2008 MBC Acting Awards
by javabeans
MBC hosted its awards ceremony for the 2008 Acting Awards on December 30. Let me first reiterate that I think these end-of-year broadcast-station awards are mostly meaningless. That said, this year’s Daesangs were TOTAL WEAKSAUCE, MBC. Top honor (the “Daesang” grand prize) went to…
Oh, you mean it was split this year? Between Beethoven Virus‘s much-lauded epitome of awesomeness, Kim Myung-min, and East of Eden‘s overblown and overrated Song Seung-heon?? I mean, I could understand going for the sentimental vote and awarding deceased Choi Jin-shil (she got a lifetime achievement instead), but Song Seung-heon winning acting awards is in itself a joke.
You know what that means: MBC really thought Kim deserved it but was too afraid of pissing off Song. After all, this IS Song’s first television role back from army duty, with a five-year gap since his last. He couldn’t be the star of a big-budget drama series with soaring ratings and NOT get an award (particularly when the rest of Eden all got awards), even if his acting is hardly the heart of the show, right?
Don’t get me wrong: Song Seung-heon has improved immensely over the span of his career. However, as mi madre says, “He had nowhere to go but up” since he started at the bottom of the barrel and has just now worked his way into “acceptable” range. But really, when the Daesang losers still win for Top Excellence, there’s no good reason to split the Daesang. (Unless, again, we’re going for sentiment and co-awarding Choi, but that’s a rare scenario indeed.)
WINNERS
Daesang/Grand Prize: Kim Myung-min (Beethoven Virus), Song Seung-heon (East of Eden)
Top Excellence (Actor): Jo Jae-hyun (New Heart), Jung Jun-ho (The Last Scandal of My Life)
Top Excellence (Actress): Lee Mi-sook (East of Eden),
Bae Jong-ok (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum)
Excellence (Actor): Lee Dong-gun (When Night Comes), Jo Min-ki (East of Eden)
Excellence (Actress): Han Ji-hye (East of Eden), Moon Sori (Golden Age of My Life)
New Actor: Park Hae-jin (East of Eden), Jang Geun-seok (Beethoven Virus)
New Actress: Lee So-yeon (Golden Age of My Life), Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)
Popular Actor: Song Seung-heon (East of Eden)
Popular Actress: Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)
Golden Actor Award, Miniseries Category: Ji Sung, Kim Min-jung (New Heart)
Golden Acting Award, Serial Drama: Park Geun-hyung (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum and East of Eden), Hong Eun-hee (Don’t Hesitate)
Golden Acting Award, Supporting Actor: Park Chul-min (New Heart and Beethoven Virus),
Shin Eun-jung (East of Eden)
Golden Acting Award, Mid-level actor: Yoo Dong-geun (East of Eden); Song Ok-sook (Beethoven Virus)
Best Couple: Song Seung-heon & Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)
Drama of the Year: Beethoven Virus
Special Child Actor Award: Park Gun-tae, Shin Dong-woo, Nam Ji-hyun (East of Eden)
Lifetime Achievement: Choi Jin-shil (The Last Scandal of My Life)
Special PD Award: Lee Soon-jae (Beethoven Virus); Yeon Jung-hoon (East of Eden)
Family Award: I Love You, Don’t Cry
Writer of the Year Award: Na Yeon-sook (East of Eden),
Hong Jin-ah, Hong Ja-ram (Beethoven Virus),
Kim Eun-hee (MBC Special)
Radio Top Excellence: Lee Moon-sae (This Is Lee Moon-sae In the Morning)
Radio Excellence: Kang-in (Good Friend); Kang Seok-woo (Women’s Era)
Radio Rookie Award: Kim Shin-young
So the big individual winners of the night were undoubtedly Kim Myung-min, Song Seung-heon, and Lee Yeon-hee:
But drama-wise, East of Eden was the most awarded, which isn’t surprising since it was one of MBC’s only hits in a lackluster year. To celebrate, its cast was (almost) all in attendance. Noticeably absent: dissatisfied actress Lee Da-hae. She and Dennis Oh (who was present) were also two of the only big names who didn’t get awards.
Song Seung-heon is looking mighty fine, but he tends to remind me of a robot. Like one of those burnished faces in A.I. — looking almost unnatural for its sculpted, angular beauty.
