‘The King's Affection’, starring Park Eun-bin and Rowoon, has become the first Korean-language series to win an International Emmy Award. Titled ‘Yeonmo’ in Korean, the period drama earned the honour in the best telenovela category at the 50th edition of the award show. The show aired on Korean broadcaster KBS2 and on Netflix in selected international regions last year.
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences made the announcement on its official Twitter page and wrote, ‘The International Emmy for Telenovela goes to 'Yeonmo [The King's Affection]' produced by KBS / Arc Media / Monster Union / Netflix! #SouthKorea #iemmyWIN.’
Other nominees in the category were ‘Nos Tempos do Imperador’ (Brazil), ‘Two Lives’ (Spain), and ‘You Are My Hero’ (China).
Lee Geon Joon, the head of KBS Drama Center, in a statement to the Korean outlet Soompi, said he is happy that ‘The King's Affection’ won the first-ever International Emmy as a Korean drama.
‘... and it's a pleasure to have the potential of Korean dramas as a whole receive recognition. I feel an immense sense of responsibility during this time when K-content is receiving so much love around the world. We will do our best so that KBS dramas can play a large role in maintaining the potential of Korean (entertainment) content,’ Lee said.
‘The King’s Affection’ is set during the Joseon dynasty when having twins was considered a bad omen. It shows how the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins but sends the girl away to spare her life. Years later, the twin son dies in an accident and his sister must assume his identity and throne, all while hiding her true self.
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