Emotionally Charged Moments at the 2024 MBC Acting Awards
On the evening of December 5, during the live broadcast of the '2024 MBC Acting Awards', actor Lee Dong-hwi became visibly emotional as he mentioned the victims of the recent passenger plane disaster.
Hosted by broadcaster Kim Sung-joo and actress Chae Soo-bin, the ceremony celebrated the talented actors, works, and staff who contributed to MBC dramas over the past year. Originally scheduled to air live on November 30, the event was pre-recorded due to a tragic incident in which 179 out of 181 passengers were killed in a Jeju Air flight crash on November 29.
Taking place after the national mourning period, which concluded on December 4, the awards show aired on December 5. As a sign of respect for the victims, all attendees, including the hosts and prominent actors in the audience, wore black attire.
In the category of Outstanding Performance in a Miniseries, the male award was shared between Lee Dong-hwi for Chief Inspector 1958 and Lee Jong-won for Flowers Bloom at Night. Their heartfelt moment was highlighted when Lee Je-hoon, who co-starred with Lee Dong-hwi and is also his agency representative, emotionally embraced him, sharing in the joy of the win.
Despite the joy of winning, Lee Dong-hwi expressed, “It’s such a wonderful moment for me, but it’s difficult to fully enjoy it in this sad situation. I believe everyone here must have felt heavy-hearted coming to this venue. Nevertheless, I want to acknowledge the hard work of all those who created these wonderful works.”
He particularly thanked his seniors, including Choi Bool-am, Jo Kyung-hwan, and Kim Sang-soo, for their support in making Chief Inspector possible again. “I think I was able to receive this award because my directors always sought new opportunities for me,” he added.
Further, he expressed his deep appreciation for his colleague and agency rep Lee Je-hoon, stating, “This has been a scene where I’ve learned so much. I've observed how he manages to lead projects smoothly without showing any struggle, and this has taught me a great deal.”
Lee Dong-hwi shared, “Currently, I am working in theater and feeling a lot of humility and gratitude. I deeply recognize that all my achievements are not due to my own talent. I promise to strive to be a better colleague and a better person through my work.”
In an emotional conclusion, he vowed to provide courage and comfort to everyone facing tough times, eliciting tears as he spoke.
This past year, MBC dramas included Flowers Bloom at Night, Wonderful World, Chief Inspector 1958, Our Home, Death to Snow White - Black Out, Such an Intimate Traitor, The Call That Just Came In, The Third Marriage, Brave and Fearless Yong Soo-jeong, Kind Mr. Seon-joo, and I Dislike Pork Cutlet.
Among the finalists for Best Actor were Lee Ha-nee from Flowers Bloom at Night, Kim Nam-joo from Wonderful World, Lee Je-hoon from Chief Inspector 1958, Kim Hee-sun from Our Home, Byeon Yo-han from Death to Snow White - Black Out, Han Seok-kyu from Such an Intimate Traitor, and Yoo Yeon-seok from The Call That Just Came In. Notably, Lee Ha-nee achieved the highest viewing rating of 18.4% with Flowers Bloom at Night, while Han Seok-kyu received acclaim for the well-made thriller Such an Intimate Traitor, and Yoo Yeon-seok captivated audiences in The Call That Just Came In.
/ monamie@osen.co.kr
[Photo] Provided by MBC.