Yeom Hye-ran

South Korean actress (born 1976) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeom Hye-ran

Yeom Hye-ran (born October 30, 1976) is a South Korean actress, with a portfolio of film, television, and theatre performances.[4] Yeom began her career in theater in 1999 and made her screen debut in 2003. She has since played supporting roles in film and television, notably Dear My Friends, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016), I Can Speak, The Most Beautiful Goodbye (2017), Life (2018), When the Camellia Blooms, Innocent Witness (2019), Chocolate (2019–2020), The Uncanny Counter (2020–2023), The Glory (2022–2023), Mask Girl (2024), and When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025).

Quick Facts Born, Education ...
Yeom Hye-ran
Thumb
Yeom in April 2024
Born (1976-10-30) October 30, 1976 (age 48)
Yeosu, South Korea
EducationSeoul Women's University – Department of Korean Language & Literature
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Agent(s)Ace Factory[1]
Spouse
Undisclosed
(m. 2005)
[2]
Children1[3]
Korean name
Hangul
염혜란
Hanja
廉惠蘭
Revised RomanizationYeom Hyeran
McCune–ReischauerYŏm Hyeran
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Early life

Yeom was born on October 30, 1976, in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. She comes from a family of farmers and her mother was also a market rice seller.[5]

Yeom's original career aspiration was to be a Korean language teacher.[6] Hence she attended Department of Korean Literature of Seoul Women's University,[7] where she discovered her love of acting as member of college theater club.[6][7]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

Debut and early careers

By chance, Yeom saw flyers of member recruitment from Yeonwoo Theater Company (Yeonwoo Mudae).[note 1] In 1999, she auditioned and was accepted as a member. The following year, Yeom debuted as an actress with the play "Teacher Choi" (최선생).[8][9]

Yeom made her screen debut in Bong Joon-ho's film Memories of Murder, which was released in 2003. It was during Yeom's portrayal of So-hyeon's mother in Yeonwoo's play This Lee (이 爾) that Director Bong witnessed her talent and invitated her to audition in his film.[10][11]

In 2003, Yeom took part in a play produced by the theater company Iwa-sam, written and directed by Jang Woo-jae.[12] The play, titled The Charyeoksa and the Accordion, depicts the story of an accordionist who wanders around the country looking for his runaway wife, his honest friend Cha Charyeoksa, a third-rate theater actor Yang Yang-sook, and a naive virgin girl called Sunny. Yeom's performance as Sunny was praised as chilling.[13]

It is a play called Charyeoksa and Accordion. I played the character 'Sunny' in the play, and it is an innocent and pure character. To the point of being stupid to other people. It resembles my favorite movie, 'Gelsomina from The Road'. I thought deeply about my sincerity while doing the piece.

Yeom Hye-ran about her most sincere work, 2019 Marie Claire Interview.[14]

The play was selected as 2003 Culture and Arts Promotion Agency New Artist Support and had an encore performance in 2004 thanks to the audience's response. Yeom reprised her role Sunny in the encore performance.[15] In December 2004, Yeom won Popular Actress Award from 1st Beautiful Play Award voted by theater netizen for her performance as Sunny.[16][17]

Theater Iru and award-winning theater works

In 2004, former Yeonwoo member, Son Ki-ho established Theater Company Iru (극단 이루) based in Seondol Theater. Yeom and fellow actress Woo Mi-hwa followed him to be founding members. Iru first founding performance was the play "Ask the Blind Father for Directions" (하류인생에도 삶은 있어). Written and directed by Son Ki-ho, it premiered on June 4 at Dongsung Stage Small Theater in Daehangno, Seoul, and ran until July 4, 2004. The story centered in a family of three consisting of a son, So Seon-ho who was diagnosed by cancer with a parent with disability. Yeom acted as Seon-ho's mother, opposite Kim Hak-sun who acted as the father.[18] Yeom was praised for her performances and even called as the second Hwang Jung-min.[19] Her costar also praised her performance and said,

Hye-ran is an actress who can act as if memories of the past flood in at once, like a shaman receiving a reception.

