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.

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At a recent press conference for the new KBS Joy drama Sorry Not Sorry, actress Gong Min Jung made a surprising announcement that caught everyone off guard.

On December 2, during the production event for the romantic comedy, Gong Min Jung revealed, "I am currently pregnant, and childbirth is just around the corner," leaving the audience in shock.

The news was shared after host Oh Hyo Joo mentioned that Gong Min Jung had something special to announce.

Gong Min Jung then took the microphone and surprised everyone, saying, "Just like my character, I am currently pregnant and expecting soon."

She went on to explain, “After announcing my marriage, I found out I was pregnant, and it made choosing new projects a bit tricky. Originally, my character in Sorry Not Sorry wasn’t pregnant, but the production team kindly changed the role for me.”

The actress shared her deep connection to her character, Choi Hana, saying, "I really empathized with her, and adding the pregnancy aspect made me feel like I could truly represent the experiences of a mother. That’s when I decided to join the project."

She ended her announcement by thanking everyone for their support, saying, "Thanks to everyone’s consideration, I’m filming in a stable and enjoyable environment. Although this is a sudden announcement, I hope you’ll see it positively."

Gong Min Jung plays alongside Jeon So Min, who stars as Ji Song Yi in Sorry Not Sorry. The drama follows Ji Song Yi, a single woman facing tough times after a breakup, dealing with a mortgage and balancing multiple jobs.

The drama also stars Jang Hee Ryung, Choi Daniel, and Kim Moo Jin. Sorry Not Sorry premieres on December 5, airing every Thursday at 9 PM.

Source: [1]