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Actor shuns award in symbolic gesture for ferry victims

January 1, 2015
Choi Min-soo (NEWSis)

Actor Choi Min-soo recently played a prosecutor on the “Pride and Prejudice.” (NEWSis)

Actor Choi Min-soo, who recently played a prosecutor on television, refused to accept the Golden Acting Award at this week’s 2014 MBC Drama Awards, in a symbolic gesture over last year’s Sewol ferry sinking.

The “Arrogance and Prejudice” actor did not attend the award ceremony, but asked co-star Baek Jin-hee to deliver a speech on his behalf.

The speech ended with a reference to the Sewol ferry disaster, apparently criticizing prosecutors for not punishing those involved in the incident harshly enough.

“This is Moon Hee-man from the Prosecutor’s office,” Choi wrote in his speech, taking on the voice of his character in the drama. ”Perhaps because I’ve lived as a prosecutor for awhile, I just cannot accept this award. With all due respect I have to decline. I feel like it’s the least I can do for the hope that is still trapped inside the freezing waters, in times of failing truth and conscience.”

The speech was edited to omit the reference to the disaster, but online entertainment newspaper Star News later revealed the original copy of the speech Thursday.

Yoo Dae-gyun, the eldest son of the late Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of Chonghaejin Marine that operated the Sewol, was sentenced to three years in prison in November.

The sentence was lighter than the four years imprisonment the prosecution had earlier demanded.