Winning the KBS Rookie Awards has helped several actors become stars. Those past winners include actors such as Kim Soo Hyun, star of "You Who Came From The Stars," Joo Won, star of "Tomorrow Cantabile" and Lee Jong Suk, star of "Pinocchio." The winner generally gets a boost in his star power. Whose turn is it to benefit from the award this year?
KBS chooses its rookie award candidates by asking producers, writers and reporters for suggestions. Once an actor is nominated for this award they never get another chance. They can win a best actor award in the future but never again be in the running for a rookie award.
According to the Star News, the candidates for the award are Park Bo Gum, Park Hyung Sik, Seo Kang Joon, Seo In Guk, Son Ho Joon and Yoon Hyun Min.
Star News named Seo In Guk as a top pick for the award although he hardly seems like a rookie actor, having already aced a supporting role in "The Master's Sun" and a leading role in 2014 comedy "The King of High School Manners." He currently appears in his first historical drama, "The King's Face."
ZE:A's Park Hyung Sik impressed audiences last year, playing the younger Lee Jin Wook in "Nine: Nine Time Travels," and this year he appeared in "This Is Family," a drama with an almost 40 percent viewer rating.
Seo Kang Joon also appeared in that hit drama, plus this year he played a supporting role in "Cunning Single Lady" with co-stars Lee Min Jung and Joo Sang Wook.
Park Bo Gum, 21, played Lee Yoon Hoo in "Tomorrow Cantabile." Despite his young age, he's had a few drama and film roles, including an appearance in the 2014 hit film "The Admiral: Roaring Currents."
This year singer and actor Son Ho Joon appeared in two dramas. He had roles in "The Full Sun" and in "Trot Lovers." In the latter drama he played Joon Hyun's manager.
Yoon Hyun Min is also a likely candidate for the rookie award. He played Sung Joon's doctor colleague and Kim Seul Gi's childhood friend-turned boyfriend in the comedy "Discovery of Romance." His character had a winningly dry sense of humor.
All of these talented young actors deserve a prize for their work. Who will the winner be? The 2014 KBS Drama Awards will be given out on Dec. 31.