Kim Hak-sun[19]

The play "Ask the Blind Father for Directions" (하류인생에도 삶은 있어) won an award at The 16th Geochang International Theatre Festival and received support from the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture. From March to July 2005, Yeom reprised her role in the play "Ask the Blind Father for Directions" at National Theater, Seoul Arts Theater and other theaters.[20] In February 2006, Yeom won the Rookie Award at the 42nd Dong-A Theater Award for her role in the play.[21][22]

In 2008, Yeom acted as Park Mi-cheon in Son Ki-ho's play "The person who lived in Gampo, Deokyi, and Yeolsu" (감포사는 분이, 덕이, 열수). She reprised the role in 2009.[23] In 2009, at the 14th Hee-seo Theater Award,[note 2] Yeom won the Expected Theater Actress Award.[24]

In May 2010, Iru's play "The person who lived in Gampo, Deokyi, and Yeolsu" performed at the 2010 Seoul Theater Festival. Yeom won Acting Award and the play won Popularity Award.[25][26]

Venture into small screen and other recent projects

Yeom debuted in television with Noh Hee-kyung's drama Dear My Friends in 2016. Directed by Hong Jong-chan, it had star-studded casts, starring Go Hyun-jung, Kim Hye-ja, Na Moon-hee, Go Doo-shim, Park Won-sook, Youn Yuh-jung, Joo Hyun, Kim Young-ok and Shin Goo.[27] Yeom acted as Soon-yeong, adopted eldest daughter of Moon Jung-ah (played by Na Moon-hee), who struggled with domestic violence.[28] Yeom was praised for her daughter-mother lasting impression performance with Na Moon-hee.[29]

She was cast in the drama by chance. Writer Noh Hee-kyung came to watch Na Moon-hee's play Goodnight Mom, where Yeom played her daughter, Jessi. After watching her performance in the play, writer Noh offered her role in her upcoming drama, trough Na.[24]

"Teacher Na Moon-hee and the writer are very close, so they came to see the performance. Dear My Friends was in the planning stage, and she said that it would be nice to appear. Thanks to practicing and performing together, it was a great help to the drama. If I had met her for the first time during the drama filming, I would have frozen in front of her since he was a senior I respect so much."[24]

In the same year, Yeom acted as a villain in her next drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. She took on the role of Ji Yeon-sook, Ji Eun-tak's maternal aunt who bullied her niece Eun-tak (played by Kim Go-eun) for her sister's death insurance.[3][30] Ji was a villain, but somehow Yeom lively acting, which makes people laugh, was a feat to watch.[31]

In 2017, Yeom reunited for the second time with Noh Hee-kyung and director Hong Jong-chan with four episode dramas The Most Beautiful Goodbye. It was a remake of the drama of the same name by Noh that aired in 1996 on MBC. Yeom played Shin Yang-soon, Kim Geun-deok's wife, acted opposite Yoo Jae-myung, who played Kim Geun-deok, In-hee's brother.[32] In 2018, Yeom worked for the third time with Noh Hee-kyung's drama Live as Yeom Sang-soo's mother (role played by Lee Kwang-soo).[33] Yeom also reunited for the third time with director Hong Jong-chan in drama Life as Kang Kyung-ah, manager of Sangkook University Hospital. It was written by Lee Soo-yeon [ko].[34]

In the same year, Yeom also had reunion project with Na Moon-hee in feature film I Can Speak. She played market shop owner Jin Ju-daek, who has close relationship with main character, Na Ok-bun (Na Moon-hee). Yeom was cast in I Can Speak after the casting director watched the audition video for Secret Sunshine from a decade ago.[35]

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Yeom in December 2019

In 2019, Yeom starred as supporting role in drama When the Camellia Blooms. Yeom acted as Hong Ja-young, a sophisticated divorce lawyer and wife to Gyu-tae (played by Oh Jung-se).[36] Hong Ja-young is a confident and charismatic woman, who also had trust issues with her husband. Her acting in the drama garnered favorable reviews from viewers who see her character as girl crush, affectionately called the nation older sister.[37][38] Her chemistry with Oh, made them won Best Couple at KBS Drama Awards, in which she won Best Supporting Actress Award. Yeom also received nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 7th APAN Star Awards and 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.[39]

In 2021, Yeom starred in OCN drama The Uncanny Counter with Jo Byung-gyu, Yoo Jun-sang, and Kim Se-jeong. Yeom acted as Choo Mae-ok, a former photographer, who had powerful healing abilities. She joins the Counters after being possessed by her Son Su-ho's spirit.[6] Yeom received Best Supporting Actress Award at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for this role.[40]

After over two decades of debut, Yeom had her first title role in Bae Jong-dae's mystery film Blacklight, which was released in February 2021.[41][42] Produced by One Take Film, New Life, it depicts two women who their fate entangled through their husbands' car accidents. Yeom acted as Yeong-nam, a single mom, who had to care for daughter and her comatose husband.[9] Yeom garnered critical acclaim for her role and nominated in 8th Wildflower Film Awards and 30th Buil Film Awards. She won the Best Actress Award at the 21st Jeonju International Film Festival.[43]

In 2022, she starred in the Netflix revenge thriller web series, The Glory, starring Song Hye-kyo playing the role of Kang Hyeon-nam, a battered wife who became a revenge accomplice to Hye-kyo's character. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress Award at 58th Baeksang Arts Awards for this role.[44]

Personal life

In 2005 Yeom married her non-celebrity husband.[2] They have a daughter together. She gave birth in 2012 and took a break from acting for a while.[3]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
2003Memories of MurderSo-hyeon's mother
2004Fighter in the WindCircus troupe middle-aged woman
2006Les FormidablesTeacher Gong
Holiday
2007Our TownRice cake vendor
Secret SunshineHusband's family member
2008Open CityGarbage bag woman 1
201071: Into the FireFierce nurse
2011AlwaysBeauty parlor owner
2012All About My Wife
2014Sea FogShipowner's wife
2015The MagicianNanny
Salut d'AmourMilk woman
2017I Can SpeakJin Joo-daek
Man of WillVisitor
2018Golden SlumberStore middle-aged woman
Default
2019Innocent WitnessMi-ran[45]
Another ChildPregnant woman's mom
Miss & Mrs. Cops[45]
Juror 8[46]
Kim Ji-young: Born 1982Woman with scarf in the pastCameo
Baseball GirlShin Hae-sook
2020Best FriendWoman from Yeosu
Secret Garden Jung won's aunt Independent Film[47]
2021IMi-ja
New Year BluesYong-mi
Recalled Soo-jin's friend [48][49]
Black LightYoung-nam
Taeil Tae-il's Mother Animated Film[50][51]
2022 Special DeliveryMi-young[52]
Life Is Beautiful [53]
The Boys Kim Kyeong-mi Premiere at BIFF[54]
2023 Ungnam-i Jang Gyeong-sook Documentary film[55]
2024 Citizen of a Kind Bong-rim [56][57]
Amazon Bullseye Cha Soo-hyeon [58]
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Television series

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016Dear My FriendsKim Soon-young [59]
The K2Housekeeper
2016–2017Guardian: The Lonely and Great GodJi Yeon-suk [31]
2017Queen for Seven DaysChae-kyung's personal nursemaid [60]
Live Up to Your NameRestaurant owner Special appearance
Prison PlaybookYoo Han-yang's mother
The Most Beautiful GoodbyeYang-soon
2018LiveSang-soo's mother
Lawless LawyerNam Soon-ja
LifeKang Kyung-ah [61]
2019When the Camellia BloomsHong Ja-yeong [7]
2019–2020ChocolateNurse Ha
2020Hospital PlaylistMin-young's mother Special appearance
Mystic Pop-up BarGod of the Underworld
SF8Choi Jung-gil Episode: "The Prayer"
2020–2023The Uncanny CounterChoo Mae-ok [62]
2022 Alchemy of Souls mysterious middle-aged woman Special appearance [63]
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Web series