Lee Yeon-hee was one of the best-looking on the red carpet, but to be honest, she didn’t have much competition — everyone else was looking rather dull, frankly. Her dress is one of many boring black-or-white choices; very little color was seen at the awards, which makes everything seem all the more dull.
Han Ji-hye‘s heart-cutout dress seems a little too cutesy for the event, but given a night of uninteresting frocks and bland suits, she stands out with her fab makeup and hair.
Jo Min-ki (still gray for his ongoing role) and Yoo Dong-geun both collected awards for East of Eden:
Like everyone mentioned above, Lee Mi-sook and Park Hae-jin also won awards for East of Eden:
More awards for East of Eden! (Sometimes I think they create award categories just to allow all the cast members to get something.) Yeon Jung-hoon stands with fellow award-winner Lee Dong-gun, who took home a statuette for When Night Comes (although co-star Kim Sun-ah didn’t).
Congrats to the men and all, but can I just say: Yeon Jung-hoon, are you wearing a cummerbund? Without a tie? Who do you think you are, an orchestra member on a seniors singles cruise? In the ’80s??
A word to the wise: tapered pants look good on NO ONE. Dennis Oh proves that even very tall, fit men can look stumpy — er, at least, stumpier — with a bad pant cut.
As for the other big winner of the night: here we have the cast of Beethoven Virus, looking… uh, well, you decide:
For Kim Myung-min, I have no complaints. Congratulations, even if you do have to share the Daesang!
On the other hand: Jang Geun-seok.
You can almost count on Jang Geun-seok to come to a fancy event in a head-scratcher these days, given his track record. I mean, you have to try really, really hard to look so consistently awful. Not just bad, but laughably bad.
And yet he looks so PROUD of himself, perhaps for managing to wriggle into the shiny, fitted suit that looks cut for a woman? Or for figuring out how to wrap a dead animal around his neck at an appropriately jaunty angle?
Lee Jia looks similarly awful, but not quite laughably so. I tried really hard to find a picture of her looking good, but alas, it was not to be. It’s bad makeup, bad styling, bad fit, bad hair. Bad choices all around. Her weirdly hazy eye makeup gives her the appearance of bruises, or maybe the impression of having stayed up all night sobbing — at her Ice Capades-y dress, mebbe?
Award winner Jung Jun-ho (The Last Scandal of My Life):
Winner Kim Min-jung (New Heart), meh:
Winner Ji Sung (New Heart)
Everyone’s a winner! Jo Jae-hyun (New Heart) and Park Chul-min (Beethoven) both took home awards, although Juny (Beethoven Virus) did not. She looks cute in her billowy mini, though, even if I find myself concerned she’ll accidentally put herself in the way of a big gust of wind.
Bae Yong-joon (Legend), eh.
Yoon Eun-hye (Coffee Prince) did not come looking her best. The makeup looks messy, the hair is questionable, and, OH YEAH, she forgot her pants.
Bae Jong-ok (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum) goes for all-white, which may have stood out better at an awards show where everyone else didn’t wear all-white:
Lee Junki (Time of Dog and Wolf), YIKES. I mean, just, yikes. What is with the hair? I think Lee Junki tends to look better with longer hair, but he FORGOT TO GROW THE MIDDLE PART. It’s all long in front, and long in back, but short in between. Eek.
Okay, I’m going to give (skinny, pallid) Jung Il-woo (Return of Iljimae) a pass, even though he looks like he just crawled out of his sickbed to be here, not bothering to tuck in his clothing properly or brush his hair along the way. Because from all accounts of his work ethic, that’s probably exactly what he did.
Yoon Jin-seo, Jung’s Return of Iljimae co-star, is just another white dress in the mix. Her makeup is too plain, but I like her pop of color with the green heels.
Han Ji-min (Yi San) is a pretty, pretty lady:
Moon Sori (Golden Age of My Life) won for her current series:
Shin Sung-rok (Golden Age of My Life)
Lee So-yeon also won for Golden Age of My Life. Her dress is ugly. Like, leftover-prom-rack ugly.
