Hyun Bin just picked up his first Blue Dragon Film Award ― and it’s a big one.
At the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards on Nov. 19 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, the Harbin star won Best Actor, beating out Lee Byung-hun ("No Other Choice"), Park Jung-min ("The Ugly") and Cho Jung-seok ("My Daughter Is a Zombie").
Visibly stunned when his name was called, Hyun Bin hugged director Woo Min-ho, co-star Park Jung-min and his wife Son Ye-jin before taking the stage.
“Thank you,” he began, noting that making Harbin taught him far more than just filmmaking. He first paid tribute to the patriots who sacrificed to protect Korea, saying any moment like this is possible because of their devotion and courage.
Hyun Bin admitted he initially turned down the role of independence hero Ahn Jung-geun, unsure he could shoulder the responsibility of portraying the pain, resolve and duty of that era. He credited director Woo Min-ho for convincing him to take it on, and thanked his teammates ― including Park Jung-min, Jeon Yeo-been and the entire cast and crew ― along with his family, team, fans and audiences for their steadfast support.
He closed with a heartfelt shout-out at home: “To Ye-jin, who gives me strength just by being, and to our son ― I love you and thank you.” He added that sharing the values we must protect and the history we should never forget with moviegoers made the journey meaningful.
Harbin chronicles the life of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, with Hyun Bin delivering a committed turn in the lead role. The film opened last December and drew 4.91 million admissions across Korea.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)