Song Kang-ho makes a surprise appearance in place of director Park Chan-wook... Ahn Hyo-seop and In-soon-i receive the ”Beautiful Artist Award”

Director Park Chan-wook, singer In Soon-i, and actor Ahn Hyo-seop have been selected as recipients of the 2025 "Beautiful Artist of the Year" award.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, at Stage 28 in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, the Arts and Culture Foundation hosted
The award ceremony for the 15th Beautiful Artist Award was held on the same day. The ceremony was attended by Honorary Chairman Shin Young-gyun, who is close to turning 100, and this year's award winners, including Lim Kwon-taek and Lee Ji-hyun.
The event was attended by 200 leading artists from the fields of culture, theater, and film, including Jang Mi-hee, Uhm En-ran, Hwang Cin-ne, Lee Yong-ae, Song Kang-ho, and Hwang Jung-min, who all brightened up the event.
The award was established in 2011, the same year the Shin Young-gyun Arts and Culture Foundation was founded, and is given every year at the end of the year to artists who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of film, theater, meritorious service, pioneering film, independent film, or newcomers.
The awards have grown to include a total of 100 million won (approximately 14.2 million yen) in prize money and medals of 20 million won (approximately 2 million yen) each.
There are five award categories, and the winner of the Film Artist Award is this year's new work "
Director Park Chan-wook, who performed "It Can't Be Done," was selected. Director Park Chan-wook made his directorial debut with "The Moon... the Sun's Dream" in 1992, and has since directed "JSA" (2000) and "Old
He has made a significant contribution to the globalization of Korean films through over 20 films, including "Boy" (2003), "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" (2005), "The Handmaiden" (2016), and "The Goodbye" (2022).
In particular, "Helpless," which was released this year, was praised as the film that attracted the most attention from film festivals and audiences both in Korea and abroad, and will be selected as a representative film for Korean cinema at the Oscars (Academy Awards) ceremony to be held next year.
The film was also nominated for an award in the International Feature Film category. Actor Song Kang-ho accepted the Film Artist Award on behalf of director Park Chan-wook, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
Song Kang-ho has worked with director Park Chan-wook on films such as "JSA," "Sympathy for a Vengeful," and "Thirst." Hwang Jung-min, who was awarded the Motion Picture Artist Award last year, will be the recipient of the award.
The two actors stood side by side on the awards stage with bright smiles, catching the eye. Director Park Chan-wook was unable to attend, but shared his thoughts on receiving the award through a video.
The Good People Artist Award was given to In Soon-i, the "diva of the music industry," who has steadily demonstrated her good influence through good deeds, including establishing the "Haemil School" for young people from multicultural families.
This year, actor Ahn HyoSeop will be doing voice acting for the Netflix animation "KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters" and his first screen starring role in the film "Omniscient."
Ahn Hyo Seop, who attended the award ceremony, said, "I feel embarrassed when I have to speak in front of people I respect.
"I had prepared some words, but my mind went blank," he said. "The films I starred in, 'From the Point of View of an Omniscient Reader' and 'K-Pop Girls!
"'Demon Hunters' is a completely different story," he said, "but in the end they are connected by the same language, 'truth.'
I still don't really understand it, but acting is about trying to understand the world.
It's a way to live life to the best of my ability, even if it's not perfect, by experiencing someone's pain, joy, and many other emotions."
He continued, "What I felt was that the true heart can be conveyed beyond language.
"I think this award is a consolation for my faith. I'm grateful to everyone who listened to what I had to say. I still have a lot to learn, but I intend to learn."
The foundation said, "This award ceremony is to ensure that the dedication and passion of our senior artists is being passed on to the next generation of artists.
"It was a meaningful occasion to recognize the great contributions of Honorary Chairman Shin Yong-gyun," he said, adding, "We will continue to contribute to the development of Korean arts and culture, building on the spirit of Honorary Chairman Shin Yong-gyun."