Her joy is apparent in a photo that was shared through social media, where she is sitting next to fellow honoree, IU.
Lee Jong Suk was also honored for his impact on the Korean Wave, as a top K-Drama star, whose projects continue to attract viewers. Prior to receiving the Prime Minister's Award, the announcer noted his the popularity of his roles in "I Can Hear Your Voice," "Pinocchio," and contribution to the renewed interest in Hallyu.
"Thank you for giving me such a big award," said Lee. "Each time I win an award, I become nervous. I usually say a short thank you speech.Thank you to my fans. I will pick a new work to begin acting in, soon."
Jun Ji Hyun was the recipient of the President's Award, along with DSP Media CEO Lee Ho Yeon. A popular actress of both drama and film, Jun experienced a resurgence in her career following the meteoric success of "My Love from the Star."
In 2015, the mother-to-be returned to film with Assassination. Jun recently noted that her appearance at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards would be her final event, before her maternity leave from promotional activities.
"I'm not sure it's okay to receive this big award," said Jun, humbly accepting the honor. "I'll communicate with fans and contribute to Korean pop culture, more."
International viewers were afforded the opportunity to witness the ceremony through an English subtitled live stream provided by Naver's V app.
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Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor at KDramaStars. She is also a contributing music writer at KpopStarz, MTV Iggy and other publications. When she is not listening to "Rhythm Ta," she can be found on Twitter. (@retrogirladdy).
