Actor Park Hae-soo has claimed the Grand Prize at an awards ceremony for the first time since his debut.
Park Hae-soo won the Grand Prize at the 2026 Korea Drama Awards, held on October 10 at the Main Hall of the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do. The Grand Prize was chosen from among the nominees for Top Excellence in Acting in both male and female categories.
As the flagship event of the 2026 Korea Drama Festival, this ceremony was hosted and organized by the Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jinju City. The winners were determined by evaluations from a professional panel of judges and the organizing committee, alongside results from prior fan voting.
Taking the stage upon winning, Park Hae-soo could not hide his surprise, saying, "I truly did not expect this." He continued, "I wanted to be here with a happy heart because being nominated alongside Hee Jun hyung offered a moment to introduce 'The Scarecrow' to people once again." He added, "I came wanting to make the occasion shine, but you have given me such a truly, truly heavy award. I will work hard to become an actor who can prove his worth."
His comments toward Lee Hee Jun, who was also nominated, also drew laughter at the venue. Park Hae-soo expressed his gratitude, saying, "Because my beloved older brother Lee Hee Jun was right there beside me, I was able to act," before joking, "I thought you were giving us the Best Couple Award." Regardless of the actual award category, it was a moment that showcased his affection for Lee Hee Jun, with whom he shared the screen.
Park Hae-soo then addressed the incident depicted in "The Scarecrow," which is based on a true story, saying, "There are still many people who carry pain and wounds."
He also expressed his appreciation to the writer and director of the project, stating, "To the writer, for whom holding the pen must have been difficult, and the director, for whom taking up the megaphone must have been difficult." He shared his feelings on taking part in the production, adding, "Thank you so much for enabling me to play that role." Concluding his remarks, he shared his resolve for the future: "I will become a good person as a good actor."
Park Hae-soo, who met audiences as Prosecutor Baek Dong-hoon in "The Price of Confession" and Detective Kang Tae-joo in "The Scarecrow," received recognition for his major acting accomplishments of the year through this Grand Prize win.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)