On August 18, the official Blue Dragon Series Awards YouTube channel released an interview with Kim Go-eun following the fifth Blue Dragon Series Awards.
The ceremony took place on July 31 at Paradise City in Incheon, where Kim Go-eun took home the Daesang (Grand Prize).
As presenter Shin Min-a announced Kim Go-eun’s name, cameras captured Lee Sang-yi, who was sitting behind her, suddenly jumping to his feet and shouting: “Hey, Kim Go-eun!” His reaction quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony.
Even before the winner was officially announced, Lee Sang-yi had reportedly been quietly repeating “Kim Go-eun, Kim Go-eun” under his breath, clearly hoping that his fellow classmate would take home the award.
Kim Go-eun said she was grateful for Lee Sang-yi’s enthusiastic response. She explained that his reaction made her award moment feel even more special and said she thanked him afterward. But the actress also promised that she would return the same energy when Lee Sang-yi eventually receives an award of his own. According to Kim Go-eun, Lee Sang-yi had celebrated her victory with such enthusiasm that she would have to match his energy when his turn came.
Kim Go-eun jokingly recalled just how intense Lee Sang-yi’s reaction had been. “Sang-yi congratulated me while opening up even his nostrils.” She then promised: “When that time comes, I’ll open up my mouth and eyes as much as I can and celebrate him too.” She ended the playful message by calling out to her former classmate: “Lee Sang-yi! Let’s work harder!” Her comments immediately highlighted the close and playful relationship between the two actors.
The two actors attended the Korea National University of Arts, where they became classmates. Their friendship has attracted attention from fans because both have gone on to establish successful acting careers after studying together. Lee Sang-yi’s spontaneous reaction at the Blue Dragon Series Awards offered a glimpse of their relationship away from scripted appearances and formal industry events.
For Kim Go-eun, the moment was clearly meaningful not only because she had won one of the biggest awards of her career, but because someone who had known her since her student days was visibly rooting for her.
Kim Go-eun has remained one of South Korea’s most prominent actresses, taking on a wide range of roles across film and television. Over the past year, she has appeared in projects including Eun-jung and Sang-yeon, The Price of Confession, and Yumi’s Cells 3. Her Daesang win at the 2026 Blue Dragon Series Awards added another major achievement to an already impressive career.
And if Lee Sang-yi eventually takes home a major award himself, fans now know exactly what they can expect from Kim Go-eun: a celebration loud enough to match his legendary “nostril-opening” reaction.
Sources: Daum | 마이데일리