"2025 APAN Star Awards" opened the ceremony with a memorial video for the late actor Lee Soon-jae.
On the 29th afternoon at Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Art Hall 1, the 11th APAN Star Awards (2025 Seoul Con APAN Star Awards) was held. The 2025 APAN Star Awards, hosted by actor Kim Seungwoo and broadcaster Park Sun-young, is the only integrated domestic drama awards ceremony in Korea that covers content across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, comprehensive programming channels, cable, OTT and web dramas.
The 2025 APAN Star Awards, broadcast delayed on tvN and TVING that day, began with a memorial video tracing the footsteps of the late Lee Soon-jae. Beginning with the late Lee Soon-jae's voice saying, "Art is an eternal incompletion. Therefore I constantly challenge myself toward completion," faces of the late Lee Soon-jae as seen through the media over the years were shown in succession.
APAN Star Awards said, "The most radiant moments he recorded for us. A thousand faces that made Korea cry and laugh. Each of those expressions is our history. A single page of script became a life and a single scene became an era. His footsteps always headed toward the stage, and he lived his life on that path."
Also, the late man's remark, "The happiest thing is to die while performing. That is the happiest moment for an actor," was shown, followed by captions reading, "He leaves behind an eternal end credit and will be screened forever in our hearts. Thank you. We will remember you," which added to the poignancy.
When the memorial video was shown, actors in the audience, including singer and actor IU and Lee Jun-ho, appeared moved. MC Park Sun-young explained, "We began with a video of national actor Lee Soon-jae, who left a great mark on Korean popular culture with his passionate acting," and Kim Seungwoo mourned, "Lee Soon-jae, who was by our side for nearly 70 years, we will remember you for a long time." Park Sun-young continued, "Perhaps he is watching and seeing that we miss him a great deal. Please give a round of applause filled with longing," and the actors gave warm applause to express their condolences, deepening the emotion.
[Photo] tvN
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