Jung Gun-joo Steals the Spotlight at APAN Star Awards with a Well-Deserved Win! 🏆✨

Hello Korea Fam! Jason Lee here, your resident Live Performance Specialist, and let me tell you, the stage was absolutely buzzing! The 2025 SEOULCON APAN STAR AWARDS just wrapped, and one rising star has undeniably cemented his status. We’re talking about none other than the incredibly talented Jung Gun-joo, who just snagged the coveted Short Drama Acting Award! Get ready to cheer, Global K-Fans, because this win is a testament to his undeniable presence.

The APAN STAR AWARDS, a grand celebration of K-drama excellence, was held on December 29 at the illustrious DDP Art Hall in Seoul. This prestigious event evaluated dramas across all platforms – terrestrial, general programming, cable, OTT, and web dramas – that aired from November 2024 to October 2025, honoring outstanding achievements across 19 categories. Naturally, it drew immense attention from K-drama enthusiasts both in Korea and around the globe. And this year, Jung Gun-joo’s incredible work truly shone through.

His impressive portrayal in KBS2’s ‘Turning a Corner’ earned him the well-deserved Short Drama Acting Award. This captivating single-episode drama tells the story of a road-view filming team member with an excellent sense of direction and a directionally challenged woman who discovers her father in a road-view image. Jung Gun-joo took on the role of Won Seo-hoo, a member of the road-view production team. His nuanced depiction of Won Seo-hoo’s complex inner world provided a solid emotional anchor for the entire drama, showcasing his profound acting capabilities.

Upon receiving his award, Jung Gun-joo shared his heartfelt sentiments, “I’ve attended many award ceremonies, but this is my first time standing on stage to receive an award. It feels both humbling and incredibly honorable to accept this award in front of senior actors whom I deeply respect.” He expressed his gratitude, saying, “I sincerely thank the APAN officials and the judges.” He also humbly acknowledged his team, adding, “Director Lee Hae-woo, the writer, all the staff members of ‘Turning a Corner,’ and my co-star Hee-jin – everyone worked so hard, and I feel like I am accepting this award on their behalf.” This truly reflects the spirit of collaboration that makes K-drama so special!

As a performance specialist, what truly stands out about Jung Gun-joo is his remarkable versatility. From the subtle emotional shifts in a short drama to the intense charisma of a thriller, he doesn’t just act; he *embodies* his characters, making every scene a captivating experience. This award is a testament to that incredible range and his continuous growth as an artist.

Indeed, Jung Gun-joo has truly filled 2025 with a diverse array of outstanding performances:

• 🎭 Early this year, he masterfully handled extreme emotional shifts in Channel A’s ‘Check-in Hanyang,’ driving the narrative with palpable tension.
• 🧠 In the TVING original series ‘One Week Before I Die,’ he meticulously controlled emotional highs and lows, adding depth and completeness to the work.
• 🗡️ More recently, in the Netflix series ‘The Plaza,’ released in June, he naturally exuded a raw charm with his restrained charisma and solid energy, significantly elevating the drama’s intensity.

From emotional depth to intense action, Jung Gun-joo is proving himself to be an actor with boundless potential. We at Hello Korea can’t wait to see what electrifying performances he brings to us next! Congratulations once again, Jung Gun-joo Sunbae!

Editor: Jason Lee 🎤

🇮🇩 Read in Indonesian: Click here