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Yoo Ah-in, Lee Jung-hyun, ‘Assassination’ receive top Korean film honors

November 27, 2015
Yoo Ah-in attends the 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 26, 2015. (Yonhap)

Yoo Ah-in attends the 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 26, 2015. (Yonhap)

By Tae Hong

Actors Yoo Ah-in and Lee Jung-hyun and the film “Assassination” were the big winners of this year’s Blue Dragon Film Awards, one of South Korea’s most prestigious annual industry honors.

The ceremony, held inside Kyunghee University Thursday, saw a star-studded red carpet and notable wins for “Sado,” which collected four trophies, “Ode To My Father,” which saw victory in three categories, and “Assassination,” which picked up two, including Best Film, Yonhap reported.

The Choi Dong-hoon-directed period pic, which came out in time for the 70th anniversary of Korean liberation this year, follows independence fighters as they unravel a plan to assassinate a Japanese general and his ally, a pro-Japan Korean businessman.

Its ensemble cast featured a slew of A-listers, including Jeon Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

Drawing more than 12.7 million to theaters, it was one of the year’s biggest domestic box office hits and is now the country’s seventh-highest-grossing film of all time, according to Korean Film Council data.

The Best Actor award went to “It” star of the moment Yoo Ah-in, who was recognized for his turn as Crown Prince Sado in “Sado.”

2015 has been a career-defining year for Yoo, who shocked audiences with his portrayal of an out-of-control, third-generation chaebol heir in “Veteran” (which saw a Best Director win for Ryoo Seung-wan).

Yoo saw “Veteran,” which hit theaters in August, become the No. 3 highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. The next month, “Sado” drew in a respectable 6.26 million in audiences, squarely placing Yoo as a Chungmuro A-lister.

At 29, Yoo is the youngest actor to win the award since Lee Jung-jae in 1999 for “City of the Rising Sun,” who still holds the record for youngest at 27.

Lee was alongside Yoo for the nomination Thursday night, as were Hwang Jung-min, Song Kang-ho and Jung Jae-young, all past Best Actor winners.

Lee Jung-hyun, who took home Best Actress, electrified audiences in the black comedy “Alice In Earnestland.”

The actress, also known as a K-pop icon of the 1990s, was the 1996 recipient of the Blue Dragon Best New Actress honor for “Flower Petal.”

3 Comments

  1. Olga D Berrios

    November 28, 2015 at 5:18 AM

    I have always found Yoo Ah In a exceptional actor. He never disappoints. Very proud of him. Congratulations young man. Always may you find success in all your endeavors.

    Reply

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