Actor Jo Jung Suk received the prestigious Presidential Commendation at the '15th Republic of Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards' held on October 31 at the National Theater of Korea.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and highlights contributions to the growth of popular culture and the Korean Wave.

This award is the highest honor given by the government for achievements in popular culture and arts. It recognizes individuals who have helped raise the status of popular culture in Korea and contributed to its global spread.

Jo Jung Suk's win showcases his influence as an actor, both in Korea and internationally. The award is especially meaningful because it is based on a thorough evaluation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which considers factors like public service, past achievements, contributions to the industry, and social reputation.

Although Jo Jung Suk could not attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts, he shared his acceptance speech via a video message.

He said, "I am truly honored to receive the Presidential Commendation. Thank you to everyone who loves popular culture. This motivates me to work even harder. I will strive to contribute more to the development of popular culture and arts in the future."

Since starting his career in the musical The Nutcracker in 2004, Jo Jung Suk has impressed audiences with his remarkable acting skills in various musicals, films like Architecture 101 and The Face Reader, and dramas such as Jealousy Incarnate and Hospital Playlist. He has earned the trust and love of the public.

Currently, Jo Jung Suk is busy filming his new movie Zombie Daughter.

Source: [1]

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo shared a surprising story from her trainee days!

On January 29, the latest episode of Dex’s Fridge Interview was released on YouTube. During the chat, Dex asked Jisoo if she ever rebelled or broke the rules as a trainee. She confidently replied, “Not at all. The only rebellion I had as a trainee was eating.”

Dex then jokingly imitated her younger self, saying, “I’m perfect, so why are they telling me not to eat? I’m going to eat tteokbokki!”

Jisoo laughed and admitted, “Actually, I was really chubby back then. They kept telling me to lose weight, but I always said, ‘No, I need to eat. I like myself chubby.’”

She even recalled a moment with YG Entertainment’s founder, Yang Hyun Suk:
“The boss told me to lose weight, and I responded like that. He just walked away, thinking, ‘She’s a weird one.’ I literally said, ‘No! I like myself chubby!’”

Jisoo then revealed that after she debuted, she naturally lost weight. She added, “Later, after I debuted and naturally lost weight, he was like, ‘You didn’t lose weight when I told you to, but now that you debuted, you did.’”

Fans are loving Jisoo’s confidence and honesty! Meanwhile, her full interview on Dex’s Fridge Interview is now available on YouTube.

Source: [1]