He brought home his first “Daesang” in his entire acting career.
At the “KBS Drama Awards 2024”, where KBS celebrated another wonderful year of K-Drama production, veteran actor Lee Presto Jae took home a significant award with The dog knows everything.
In The dog knows everythinga unique K-Drama celebrated for its senior cast, the 90-year-old actor played a disgraced celebrity who could hear a dog. Boasting his chemistry with Sophie the dog, played by Ari the labrador retriever, Lee Soon Jae has received a huge amount of love for his quirky character.
And for this role, Lee Soon Jae won his first ever award Daesang at the “Drama Awards” on January 11, 2025 (KST)!
Here are all the winners of the “KBS Drama Awards 2024”
After recovering from a recent health issue, Lee Soon Jae needed help getting on stage. But in front of the microphone he showed the audience exactly why he has survived all this time in the industry.
Making history as the oldest active entertainer and actor in South Korea and a living witness to the history of Korean broadcasting, Lee Soon Jae was understandably emotional during his acceptance speech.
I guess if you live long enough, you’ll see days like this too…
…Today I am honored to receive this beautiful and precious award. I know that usually Daesang it is most often associated with important and historical roles, so I never expected to receive an award in this way.
I believe that acting should be judged on the acting itself, not on popularity or other factors. I know I didn’t win this award alone. Many people gathered for The dog knows everything. Each person worked hard in their position, which made this award possible.
—Lee Presto Jae
Watching the giant cry as he thanks his production team, fans and the students he teaches at the college for rooting for him, his countless hoobae even the actors in the audience couldn’t hide how overwhelming the speech was.
I would also like to express my gratitude to some people… I am currently working as a professor at Gachon University for 13 years. I teach students by assigning plays to rehearse for an entire semester and they perform them at the end of the term. Due to my personal filming schedules, there were times when I could not be present with my students. I felt terribly sorry about this. But then my students told me: «Don’t worry, professor! Do your drama well, we will follow in your footsteps and do well too.’ When I heard it, I was moved to tears. I have so much faith in those students and know that our shared efforts led to today’s outcome. So, thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank the KBS production team, especially producer Lee Yong Soo, for their hard work. There were many challenges with this show, but we eventually overcame them and it managed to reach a national audience.
I also want to thank the audience who are watching here and at home tonight. I know that I have received a lot of help and support throughout my life. A thousand thanks.
—Lee Presto Jae
Lee Soon Jae’s acceptance speech isn’t the only one that caused quite a stir at the “2024 KBS Drama Awards.”
Read more about the actor Kim Jung Hyunacceptance speech here:
Actor Kim Jung Hyun’s much-discussed “apology” finally airs: here’s what he actually said
