A Night of Surprises at the SBS Entertainment Awards
Hey everyone! So, last night was the 2025 SBS Entertainment Awards, which is a huge deal here in Korea. It’s basically where one of the biggest TV networks, SBS, celebrates all its best variety shows and comedians from the past year. The biggest award of the night is the ‘Daesang,’ or Grand Prize, and let me tell you, NO ONE saw this year’s winner coming!
The Grand Prize went to Lee Sang-min! When they called his name, he just froze in his seat, looking completely shocked. Even other famous celebs like Yoo Jae-suk and Jee Seok-jin, who were also nominated, seemed surprised but rushed to congratulate him. It was a pretty unexpected moment because many people thought Jee Seok-jin might win this year. Lee Sang-min’s win was for his amazing work on the super popular shows ‘My Little Old Boy’ and ‘Dolsing Fourmen.’
More Than Just an Award
To understand why this was so emotional, you have to know a little about Lee Sang-min’s story. He was a mega-famous music producer and singer in the 90s, but his life took a tough turn and he ended up with a massive amount of debt, like millions of dollars. For years, viewers of ‘My Little Old Boy’ have watched him live a super frugal lifestyle to pay it all back. The show literally documented his struggles, his resilience, and his journey back.
In his acceptance speech, he got really emotional and said, “My entire second life is contained in ‘My Little Old Boy’.” He talked about how he started filming the show in a tiny apartment without an air conditioner and never dreamed that sharing his struggles would earn him so much love. It’s been a rollercoaster year for him—he finally cleared his debts, sadly lost his mother, and also got married. This award felt like a recognition of everything he has overcome.
“My Whole Life is in SBS”
His gratitude towards the network was so real. He said, “SBS has given me so much love that I could never repay it,” and promised to work hard to not cause any trouble for the network where his life’s archive is stored. He even apologized to the other nominees he beat, which just shows how humble he was about the win. He finished his speech with a traditional deep bow to the stage, which had everyone in the audience and at home tearing up a little bit.
It was a powerful reminder that sometimes the most deserving wins are the ones you least expect. It wasn’t just about being funny on TV; it was about a life story of struggle and perseverance that everyone got to witness. Congrats to Lee Sang-min on a win that was truly decades in the making!
