The 2016 Korea Content Awards ceremony was held at the COEX convention center in southern Seoul on Nov. 6, giving us a chance to look back on some of the greatest animation, songs and TV shows that stood out in 2016.
During the awards ceremony, a total of 31 awards were given out to a select group of the most-beloved content of the year. Prizes were given out in honor of the president, the prime minister, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, and the director of the Korea Creative Content Agency. Winners were recognized for their contributions across five categories: making inroads into overseas markets; developing the national broadcasting industry; comic books and graphic novels; animated films and cartoons; and, developing new characters.
Winners of 2016 Korea Content Awards pose for a commemorative photo during the awards ceremony at COEX in Seoul on Nov. 6.
The highest honors, the Presidential Awards, were given to the tvN drama series “Signal,” which weaved a story about detectives who struggle to solve long-cold cases, and also to “Documentary Three Days” aired on KBS, a documentary film that turns the lives of ordinary people into a moving narrative.
The tvN soap opera “Cinderella and Four Knights,” a series aired in 63 countries, including the U.S., China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, was also honored as a Presidential Award winner, in recognition of it being broadcast in non-Korean markets.
Netmarble Games, a video game company, won the Prime Minister’s Award for seeing annual revenue of more than KRW 1 trillion with its app games “Everybody’s Marble,” “Seven Knights” and “Raven.” More than 60 percent of its sales this year were outside Korea.
Winners of 2016 Korea Content Awards are rewarded for their contributions to increasing Korean exports, to developing the national broadcasting industry, and to making outstanding comic books and graphic novels, animated films and cartoons, and to developing new and exciting characters.
Kim Eun-hee, a scriptwriter for the tvN drama series ‘Signal,’ which won a Presidential Award at the 2016 Korea Content Awards this year, delivers her acceptance speech.
“I always believe that culture represents our politics, economy, welfare, diplomacy and education,” said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoonsun during the ceremony. “It’s undoubtedly ‘content’ that plays all these roles most excellently. The winners today are people who prove that our nation’s creative capabilities and skills have now reached a point where they can lead the world. Artists and creators, like the winners working in our content industry, are the very ones that create added-value products through the use of creativity and sensitivity, which culture owns,” the minister stressed.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoonsun speaks during the 2016 Korea Content Awards ceremony, in Seoul on Nov. 6.
In her acceptance speech, Kim Eun-hee, a scriptwriter for the Presidential Award-winning “Signal” TV show, spoke about what she intended to write about in the story and what she hoped to do with the story. Kim said, “There are still many cold cases that remain unsolved, as on the show. Many victims and their bereaved families still live in pain. I hope that they will find justice.”
Other Presidential Award winners include cartoonist Moon Jung-hoo for his series “Gosu,” the animated film “Power Battle Watch Car,” and the popular character Turning Mecard.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
jiae5853@korea.kr
