Kim Moo-yul, Jeon So-young Honored at Inaugural ICON AWARDS

Actor Kim Moo-yul was named Icon of the Year at the first ICON AWARDS, an honor recognizing figures who have brought a fresh perspective to their fields. Actor Jeon So-young took the Rising Icon prize at the same ceremony.

Boldpage announced the winners on the 1st during "LOTTE NIGHT 2026," held at the Lotte Department Store main branch in Sogong-dong, central Seoul. The ICON AWARDS honors figures based not only on past achievements and public recognition, but also on how they have introduced new approaches and viewpoints within their fields.

Kim, who works across theater, film, and television, has taken on a wide range of roles, from action leads to morally complicated characters that resist clear hero-or-villain framing.

"It's an honor to be part of the very first ICON AWARDS, and I'm truly grateful," Kim said. "Since I'm here at the start of this, I'll keep working hard to show new sides of myself as an actor."

Kim also pointed to a specific project as the moment that came to mind first. "What came to me first with this award was the time I spent filming "Teach You a Lesson"," he said, referring to the show by its literal English rendering of the Korean title (Chamgyoyuk). "It's a project that contributed a lot to this win, and I remember loving the work and giving it everything I had, more than at any other time."

The Netflix series topped global rankings this year, drawing more than 200 million viewing hours. Organizers cited that performance, along with Kim's broader work over the past year, in selecting him for the top honor.

Jeon received the Rising Icon award for her recent screen work, including the Netflix series "If Wishes Could Kill" and the TVING drama "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" (Chwisabyeong Jeonseori Doeda).

""If Wishes Could Kill" was a project that required me to take on a major challenge," Jeon said. "Through the work, I learned how to turn fear into excitement. I learned how to get back up, even after falling down."

The debut edition of the ICON AWARDS positions itself less as a traditional year-end honor and more as a marker of who is shaping the current moment in Korean entertainment. With Kim and Jeon as its first two names, the ceremony draws a line between an established actor deep into a defining year and a rising performer still learning how to steady herself on set.