25th Anniversary of Coming Out: Hong Seok-cheon Sponsors Acting Award Named After Him at the Pride Film Festival

The Seoul International Pride Film Festival will establish the 'Hong Seok-cheon Pride Award', sponsored by Hong Seok-cheon, the most famous LGBTQ actor in Korea, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary of coming out this year. The 'Hong Seok-cheon Pride Award' is an acting award given to actors who showcase outstanding performances in the Korean Short Film Competition at the Seoul International Pride Film Festival, with Hong Seok-cheon personally sponsoring the prize money. Hong Seok-cheon previously donated the prize money of 5 million won he received at the 5th Pride Gala as a fund and has committed to continuously sponsor 1 million won each year.

This award is particularly meaningful as it is the first award in the history of domestic film festivals to be named after an LGBTQ actor, directly sponsored by Hong Seok-cheon, the most widely recognized LGBTQ actor in Korea. His intention is not just simple sponsorship, but a 'promise of solidarity for the next generation as a senior actor'.

Hong Seok-cheon is a symbolic figure who led the change in the perception of LGBTQ individuals in Korean society by publicly coming out in September 2000, being the first entertainer in South Korea to do so. He gained great love for his role as 'Puasong' in the sitcom 《Three Men and Three Women》, and although he faced difficulties with a halt in broadcasting activities after coming out, he made a comeback as a gay character in the drama 《Complete Love》, establishing himself as a sincere actor.

Recently, Hong Seok-cheon has been actively introducing new actors and discovering LGBTQ broadcasters through his YouTube channel 〈Hong Seok-cheon's Jewelry Box〉, and this sponsorship of the acting award is an extension of those efforts. Hong Seok-cheon stated, "If my coming out as an actor has become a small spark for change in Korean society, I now want to pass that spark to the next generation," and added, "I hope this award becomes not just an 'acting award', but an award that commemorates courage and diversity." With the establishment of the historic 'Hong Seok-cheon Pride Award' in the Korean film industry, it is expected that his courage and challenges will inspire many more actors in the future.