The film 12.12: The Day won the Most Viewers Award at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards, held on November 29 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul.

The movie, which depicts the true events of the December 12 coup, impressed audiences with its gripping story and stellar performances. It attracted over 13.12 million viewers, earning the coveted Most Viewers Award.

Director Kim Sung Soo shared his gratitude, saying, "This award is extra special because it comes from the audience. I deeply thank everyone who watched and supported our work."

Actor Hwang Jung Min humbly said, "I’m really grateful," while Jung Woo Sung gave a heartfelt speech, acknowledging both the film's success and his personal challenges.

He said, "I thank the audience sincerely. I hope my personal matters don’t overshadow the hard work of everyone involved in 12.12: The Day. "

He added, "I’m sorry for causing concern and disappointment. I’ll accept all criticism and take full responsibility for my actions, especially as a father. I promise to handle everything until the very end." Jung Woo Sung bowed deeply, expressing his remorse.

The Blue Dragon Film Awards, South Korea’s most prestigious film event, celebrates the best of Korean cinema each year. 12.12: The Day’s recognition highlights its powerful impact on audiences nationwide.

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Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin’s When the Phone Rings has issued an apology for the recent controversy surrounding the mockery of sign language.

On November 29th, the drama’s production team released a statement on the viewer’s board addressing the issue. The statement began by saying, “We take the criticism about the improper handling of sign language very seriously, especially as it led to the mockery of the Deaf community and Korean sign language.”

They went on to clarify, “The drama’s theme centers around ‘communication’ between people, and there was absolutely no intention to mock or belittle sign language, which is a vital communication tool for the Deaf community.”

However, the production team admitted, “We humbly acknowledge that we did not give enough attention to the struggles of the Deaf community and the importance of Korean sign language. We will ensure that such mistakes do not happen again in the future.”

The statement also highlighted the role of sign language in the drama, saying, “Sign language plays a crucial part in the relationship between the two main characters as they learn to communicate with each other. Through their journey, we want to show the true value of sign language as an important tool that connects people.”

The production team concluded by asking for viewers' continued support, saying, “We hope you will keep watching the drama and point out any shortcomings you notice.”

Earlier, in the first episode of When the Phone Rings, which aired on November 22nd, a mistake occurred when sign language interpreter Hong Hee Joo (played by Chae Soo Bin) mistakenly used the sign for "mountain" while trying to interpret "landslide" due to a broadcast error.

This led to the sign being misunderstood as a finger gesture commonly seen as offensive, sparking backlash.

After the episode aired, a viewer posted a complaint on the viewer’s board, asking for an apology for mocking sign language.

The viewer explained that the sign for "mountain" is different from the offensive gesture and that using it in this context was hurtful to the Deaf community, as it has been used as a joke by hearing people.

The post described this as an act of discrimination and mockery, calling for a more respectful approach.

Source: [1]