Singer and actor Yook Sung-jae was chosen by consumers as the top male actor expected to lead 2026.
Yook Sung-jae won the award in the male actor (drama) institutional sector expected to lead 2026 at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards on the 6th.
The Korea First Brand Awards, which marks its 24th anniversary this year, is the largest awards ceremony in the country that selects brands expected to lead the next year through annual consumer surveys.
Through his agency, Yook Sung-jae said, "I am honored to be able to start the new year with such a meaningful award," and noted, "I will work harder to live up to the title of an actor who will lead 2026." He, who has always shown extraordinary love for his fans, also did not forget to say, "I am grateful to and love our Melody and O-chil-ee (the fandom name), who are always a steady support."
This award is the result of Yook Sung-jae's all-around activities over the past year across drama, music and variety. In particular, his dual-role powerhouse performance as prosecutor Yoon Gap, who is possessed by the evil god Imugi Kang Cheol-yi in the SBS drama The Haunted Palace, drew explosive reactions from viewers. As a result, The Haunted Palace not only maintained the highest ratings in its time slot throughout its run, but also ranked number one on global OTT platforms in 89 countries.
Yook Sung-jae not only advanced his career as an actor but also had a successful year as a singer, his "main profession." Last year he released his first mini album All About Blue and showcased a more mature vocal capability with the title track Now, and he completed solo fan concerts titled THE BLUE JOURNEY across Asia, including Seoul, Japan and Hong Kong.
His variety show activities were also cited as a major factor in this award. Through MBC's I Live Alone, he revealed his life living alone for the first time in his eighth year of living alone, displaying a friendly and unpretentious charm and driving Friday variety show ratings to number one after airing. He also appeared as host of Coupang Play's SNL Korea 7, showing bold comedic acting and fully demonstrating his qualities as a "versatile entertainer."
Meanwhile, Yook Sung-jae is scheduled to meet the public with a variety of activities regardless of genre going forward. [Photo] Provided by IWill Media [OSEN]