Korean actress that stole the limelight at the 2023 Blue Dragon Awards
Let's take a look at the actresses who received awards this year, along with their outstanding film careers.
On the evening of 24th November 2023, The 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony officially took place, where we bear witness to a star-studded lineup of celebrated Korean actors, actresses and personalities.
Besides the Daejong Awards, which focuses on films with academic value, the Blue Dragon Awards is considered the most prestigious and the oldest award ceremony that pay homage to the most popular and hit blockbuster films of the year.
And this year, the actresses including Jung Yoo Mi, Go Min Si, Kim Hye Soo and more stole the limelight with their superb acting and elegant style. In celebration of these women, let's take a look at the actresses who received awards this year, along with their outstanding film careers.
The person honoured as Best Actress for this year's Blue Dragon Awards is Jung Yoo Mi for her role in Sleep, a black comedy horror mystery thriller film. On stage receiving the award, the actress expressed her gratitude for receiving the prestigious gold trophy. This is a meaningful reward after 20 years of acting.
"I am sincerely grateful to the audience who watched the movie Sleep in theatres and to those who supported me. I learned a lot and I am very grateful to director Yoo Jae Seon - who gave me the role.
I want to share the honour of receiving this award with the film crew for Sleep. I also want to thank my senior and fellow actress Kim Hye Soo. 10 years ago, if I hadn't met my seniors, I don't know if I would have continued to be an actor. I think I can reach this position now thanks to her. I will always support my seniors in the future."
Yoo Mi is highly appreciated by fans for her seriousness and versatility in various roles. She talked about her career perspective in Chosun (a South Korean daily paper): "The acting profession does not require special courage or sacrifice. I consider it my job, and my responsibility is to make the story interesting."
Notable film works: The Crucible (2011), Train to Busan (2016) and Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019), Oki's Movie (2010), Our Sunhi (2013).
The Best New Actress award went to Go Min Si for the movie Smugglers, where the story revolves around an action crime of haenyeo who gets caught up in smuggling against the background of a peaceful small sea village.
After 7 years, it seems that the award is still a surprise to the actress. She couldn't believe her ears and almost fell backwards when she stepped on stage. Her funny moments were widely shared on social media, turning her into a "meme god" during this year's awards season. Go Min Si was confused while standing on stage giving a speech, and was encouraged by actress Kim Hye Soo, “You can take some time to think while speaking. You look very different from your confident appearance on screen. So beautiful."
Receiving Kim Hye-soo's praise, Go Min-si calmed down and said, “In Smugglers, the transformations of actresses Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah are as natural as air. We wouldn't be able to fully express our characters without the two of them." She also expressed her feelings for Kim Hye-soo, “I am very grateful to be able to receive Best New Actress, a precious and shining award that I can only receive once in my life, from my senior Hye-soo".
Notable film works: Youth Of May, Sweet Home, Love Alarm, The Witch: Part 1 - The Subversion.
The film Cobweb, a South Korean period black comedy-drama film, brought Yeo Bin the Best Supporting Actress award.
Appearing in various independent films, few people know that Jeon Yeo Bin previously studied Broadcast Entertainment at Dongduk Women's University and dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood. Her first supporting role was in the short film The Best Director after accidentally being discovered by director Moon So Ri. To date, she has been successful in many independent films, while aiming for the image of a strong, sharp woman.
Notable film works: After My Death, Vincenzo (2021), Night in Paradise (2021), A Time Called You (2023).
The 44th Blue Dragon Awards marks the last time Kim Hye Soo took on the hosting role for the ceremony, which she has done for 30 years. Over the past three decades, except for 1998, the award ceremony has all featured the combination of Kim Hye Soo and a male MC.
As an actress, Kim Hye Soo won the Best Actress award three times (1993, 1995 and 2006) and became the youngest winner of this award in Blue Dragon history for the film First Love.
Actor Jung Woo Sung presented the special Blue Dragon Goddess trophy to Hye Soo. On her departure, Hye Soo said, "It has been my great honour and pleasure as an actor to spend time over 30 editions of the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
"I would like to send many thanks to those who support Korean films and I hope the audience will have a good memory of the Blue Dragon Film Awards.”
Winning the Popular Star award alongside actor Song Joong Ki, Kim Seon Ho and Jo In Sung, Park Bo Young attracted the public's attention through her natural beauty, showing no traces of time. The past year has been an active period for Bo Young who has acted in various roles including Daily Dose of Sunshine and Concrete Utopia. She continuously appeared on screen with stand-out roles, leaving the audience impressed time and again.
Notable film works: Daily Dose Of Sunshine, Concrete Utopia, Strong Girl Bong-soon.
