Kim Hye Soo, who has been the Blue Dragon Film Awards' host for the last 30 years, stepped down after hosting this year's ceremony which took place on November 24 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul.
During the event, all the presenters and winners expressed gratitude to Kim Hye Soo whenever they took the stage.
The highlight of the event was when actor Jung Woo Sung delivered a heartfelt speech to Kim Hye Soo and gave her a special trophy.
"It's a great honor to be here and watch Kim Hye Soo's final moment at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. But at this joyous moment, I'm also feeling a great deal of sadness. Letting go of the host Kim Hye Soo feels like parting ways with a long-time partner."
"The Blue Dragon Film Awards has been Kim Hye Soo herself and vice versa for the last 30 years. We award this trophy with 'the Blue Dragon Film Awards' engraved on it to Kim Hye Soo, the woman of the Blue Dragon Film Awards forever.", said Jung Woo Sung.
Kim Hye Soo gracefully took the trophy and said, "I really didn't expect this. It says, from 1993 to 2023, the Blue Dragon Film Awards. I've received several awards, but this one is the most valuable and meaningful to me."
"I was worried that the engraving would say, 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. If so, I was going to say that I would not consider getting it until at least 30 years from now. But it said, 'From 1993 to 2023, the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Kim Hye Soo', and I was deeply touched.", she reportedly said.
Kim Hye Soo has been hosting the ceremony for 30 years, so there is no doubt that she deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award.
However, since the Lifetime Achievement Award usually goes to older performers for their contributions to the field during their lifetimes, Kim Hye Soo, still 53 and active in her field, did not want the award.
So, the actress, often called the 'goddess of the Blue Dragon', got a trophy that fits her perfectly.
(SBS Star)