Lee Hana (Women in the Sun), OY. It is becoming clear that she really needs a professional stylist consultation, stat. She hasn’t been looking too sharp at any of the awards ceremonies recently, and has again opted for a dress with an unflattering silhouette on her body, bad hair, and bad makeup. Lee Hana, you are a great actress and you do not have to dress to please us bitchy fans. On the other hand, us bitchy fans would really like to rave about how prettily attired AND talented you are, yunno?
Lee Yoon-ji (Great King Sejong) grins wide for the camera:
Hong Eun-hee (Don’t Hesitate) may be pregnant, but she’s gorgeous and glowing. Although that dress kind of looks a lot like Han Ye-seul’s from the Korean Film Awards, no?
Lee Yuri (I Love You, Don’t Cry), eh. It might have been all right without the big fat bow, though.
Kang Seok-woo won in the radio category; Choi Bul-am (Gourmet):
Lee Jung-jin came with his co-star Kim Chang-sook (I Love You, Don’t Cry):
And East of Eden even swept the child category — all three winners were featured in the earlier childhood segments: Nam Ji-hyun, Park Gun-tae, and Shin Dong-woo.
Seo Shin-ae (Thank You) is ADORABLE. And she shows how child actors can be cute, age-appropriate, AND fashion-forward. I love the cut of this jacket on her, and the festive color amidst an otherwise drab color palette for the evening.
Via Mk.co.kr
Tags: awards, Bae Yong-joon, Beethoven Virus, Choi Jin-shil, Dennis Oh, East of Eden, Han Ji-hye, Han Ji-min, Jang Geun-seok, Ji Sung, Jung Il-woo, Jung Jun-ho, Kim Min-jung, Kim Myung-min, Lee Dong-gun, Lee Hana, Lee Jia, Lee Jun-ki, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Yeon-hee, Moon Sori, New Heart, Seo Shin-ae, Shin Sung-rok, Song Seung-heon, The Last Scandal of My Life, Yoon Eun-hye, Yoon Jin-seo
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1 Gukku
December 30, 2008 at 1:58 PM
EOE got most of the awards which makes even an EOE vivid watcher feel a little uncomfortable. No need to say, LYH's hair is .. ugly. The line is not straight and it's long enough to make her much older (maybe to suit more with SSH?).
I like HJH's hot mama dress. :) Colors of shirt and tie of YDG are interesting though, red and apple green.
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2 yaaaahhhhhhhhhhh
December 30, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I hate SSH.
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3 Carolyn
December 30, 2008 at 2:07 PM
I was about to say that Lee Yeon Hee's dress was actually pretty interesting, and that lack of color didn't necessarily mean boring...until I saw the rest of the dresses. What a weird coincidence that everyone wore black/white...
Lee Jia, poor honey, looks like prom princess, circa 1980. That look might have been salvaged if she'd done something with her hair instead of leaving it down. Also, that third picture of her, where the bottom portion of the dress is cut out, is actually pretty lovely, which leads me to suspect that if the dress wasn't ball-gown-shaped, it might have been a hit than a miss.
Lee Junki's hair is bordering dangerously close to "mullet." o_x
The sad thing is most of these ladies' gowns are individually interesting and pretty, but all together, not one worth noting, except... I quite like Han Ji-hye's, though. That dress, although "cutesy," the black color, short length, and open back (love that back!) makes it not too terribly saccharine -- it's kind of sultry and grown-up. Winning look of the night for me.
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4 Javabeans
December 30, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Ooh, you're right Carolyn! Lee Jia's dress is so much better in the waist-up shot. If this were a Hollywood rom-com, she could come out wearing the horrendous poofy "ugly" dress, then somehow rip off the offending tulle, and presto! Instant sexy mini. (Unfortunately, she would still have bad hair and makeup.)
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5 cullenhale
December 30, 2008 at 2:14 PM
i LOVE East of Eden (despite its flaws) but yeah....I don't think they deserved that many awards only awards I agree with were the ones given to han ji hye,park jae hin and yoo dong guen...they are amazing in in their roles...lee yeon hee has actually gotten better over the series
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6 cc
December 30, 2008 at 2:17 PM
....... SSH got Daesang with KMM? That's just SAD... You gotta be kidding?
So disappointed about Kim Bum...so sad MBC didn't include him in the child category or BEST NEW ACTOR category?
