Actress Kim So-Yeon arrives for the opening ceremony of the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Busan Cinema Center on October 6, 2011 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo : Getty Images/Chung Sung-Jun)
Korean actress Kim So-Yeon nabbed the Grand Excellence Award called Daesang at the 2016 Korea Drama Awards. The prestigious event took place at the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center in Jinju City, South Gyeongsang Province.
On Oct. 7, Friday, the 35-year-old actress was honored with the top prize her lead role in MBC's "Happy Home." In the drama, Kim portrayed a bright and warm-hearted housewife, Bong Hae Ryung.
"Everyone, you cannot believe it right?" Soompi quoted Kim as saying before a predominantly Korean crowd. "I as well cannot believe this is happening, but thank you. I will unabashedly receive this award as I am not sure if such a day will ever come again in my lifetime."
The "Falling for Innocence" actress also expressed deep gratitude to the entire cast and crew of the MBC drama, to all her fans at home and abroad and to her family for their love and support. Notably, it was the first time Kim received the Grand Excellence Award since she debuted as an actress at the age of 14.
The annual event, organized by the Korea Drama Festival, honors outstanding actors who stood out in the local television screen. This year's Korea Drama Awards was co-hosted by Oh Sang-Jin and Kim Sae-Ron.
The Best Drama Award was given to KBS 2TV's "Descendants of the Sun," while tvN's "Dear My Friends" screenwriter No Hee-Kyung received the Best Drama Writer award, according to local newsoutlet OSEN, as cited by Naver. PD Kim Jin-Min, who helmed MBC's "Marriage Contract," was honored with the Best Director award.
Best new male actor and best new female artist were given to "The Flower in Prison" actor Seo Ha-Joon and "Mirror of the Witch" actress Kim Sae Ron, respectively. The best male performance was taken by SBS's "Doctors" actor Jang Hyun Sung and tvN's "Cinderella and Four Knights" star Ahn Jae-Hyun, with the best female performance given to Baek Jin-Hee, who starred in MBC's "My Daughter, Geum Sa Wol."
Check out Kim as Bong Hae Ryung in MBC's "Happy Home" below:
