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| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-12-30 08:34:38
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- National MC Yoo Jae-suk won his ninth MBC Entertainment Award this year, bringing his career total of grand prizes to 21.
Yoo was named the top prize winner at the "2025 MBC Entertainment Awards" held Monday at the MBC Media Center Public Hall in Sangam-dong, western Seoul.
With the latest honor, Yoo has now received a total of 21 grand prizes, including awards from all three terrestrial broadcasters as well as the Baeksang Arts Awards.
"I received my first grand prize in 2005, and I received my 21st in 2025," Yoo said in his acceptance speech. "No one knows the future, and I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’ll keep trying until the end to reach 30."
He also thanked fellow cast members and staff of the variety show "How Do You Play?" including broadcasters Haha and Joo Woo-jae.
In particular, Yoo mentioned Park Jin-joo, Lee Mi-joo and actor Lee Yi-kyung, who recently left the program, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, and I sincerely appreciate you." His remarks drew attention as Lee Yi-kyung’s departure had recently stirred controversy.
Lee left the show last month following allegations related to his personal life and later claimed publicly that producers had suggested his exit. At another awards ceremony held in Taiwan earlier this month, Lee did not mention Yoo, briefly sparking rumors of discord between the two.
The MBC entertainment division faced multiple setbacks this year as well. Comedian Park Na-rae and SHINee’s Key, both regular cast members of "I Live Alone," suspended all broadcast activities after becoming embroiled in a so-called "injection aunt" controversy involving alleged illegal medical procedures.
As a result, the awards ceremony was hosted by Jun Hyun-moo and Jang Do-yeon, instead of the originally planned three-MC lineup that included Key.
After winning the Entertainer of the Year award, Jun said, "This is the first time I’ve attended an awards ceremony with such a heavy and apologetic heart."
"Viewers have consistently chosen 'I Live Alone' as one of Korea’s most beloved variety programs, but I feel that I, included, failed to live up to those expectations this year," he said, bowing in apology.
Jun added that the show would begin a "renewal project" in 2026 to present a changed image.
Kian84, who also received the Entertainer of the Year award, said, "I find myself choosing my words very carefully this time. The writers and producers of 'I Live Alone' have worked very hard, and I believe better days will come."
This year, five nominees — Jun Hyun-moo, Kian84, Jang Do-yeon, Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Yeon-kyung — received the Entertainer of the Year award.
MBC also posthumously presented an Achievement Award to late comedian Jeon Yoo-seong, who died in September, following a similar honor by KBS.
Comedian Kim Shin-young, who accepted the award on his behalf, said she would dedicate the award at Mount Jiri on Jan. 28, Jeon’s birthday.
The Viewer’s Choice Program Award went to "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-kyung," which also swept a total of six awards, including Best Couple.
Kim Yeon-kyung said she was grateful to receive such love for volleyball, a sport that typically draws limited attention, while chief producer Kwon Rak-hee called the show’s success "a true underdog miracle."
The following is a list of major award winners:
▲ Grand Prize: Yoo Jae-suk ▲ Entertainer of the Year: Jun Hyun-moo, Kian84, Jang Do-yeon, Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Yeon-kyung ▲ Entertainment Program of the Year: "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-kyung" ▲ Excellence Award (Male): Yoo Se-yoon ▲ Excellence Award (Female): Kim Sook ▲ Excellence Award (Radio): Tei ▲ Special Award: "The King of Mask Singer" ▲ Outstanding Award (Male): Koo Sung-hwan and Dex ▲ Outstanding Award (Female): Shin Bong-sun ▲ Outstanding Award (Radio): Kim Il-joong and Lee Sang-soon ▲ Producer MC Award: Boom ▲ Producer Special Award: Lee Yoon-seok ▲ Best Couple Award: Kim Yeon-kyung and Inkushi ▲ Achievement Award: the late Jeon Yoo-sung ▲ Multiplayer Award: Minho of SHINee ▲ Best Teamwork Award: Wonderdogs from "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-kyung" ▲ Popularity Award (Male): Park Ji-hyun ▲ Popularity Award (Female): Tzuyang ▲ Best Entertainer Award (Male): Lee Si-eon ▲ Best Entertainer Award (Female): Ok Ja-yeon ▲ Hot Issue Award: Boo Seung-kwan ▲ Special Award (Radio): Kwon Soon-pyo and Storypeak ▲ Special Award (Current Affairs/Education): Kim Ho-young, Kim Ah-young and the late producer Kim Dong-wan ▲ MC Award (Current Affairs/Education): Seo In ▲ Writer of the Year (Entertainment): Noh Min-sun of "How Do You Play?" ▲ Writer of the Year (Radio): In Soo-jin of "Women's Era with Yang Hee-eun and Kim Il-joong" ▲ Writer of the Year (Current Affairs/Education): Lee So-young, Lee So-jung and Park Go-eun of "Questions by Son Seok-hee 2 & 3" ▲ Rookie Award (Male): Choi Hong-man ▲ Rookie Award (Female): Kim Yeon-kyung ▲ Rookie Award (Radio): Eric of The Boyz
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