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Ref.
2014 Love Cells Dae-chung's landlord
2022 Juvenile Justice Oh Seon-ja
2022–2023 The Glory Kang Hyeon-nam [64]
2023 Mask Girl Kim Kyung-ja [65]
2025 When Life Gives You Tangerines Jeon Gwang-rye [66]
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Television show

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Ref.
English Korean
2024 My Name is Gabriel 마이 네임 이즈 가브리엘 Cast member [67]
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Theater

More information Year, Title ...
Theater play performance(s)
Year Title Role Theater Date Ref.
English Korean
2000 Choi Teacher 최선생 [68]
Living Double Life 살아있는 이중생 각하 Woo
  • Yeonwoo Small Theater
  • Samcheok Culture & Arts Center
  • Donghae Culture and Arts Center
September 16–October 24 [69]
(2000) Seoul International Children's Performing Arts Festival; love is the morning sun (2000) 서울국제어린이 공연예술제; 사랑은 아침햇살 Dongsung Arts Center Small Theater July 13–15 [70]
Lee 이 (爾) Wooin, Gisaeng, Court lady Culture and Art Hall Grand Theater November 18–28 [71]
2001 Guys, let's go to Yonggung - The play that the whole family can watch together <Rabbit Story> 얘들아, 용궁가자 - 온 가족이 함께 보는 연극놀이 <토끼전> Rabbit Yeonwoo Small Theater April 28–June 3 [72]
(2001) Seoul Children and Youth Performing Arts Festival; Guys, let's go to the dragon palace (2001) 서울 아동청소년 공연예술축제; 얘들아, 용궁가자 Rabbit Yeonwoo Small Theater July 11–August 26 [73]
(2001) SPAF Seoul Performing Arts Festival: Lee (2001) SPAF 서울공연예술제: 이 (爾) Wooin, Gisaeng, Court lady Culture and Art Hall Grand Theater October 13–18 [74]
Lee 이 (爾) Wooin, Gisaeng, Court lady Yeonwoo Small Theater November 8–December 9 [75]
(2001) Gwacheon Madang Theater Festival; Lee (2001) 과천마당극제; 이 (爾) Wooin, Gisaeng, Court lady Civic Center Grand Theater September 15–17 [76]
2002 Chosun Ilbo 'Can it be like this' 조선일보 '이럴수가 있나요' in-house wife Cultural Center Small Theater March 12–18 [77]
(2002) Seoul Children and Youth Performing Arts Festival; stamp (2002) 서울 아동청소년 공연예술축제 ; 스탬프 in-house wife Egg and Nucleus Small Theater July 20–21 [78]
2002–2003 Do you have a free room 빈방 있습니까 in-house wife Daehangno Information Theater December 10–January 5 [79]
2003 That person is like a radish 연극 저 사람 무우당 같다 Cultural Arts Promotion Agency Arts Theater Hakjeon Blue Small Theater April 4–20 [80]
That person is like a radish - encore performance 저 사람 무우당 같다 - 앵콜공연 Yeonwoo Small Theater April 25–May 25 [81]
Ahn Eun-mi and the Fisherman Project - (2003) Ahn Eun-mi's Dance·Seoul 안은미와 어어부프로젝트 - (2003) 안은미의 춤·서울 black plastic bag Seoul Arts Center Jayu Small Theater May 5–8 [82]
Charyeoksa and the Accordion 차력사와 아코디언 Sunny Small Theater Yeonwoo Stage September 17–28 [83]
Living Cool as a Couple 부부 쿨하게 살기 Kang Yoo-jeong Cheil Fire Cecil Theater October 22–25 [84]
Charyeoksa and the Accordion 차력사와 아코디언 Sunny Dongsung Arts Center Small Theater September 28–November 16 [85]
Small Theater Yeonwoo Stage Dec 17–28 [86]
2004 Ask the Blind Father for Directions 하류인생에도 삶은 있어 Mother Dongsung Arts Center Small Theater June 4–July 4 [19]
The 16th Geochang International Theatre Festival; Ask the Blind Father for Directions (제16회) 거창국제연극제; 눈먼 아비에게 길을 묻다 Mother Persimmon Theater August 1 [87]
Seoul International Performing Arts Festival; Charyeoksa and the Accordion 차력사와 아코디언 Sunny Daehangno Hakjeon Blue Small Theater August 8–24 [40]
