Although Lee Sang-min ultimately won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards, the ceremony also sparked controversy over Ji Suk-jin’s failure to win, leaving many viewers to express disappointment and frustration with what they described as a “cruel” awards production.
Held on December 30, the event honored Lee Sang-min for his work on My Ugly Duckling and Dolsing Fourmen. After joining My Ugly Duckling in 2017 and subsequently expanding his presence through Dolsing Fourmen, Lee Sang-min has openly shared his struggles with massive debt, divorce, and remarriage, earning widespread empathy and support from viewers.
In his acceptance speech, Lee Sang-min said, “Everything about my second life is archived in My Ugly Duckling. It allowed me to start over. I lost my beloved mother, I went through painful moments, and I even married someone I love this year.” He added: “SBS has given me so much love, more than I could ever repay in my life. I really did my best here.” He concluded with a deep bow of gratitude.
However, following the Daesang announcement, attention quickly shifted to Ji Suk-jin, whose name was widely expected to be a strong contender. Longtime Running Man mainstay Ji Suk-jin has quietly carried the program forward for years and has endured a particularly difficult personal year following the recent passing of his mother.
Despite her grief, Ji Suk-jin attended the ceremony and willingly participated in a prepared gag segment involving a wig, joking, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do.” His professionalism and dedication moved many spectators. Yet as the production of the ceremony seemed to hint at his potential victory – only for his name to remain unsaid – the disappointment grew.
Many viewers felt that the direction unfairly raised expectations, only to leave Ji Suk-jin empty-handed. This moment reignited long-standing criticism that his contributions are consistently overlooked despite his seniority and impact.
Even Lee Sang-min acknowledged the awkwardness, saying during his speech, “I’m sorry, it would have been much better if Seo Jang-hoon, Ji Suk-jin and I could have received it together.”
Reactions online were swift and emotional. Comments included: “If they hadn’t given him the award, they shouldn’t have staged it as a prank,” “Why make him wear a wig just to humiliate him?” and “Is it really that difficult to give a Daesang to someone who has brought out so many laughs for decades?”
As debates continue, Ji Suk-jin’s Daesang snub has emerged as one of the most talked-about moments of the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards, raising renewed questions about awards show production teams’ fairness, respect and accountability towards veteran entertainers.
Sources: Nate News
