seung-gi who made his debut in 2004 with his first album "The Dream of a Moth," with the title track "Because You're My Girl" gained a lot of attention in such a short period of time, and the word "Noona" became popular.

Lee Seung-gi rose to prominence in the dramas "Infinite Challenge, Famous Princesses" (2006), in which he played the prince, and "2 Days and 1 Night" (2007), in which he displayed his clumsiness.

Lee Seung-gi starred in dramas "My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox" (2010), "The king 2Hearts" (2012), "VEGABOND" (2019), and hosted variety shows such as "Strong Heart," "Master in the House," "Sing Again." and more.

Joo Sang-wook who won the grand prize along with Lee Seung-gi with the drama "Taejong Yi Bang-won" said, "I am so grateful to win this award here at KBS where I made my debut for the KBS children drama 25 years ago."

"I went through a lot as I couldn't handle the weight and pressure that historical dramas give ," he said. "I would like to express my gratitude to many seniors and juniors who supported and helped me like my family at that time."

He also expressed gratitude towards his family, mentioning his mother, daughter, and mother-in-law, and at last showed affection towards his wife, saying, "I also love my one and only wife Cha Ye-ryun, who is always by my side."

Joo Sang-wook made his debut in 1998 with the KBS 1TV "New Generation Report: Adults Don't Know." He starred in more dramas such as "Queen Seondeok" (2009), "Good Doctor" (2013), "Glamorous Temptation" (2015), and movies such as "My Wife Got Married" (2008), "The Huntresses" (2014), and more.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Dowon Kim.)

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