At 61 ° Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 5 at Soul’s Coex D Hall, Netflix’s drama When life gives you mandarins He got an extraordinary four wins: the best screenplay, the best drama, the best supporting actor and the best supporting actress. In the midst of the celebration, a name echoed both with reverence and of pain: the deceased Kang Myung-Joo.
Director Kim Won-Seok, who accepted the prize for the best screenplay on behalf of the writer Lim Sang-Choon, took a moment to pay homage, “As the writer Lim wanted, we hoped that this drama remembered the people of the family. I thank every actor and member of the staff who made that real dream. I also remember the actress Kang Myung-Joo, who offered a really gem performance, but unfortunately he left us before the show. This moment is in his honor.”
Kang played a middle -aged woman who transported quiet charges with deep grace. Although his time on the screen and dialogue were limited, his presence resonated strongly with the spectators, many asked: “Who is that actress?” His shaded performance has become one of the most loved elements of the drama.
Even the winner of the support actress Yeom Hye -ran retained tears while saying, “For our dear Ladies-Kim Yong-Rios, na Moon-Hee and the deceased Kang Myung-Joo-Offro my deepest respect and thanks.” FAGNI members of the cast such as IU and Kim Tae-Yeon silently cried from their places, visibly transferred by the tribute.
Kang Myung-Joo died in February 2025 at the age of 53 after a battle against cancer. When life gives you mandarins It was his latest work and now represents a touching goodbye: an artistic praise that immortalizes his inheritance.
On a night full of awards and applause, it was the absence of Kang who left the most lasting impression.