I don't like LJK's hairstyle..hopefully it'll be something different tonight at the SBS Awards ceremony.
Yeon Jung-hoon looks great! I like his suit~ ^^
I like HJH's dress too. :)
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7 frizzy
December 30, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Thank you, SSH for ruining the credibility of the Daesang.
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8 dramafreak19
December 30, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Why does Jang Geun Suk DO these kinds of things to himself??? I laughed for like 5 minutes at his getup...
Lee Jun Ki's hair makes it so that he looks HOT from some angles and WIERD from others...hopefully, it's not here to stay.
Is it just me or did Lee Jia gain a lot of wieght? She was stick thin in Beethoven Virus...
I have no comments over SSH or KMM, because I didn't bother with the mammoth undertaking of 54 episode East of Eden and I ditched Beethoven Virus after 7 episodes because I couldn't stop rolling my eyes and shaking my head at the screen....
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9 kamol
December 30, 2008 at 3:05 PM
555 I'm supported all comment of your about his and her outfit and make up.
I think Lee Jia 's dress very very ugly and her face & hair too.
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10 otk
December 30, 2008 at 3:08 PM
good show although I hate the daesang sharing thing but w/e ...MBC is an unexpecting broadcaster =( they just had to save EoE out of the blue but I am glad LYH & SSH won best couple and their other awards ...when she was cryin :) big step for her but she's getting slapped by critics :(
ummm LDH is kinda rude for not coming but I understand her awkward situation..I guess they did not pay attention to her but She will hopefully take a blow next year ....
but ya that has been the only award show that i woke up early to look at ....even though it had like 30 min ? of cm in between.
LYH was cute when she sang in the opening
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11 megalove
December 30, 2008 at 3:09 PM
OMG PEOPLE YOU ARE REALLY OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE SO MAD CAUSE SSH AND LYH WON THE AWARDS, AND IS CAUSE LDH IS OUT PLEASE BE MATURE!!!
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12 OMG
December 30, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Why? Why?
Why does Kim Myung-min have to share the spotlight with him?
I don't see it, but whatever.
And for God's sakes, JANG GEUN SUK!!!!!!
Why? I laughed at first, and then I was just overcome with sadness.
How could he choose his wardrobe so wrong? How could he? If he has a stylist, please, please JGS, fire her.
In Come to PLay, he said that he always has to go out wearign the right outfit...how is THAT the right outfit?
Allhis prettiness, and cute smile is ruined under that pile of junk that you call FUR!!!!
T_T sadnessssssssss
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13 otk
December 30, 2008 at 3:13 PM
oh i forgot to talk abt JGS....
but dont hate me for sayin this (all fangirls) WHYWAS HE OVER THE TOP...very weird attire and hair ......
PHJ rocks am glad he won the newcomers (not the same words for GS)
but as #8 expressed I heard that BV was a complete flip due to the girl not choosing the one the viewers want her to pick.....but too bad Eden did not win best drama =( I guess BV might be better than eden in some aspects but I dont know about the level of acting due to Eden having a high performance
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btw Lee Yuri is such a pretty actress ....why hasnt anyone paid attention to her...She's quite unpopular from what I know...due to no one subbing her day time drama "I love you , dont cry"
I hope she becomes popular fast ...I want her in a major drama
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14 Gukku
December 30, 2008 at 3:19 PM
OMG LYH's fans are coming with the cap letters. Oops scaring me .. :)
Who knows who is ruder? LDH who did not come to the awards, or MBC who took her picture from the official poster hanging in the awards. She's still one female lead and participated till episode 40th but they took her pix out like she's playing a role similar with Ki Sun. lol . Just took her pix out like she's never in the drama or just acted totally a minor, side role.
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15 thua
December 30, 2008 at 3:30 PM
I love her acting, but is Han Ji-hye trying to look like the ultimate b!@#$ of the town or what? lol.
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16 kk
December 30, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Ji Sung is looking really really pretty.
No offense, but Lee Jia's dress kinda makes her look frumpy and we all know she's a pretty little thing.
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17 chimmy
December 30, 2008 at 3:41 PM
This whole sharing of the daesang award is just driving me nuts!
How can SSH compare with KKM, for goodness sake! SSH doesn't even come close to KMM's performance! Sorry, SSH fans but pppuullleeezzz!!
