Achieving what even major South Korean TV networks couldn’t do, comedian and popular television personality Yoo Jae Suk managed to pack a small room with 32 big-time stars of the Korean entertainment industry on Sunday early morning. One may ask what the occasion was. Well, it was the 2025 Pinggyego Awards. Last year’s awards ceremony hosted 25 guests.
Entering its third year of honouring Korean talents, the show was inaugurated in 2023, with YouTube channel DdeunDdeun hosting the event. Swearing off the usual tradition of big year-end extravaganzas, Yoo Jae Suk’s Pinggyego Awards always opt for the unconventional trail of doing things.
Firstly, instead of rolling out a huge red carpet for the star-studded lineup of guests at a public venue, he maintains a closed-doors policy, packing an unexpected and jaw-dropping combination of attendees in a small room.
Then, the Pinggyego Awards’ biggest unorthodox choice is to kick off celebrations early in the morning instead of it being an awards night or evening, as is always the case in other shows like KBS Entertainment Awards or the Melon Music Awards, both being held on December 20.
Most importantly, other award ceremonies held at lavish and expansive venues always catch Korean celebrities presenting their most formal disposition during the show runtime. However, all those at the Pinggyego Awards always maintain a playful banter, while having the time of their lives laughing to the fullest in a relaxed setting.
In a pre-awards announcement video released, the DdeunDdeun channel said, “This awards show is an endless repeat of talking our heads off, using awards as an excuse, so we recommend bringing snacks to keep your blood sugar up.”
The 2025 Pinggyego Awards premiered on the official DdeunDdeun YouTube channel on Sunday, December 21, at 9 am KST, with Yoo Jae Suk taking the reins as the host.
32 top celebrities gathered together in a small room for a youtube awards show 😭 only yoo jaesuk could pull this off LMAO 😭 pic.twitter.com/1yQkgTGK6Z
— 화사 hwasa’s twit 🌸 (@whoreforhyejin) December 20, 2025
2025 Pinggyego Awards lineup
- MIMI
Joo Woo Jae - Yoon Kyung Ho
- Han Sang Jin
- Rock band Peppertones
- Kim So Hyun
- Yang Se Chan
- Nam Chang Hee
- Jung Sang Hoon
- Cho Hye Lyeon
- HAHA
- Ko Kyung Pyo
- Lee Sang Yi
- Song Eun I
- Heo Kyung Hwan
- Ji Ye Eun
- Jee Seok Jin
- Lee Kwang Soo
- Jung Seung Hwan
- WOODZ
- Kim Dong Hyun (of Physical: Asia)
- Wooyoung
- Choi Daniel
- Lee Sung Min
- Song Seung Heon
- Han Ji Min
- Hong Hyun Hee
- Kim Young Chul
- Lee Dong Wook
- MAMAMOO’s Hwasa
- Hwang Jung Min
- and of course MC Yoo Jae Suk
WOODZ and Hwasa swept the floor with their tuneful music performances. The MAMAMOO singer ended up recreating her latest viral track, Good Goodbye with actor Yoon Kyung Ho in the absence of her real music video co-star Park Jeong Min. The duo particularly became a buzzworthy talking point at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards, which especially helped in boosting the song to viral fame.
2025 Pinggyego Awards winners list
Rookie of the Year: Yoon Kyung Ho
Popularity Award
- Hong Hyun Hee
- Lee Kwang Soo
- Lee Dong Wook
Best Work Award: Lee Dong Wook, Lee Kwang Soo, Yang Se Chan
Excellence Award: Cha Tae Hyun
Special Grand Prize: Lee Hyo Ri
Grand Prize / Daesang: Jee Seok Jin (known for Running Man and The Return of Superman)
Yoo Jae Suk praised Seok Jin for appearing on his show more than three time this past year. And so, Yoo noted that Ji played a huge role in promoting the Ddeun Ddeun YouTube channel and raising the influential standards of the Pinggyego.
Other nominees for the Grand Prize were Nam Chang Hee, Jo Se Ho and Yang Se Chan. Having been active in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, it marked the first time Ji Seok Jin was receiving a Daesang. Last year’s Grand Prize recipient Hwang Jung Min presented the award to the Running Man star.
Watch the show here: