Yoo Hae Jin recalls Baeksang Arts Awards win: "I worried about how to react at the after-party"

Actor Yoo Hae Jin shared the unexpected circumstances and his honest feelings surrounding his Grand Prize win at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Appearing on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block," Yoo reminisced about the moment he won the Grand Prize in the film category at the Baeksang Arts Awards. He revealed that while he attended the ceremony expecting perhaps a Best Actor award, he was shocked when his name was called for the top prize. Regarding the immediate aftermath of his win, he showed a relatable, human side by revealing his concerns over social etiquette: "We were going to an after-party, and I thought, 'What should I do when I get there? Should I keep smiling? How should I react?'"

"I never imagined winning the Grand Prize"... Tension and unexpected connections

Yoo also mentioned the tension at the moment the Grand Prize was announced. "When the Grand Prize was announced, the camera came forward, and it came right in front of me. I got goosebumps wondering why the Grand Prize was coming to me," he said. He also shared an anecdote about encountering actor Yoo Seung-yong holding a trophy backstage right after the ceremony. The two share a connection from working part-time together at a non-ferrous metal factory in the past. Yoo expressed surprise at the coincidence, saying, "I saw Yoo Seung-yong, whom I used to work part-time with, holding a trophy, so I asked, 'Why do you have it?' and he told me he had also won an award."

30 years as an actor: "My goal is to melt into the scene"

Marking his 30th year since his debut, Yoo shared his philosophy as an actor. "I wanted to be an actor until I was forty-five, but 30 years have already passed. I am so grateful that I can make a living through my work during this time," he said. Regarding his craft, he explained, "Rather than just looking like a specific character, my goal for every project is to melt into the scene." He added that he developed a habit of creating his own character analysis charts to prepare for irregular filming schedules on set.

Finding happiness in small moments: "The joy of a cold beer"

Yoo showed a mindset of being satisfied with the little things, stating, "There are many times when I feel grateful just upon opening my eyes." He emphasized that "living to laugh a little doesn't seem like it would be hard," highlighting the preciousness of happiness found in sharing meals with colleagues or juniors and simple suggestions like, "Let's have a cold beer when we're finished."