Actor Zo In-sung has demonstrated his formidable presence by scoring nominations for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor with two different films at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Zo In-sung was nominated for Best Actor for "HOPE" and Best Supporting Actor for "Possible Love" at the upcoming 47th Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony to be held on November 25. His relentless run in 2026, releasing as many as three films starting with "Humint" followed by "HOPE" and "Possible Love," is bearing meaningful fruit.
It has also been a year where audiences came to see him as "So In-sung"—a play on his name and the Korean word for ox, reflecting his tireless work ethic. Working alongside Ryoo Seung-wan, Na Hong-jin, and Lee Chang-dong, some of Korean cinema's most prominent directors, he undertook demanding projects that required both action and deeply emotional acting. Although the shooting schedules for the three films differed, their release dates were all set for this year, allowing viewers to see Zo In-sung on screen more frequently than ever.
Above all, he received praise for showing diverse facets of himself that had not been seen before. In "HOPE," which earned him the Best Actor nomination, he delivered an action performance powered by visceral energy, serving as the central anchor of director Na Hong-jin's first sci-fi film.
Having secured the Best Actor nomination thanks to his standout performance in "HOPE," Zo In-sung will compete for the trophy against Yoo Hai-jin of "The King's Warden," Sul Kyung-gu of "Possible Love," Park Hae-il of "The Assassin(s)," and Koo Kyo-hwan of "Once We Were Us." With a lineup packed with actors who achieved meaningful results in both box-office success and critical acclaim this year, the competition is expected to be fiercer than in any other category.
In "Possible Love," he nestled into Lee Chang-dong's brand of realism with a performance that evoked both curiosity and a sense of dread. Although he could have easily been overshadowed by Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu, he accurately grasped the role and symbolism that director Lee Chang-dong assigned to him and delivered acting to match. He stood out particularly in bringing multi-dimensional depth to the character.
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for "Possible Love," he will compete against Eum Moon-suk of "HOPE," Koo Kyo-hwan of "COLONY," Oh Jung-se of "Wild Sing," and Lee Minho of "The Assassin(s)."
Zo In-sung previously won the Popular Star Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2017 for "The King." In 2023, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the film "Smugglers," but did not win. With nominations in two categories for two films in 2026, anticipation for a win is high.
Having attended both the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival this year with "HOPE" and "Possible Love," attention is focused on whether Zo In-sung can reap the sweet reward of a trophy at a domestic awards ceremony. The Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony will be held on November 25.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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