Uh, ok. It's MBC's fault. :(
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18 selva
December 30, 2008 at 3:48 PM
lol what a Daesang that is shared between two actors o_O
I saw some of EOE and (one or 2 eppies) of BV... and I say that SSH DOESN'T deserve the Daesang!!!
he might deserves the best actor award (whateva) but a Daesang!! C'mon MBC!!
LYH... she looks absolutely stunning... simple and sophisticated (not boring). I couldn't take my eyes off her (and I'm a girl BTW) lol...
YJH I actually liked his suit. made him stand out among all the black ties :P
JGS my gosh... I had the wtf expression on my face for like 5 minutes upon seeing his hideous look <_<
the same goes w/ LJA... her dress makes her look fat seriously!! and her make-up makes her look sick!!
BYJ always looks the same in all of his awards... the same suite, the same glasses and the same long ponytail hair!
and Lee Hana... what's up w/ the lipstick, seriously *sigh*
and Kim Bum :( I was like wtf where's his award? he's even better than the adult DC :(
anyway, MBC totally disappointed me this year... 1st poor LDH's departure and now this BS award!!! way to go MBC!!
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19 dramafreak
December 30, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Thanks Javabeans, had a good laugh with Jang Geun-seok...^o^
I think Ji Sung looks great though, especially the 2nd picture. Too hot!
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20 robbo4
December 30, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Though the pictures don't do her justice, I think that Lee Yoon Ji is as pretty and talented as any actress in the Korean Drama world. It was also nice to see Seo Shin Ae back in the public eye prior to the release of her new series. I'm hoping that she'll continue to please us for a good long time.
Lastly, as long as Yoon Eun Hye was going to come "forget to wear her pants", couldn't she have done without the black hose so that we may get another gander at those amazing legs??!!
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21 yee
December 30, 2008 at 4:36 PM
LYH and HJH were the best dressed there. LYH performance was really good. She's so cute^^
I loved when she was walking around with the bouquet of flowers she headed pass SSH and he couldn't help but smile. :)
I think everyone thought she was going to head the bouquet to SSH but instead she gave it to her on screen dad.
So happy that LYH and SSH won best couple! Congratulations to everyone who won!
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22 otk
December 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM
@#14 Gukku
"Who knows who is ruder? LDH who did not come to the awards, or MBC who took her picture from the official poster hanging in the awards. She’s still one female lead and participated till episode 40th but they took her pix out like she’s playing a role similar with Ki Sun. lol . Just took her pix out like she’s never in the drama or just acted totally a minor, side role."
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I felt the same way when "hateful love"'s video came out and I got pretty mad when I saw every main character there on the wall except Young ran...
I understand that MBC is completely "boycotting" LDH but she'll be doing well off...... she was basically doing a favour to MBC by not showing up ....think about it ...
buteven though I strongly support MBC due to me being a huge fan of their dramas ....I gotta say The LDH thing really changed my views
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23 Nicole
December 30, 2008 at 4:41 PM
awww... even though she is a bit too thin for my liking, Han Ji Hye looks so stunning in Marc Jacobs!!! I love that dress (so I'm a bit biased), but I agree that it is a bit too cutesy for the event!
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24 hhg998
December 30, 2008 at 4:43 PM
MBC awards is filled with lots of controversy.It is a real irony with SSH being there with with KSM for the Daesang. His acting is sure not on par to be standing next to KSM for that award. He should have got something lower instead. EOE just won too many awards that is not justified. Too much scandal going for MBC BTS with its EOE drama. This is all BS from MBC.... I agree with javabeansdrama on the meaningless of this Hooha awards...
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25 lala
December 30, 2008 at 4:46 PM
WOW! I didn't know that they took LDH out of the official EOE poster. I guess it kind of makes sense since she didn't have that much on screen time. She's now just considered a minor role. Why didn't she show up? Was she even invited? I'm thinking not since she probably cause MBC too much trouble.
And why are people hating on SSH? He did an amazing job on EOE! He totally deserved to win!
btw LYH looks gorgeous as always. HJH looks pretty and her eyes really stand out, great make-up
As for guys SSH was the best dressed out of all the guys. SSH looks handsome in his suit :)
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