[Busan = E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Actor Yoo Hae-jin, who did not attend the Buil Film Awards ceremony due to the controversy surrounding the film *The Assassin(s)*, won the Best Actor Award at the 35th Buil Film Awards for his role in *The Man Who Lives with the King*.

Yoo Hae-jin was named the winner of the Best Actor award at the 35th Buil Film Awards, held on the 7th at the Signiel Busan in Haeundae-gu, Busan. He took home the award, beating out fellow nominees Park Ji-hoon (“The Man Who Lives with the King”), Koo Kyo-hwan (“If We”), Lee Byung-hun (“I Can’t Help It”), and Jo In-sung (“Hope”).

Im Eun-jeong, CEO of Ondaworks—the production company behind *The Man Living with the King*—took the stage on Yoo Hae-jin’s behalf and explained his absence, stating, “He was unable to attend due to filming.” She continued, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Buil Film Awards and the jury members for bestowing this prestigious award.”

CEO Im stated, “I would like to thank Director Jang Hang-jun, all the staff, the actors, and the distributor Showbox for creating *The Man Who Lives with the King* together,” adding, “Above all, I extend my deepest gratitude to the audience who loved this film. I will make sure to deliver this award to actor Yoo Hae-jin.”

Released last February, *The Man Living with the King* is set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457 and tells the story of a village chief who voluntarily exiled himself to help revive the village, and a young former king who was deposed and exiled. Yoo Hae-jin led the film in the role of Eom Heung-do, the village chief of Cheongnyeongpo who serves King Danjong (played by Park Ji-hoon). As of the 8th, the film has recorded a cumulative audience of 16.93 million, establishing itself as one of this year’s box office hits.

Yoo Hae-jin had originally planned to attend the Buil Film Awards, but he decided not to attend due to ongoing controversy over historical distortion surrounding *The Assassin(s)*, in which he played the lead role. Some conservative groups even staged protests in front of Yoo Hae-jin’s home, demanding an apology regarding the film.

Yoo Hae-jin’s agency, VAST Entertainment, announced on the 6th that it would take legal action, stating, “We view the creation and dissemination of false information, malicious personal attacks and insults, as well as any acts that infringe on an actor’s privacy, threaten their safety, or defame their reputation, with the utmost seriousness.”

Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, also reiterated his position during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee hearing on the 7th, stating that creative expression should not be restricted by such controversies.

Despite the ongoing controversy, Yoo Hae-jin was recognized for his acting skills in *The Man Who Lives with the King* and once again took home a major film award.