October 8–13 [88]
Charyeoksa and the Accordion 차력사와 아코디언 October 28–November 28 [40]
2005 Ask the Blind Father for Directions 하류인생에도 삶은 있어 Mother National Theater Star Oreum Theater May 4–22 [89]
  • Jeonju Korea Sori Culture Center Myeongin Hall
  • Yeongdeok Yeju Culture and Arts Center
  • Changwon Seongsan Art Hall Small Theater
May 4–July 23
Seoul Arts Center Jayu Theater June 17–July 17 [90]
2006 When a man loves a woman 남자가 여자를 사랑할 때 Female, Kim Nam-soo Arko Arts Theatre Small Theatre June 16–July 2 [91]
2007 Incident 1980 사건발생 1980 Jeong-ja Theater Laboratory 1 Hyehwa-dong May 18–27 [92]
The incident occurred 사건발생 일구팔공 Jeong-ja Daehangno Showtic Theater 2 (Former Valentine's Theatre 2) July 20–August 19 [93]
Not love story 연애얘기아님 Mi-jin Daehak-ro guerilla theatre June 13–July 1 [94]
Reflection 반성 Shin Hye-seon Daehakro Theater The Other March 2–April 1 [95]
2008 The Person who Lived in Gampo, Deokyi, and Yeolsu 감포사는 분이, 덕이, 열수 Park Mi-cheon Seondol Theater in Daehangno, Seoul Oct 17–Nov 16 [96]
Stand on the Sunstone 선돌에 서다 Daehak-ro Sundol Theatre May 22–Jun 22 [97]
2009 The Late Horse in the Fountain 그 샘에 고인 말 A specialist Daehakro Arts Theatre Small Theatre December 3–16 [98]
Sakateyoji Festival - Attic Room 사카테요지 페스티벌 - 다락방 Arko Arts Theatre Small Theatre June 8–28 [99]
The Person who Lived in Gampo, Deokyi, and Yeolsu 감포사는 분이, 덕이, 열수 Park Mi-cheon Seondol Theater in Daehangno, Seoul April 13–May 17 [100]
2009–2010 Theater Heated Battle 3 - Mothers' Chatter 연극열전3 - 엄마들의 수다 Dongsung Art Center Small Theater December 18–February 28 [101]
2009–2010 Ask the Blind Father for Directions 하류인생에도 삶은 있어 Mother Seondol Theater in Daehangno, Seoul Sep 25–Jan 24 [102]
2010 Rhino - Ansan 코뿔소 - 안산 Ansan Culture and Arts Center Dalmaji Theater October 22–23 [103]
2011 Aerobics boys 에어로빅보이즈 Sun-ok Daehakro Arts Theatre Small Theatre January 5–7 [104]
The 32nd Seoul Theater Festival: If There's a Peach Blossom, Pine Flowers Will Fly (제32회) 서울연극제: 복사꽃 지면 송화 날리고 Seom Yeon-daek Arko Arts Theater Small Theater May 6–8 [105]
The Tears of a Mouse 쥐의 눈물 Mother (Suzu) Guro Art Valley Arts Theatre October 14–23 [106]
2011–2012 Good News in Our Neighbourhood 우리동네 굿뉴스 Seondol Theater in Daehangno, Seoul December 13–January 15 [107]
2012 The Snow of March 3월의 눈 Tong-Jang National Theater Company's Baek Seong-hee and Jang Min-ho Theater March 1–18 [108]
The Tears of a Mouse 쥐의 눈물 Mother (Suzu) Sowol Art Hall March 30–31 [109]
If There's a Peach Blossom, Pine Flowers Will Fly 복사꽃 지면 송화 날리고 Seom Yeon-daek Daehakro Arts Theater Main Hall April 7–15 [110]
The Song of Spring Flows in the Sea 봄의 노래는 바다에 흐르고 Namsan Arts Center Drama Center June 12–July 1 [111][112]
If There's a Peach Blossom, Pine Flowers Will Fly 복사꽃 지면 송화 날리고 Seom Yeon-daek Daegu Suseong Artpia Paper Hall August 10–12 [113]
2015 The Boy in the Last Row 맨 끝줄 소년 Juana Seoul Arts Center Jayu Theater November 10–December 3 [114]
'night, Mother 잘자요 엄마 Jessie Art One Theater July 3–August 30 [115]
2016 I Love You, Mom 사랑해 엄마 Mom Dongsung Art Center Puppet Theater January 15–February 28 [116]
Seondol Theater in Daehangno, Seoul March 8–April 24 [117]
2017 If There's a Peach Blossom, Pine Flowers Will Fly 복사꽃 지면 송화 날리고 Seom Yeon-daek Daehakro Arts Theater Main Hall May 27–June 4 [118]
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Accolades

