2026 ‘Beautiful Artist Awards’ honors Kim Moo-yeol, Ahn Sung-ki and three others

Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation officially announced on the 7th that it had finalized its selection of five recipients for the 16th ‘Beautiful Artist Awards’, including actors Kim Moo-yeol, Park Geun-hyung and Ahn Sung-ki.

Kim Moo-yeol earns Film Artist Award for portraying the pain of an era

This year’s Film, including drama, Artist Award goes to Kim Moo-yeol. In the Netflix series ‘True Education’, he delivered a commanding performance as Na Hwa-jin, an inspector who stands with victims of a broken education system, including school violence and infringements on teachers’ authority. His portrayal, which conveyed a powerful social message, drew enthusiastic praise from audiences and critics and became the decisive factor in his selection for the award.

Ahn Sung-ki’s 70 years of dedication and Park Geun-hyung’s mastery shine

Park Geun-hyung, who will receive the Performing Arts Artist Award, has appeared in major productions including ‘Father’, ‘Death of a Salesman’ and ‘Waiting for Godot’. This year, he demonstrated his singular charisma as Shylock in the National Theater’s production of ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

The Good People Artist Award will go to Ahn Sung-ki, who made his debut as a child actor in 1957 and helped shape Korean cinema over more than 70 years, appearing in more than 130 films. He has also devoted many years to good causes, including serving as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and has become a role model through a lifetime of humility and dedication. The Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation said it unanimously selected him to honor his warm and remarkable life.

The New Artist Award will go to director Kim Do-young, whose sensitive direction has earned recognition through films including ‘Kim Ji-young, Born 1982’, ‘If We’ and ‘The Intern’. The Merit Artist Award will honor director of photography Lee Seok-ki, who took part in about 180 productions and helped lead the resurgence of Korean cinema during the 1960s through the 1980s.

Founded with personal funds from veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation annually discovers and honors artists who have made outstanding contributions across fields including film, performing arts, service and good works. The 16th ‘Beautiful Artist Awards’ ceremony, which recognizes the efforts of artists in popular culture, is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. on the 15th at ‘Stage28’ in Seoul’s Gangdong-gu district.