Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Moon Se-yoon grabs highest honor at KBS Entertainment Awards
Comedian Moon Se-yoon receives the highest honor at the 2021 KBS Entertainment Awards. Courtesy of KBS
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Comedian Moon Se-yoon won the Grand Prize at the 2021 KBS Entertainment Awards, Saturday. It was the first time since his debut 20 years ago that Moon managed to clinch the top award.
During the year-end awards ceremony in Yeouido, western Seoul, the comedian notched the highest honor for his performances in three of the network's variety shows: "Two Days and One Night,” “Godfather” and “Trot Magic Performers.”
“I'm speechless. Today is Christmas so Santa Claus came by at our house for my kids this morning. But I didn't expect to receive a gift from him as well,” Moon said as he was accepting the award.
“I've been told that I don't have much luck with awards but instead, I've been lucky to have such great people around me. I always had someone who encouraged and supported me whenever I was down and weary. And I wouldn't have been here if it weren't for them.”
Adding that he will continue to do his best to match the weight of the award, he thanked the production teams, fellow comedians and co-stars of his shows, including Kim Seon-ho, who left “Two Days and One Night” amidst a scandal over him having coerced his ex-girlfriend into getting an abortion.
“Although he is not here with us, I want to say thank you to Seon-ho, as well,” he said. “Also, one time, I asked comedian Shin Dong-yup, 'What's the secret to being loved for so long in this entertainment scene?' and he told me that 'You are like a blue-chip stock that's as yet undervalued.' And that really helped boost my confidence. I hope to be like him and help encourage up and coming comedians who are yet to be discovered.”
The cast members of “Two Days and One Night” perform during the ceremony. Courtesy of KBS
Along with Moon, the network's long-running variety show, “Two Days and One Night,” won the Best Show of the year, voted by the viewers, for two years in a row.
“I'm grateful that we have received this award for two consecutive years. Thanks to the viewers who have supported and loved our show, we were able to do our best in making 'Two Days and One Night,'” the show's producer, Bang Geul-yi, said. “The show will undergo several changes next year. But we will continue to do our best to entertain our viewers on Sunday, making shows from across the nation.”
Trot singer Jang Yoon-jung, who hosts the network's music show, “Music Love,” and former basketball star and TV personality Hur Jae, who stars in the reality show, “Boss in the Mirror,” received the second highest honor at the awards.
K-pop star Ravi from “Two Days and One Night” and former baseball player and TV personality Hong Sung-heon from “Mr. House Husband” won the rookie awards of the year.