Awards and nominations

More information Year, Award ...
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 1st Beautiful Award Popularity Award Charyeoksa and the Accordion Won [16]
2006 DongA Theater Award New Actress Award Ask Blind Father for Direction Won [22]
2009 Hi-seo Theater Award Expected Actress Award Yeom Hye-ran Won [24]
2010 Seoul Festival Theater Award Acting Awards The person who lived in Gampo, Deokyi, and Yeolsu Won [26]
2017 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actress I Can Speak Nominated [119]
2018 54th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actress (Film) Nominated [120]
2019 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Innocent Witness Nominated [121]
KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actress When the Camellia Blooms Won[122]
Best Couple with Oh Jung-se Won
2020 56th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actress (TV) Nominated [39]
56th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Innocent Witness Nominated [123]
2021 7th APAN Star Awards Best Supporting Actress When the Camellia Blooms Nominated [124][125]
57th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actress (TV) The Uncanny Counter Won [126][127]
Bechdel Day Bechdelian in Film Black Light Won [128]
30th Buil Film Awards Best Supporting ActressNominated [129]
21st Jeonju International Film Festival Best Actress Won [43]
29th Korea Culture Entertainment Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture Won [130]
8th Wildflower Film Awards Best Actress Nominated [131]
2023 59th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actress – Television The Glory Nominated [44]
59th Grand Bell Awards Best Actress Series Mask Girl Nominated [132]
8th Dong-A.com's Pick[note 3] That's insane! Acting Award Won [133]
2024 Director's Cut Awards Best Actress in a Series Won [134]
60th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actress – Television Won [135]
Best Supporting Actress – Film Citizen of a Kind Nominated [136]
3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards Best Supporting Actress Mask Girl Nominated [137]
Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards Won [138]
Seoul International Drama Awards Best Actress Won [139]
Asian Academy Creative Awards National Winner Best Supporting Actress Won [140]
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State honors

More information Country, Ceremony ...
Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given
Country Ceremony Year Award Ref.
South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[a] 2024 Presidential Commendation [144]
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Notes

  1. Yeonwoo Stage (연우무대), which means 'playing friend', started as a small group on February 5, 1977, and is Korea's representative theater company that has led the revitalization of creative plays in the Korean theater world. From the days of Sinchon to the present in Hyehwa-dong, Yeonwoo Stage has been working hard to realize the complete stage of novel creative works.
  2. The Hi-seo Theatre Award was named after Gu Hi-seo, a well-known theater critic. Prizes and bonuses for cultural artists were raised from the auction at the meta-dum wine party.
  3. Picked by entertaintment reporter
  1. Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[141][142] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[143]

References

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