The 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards took place on July 31 at Paradise City in Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
Kim Min Ha, who won Best New Actress at last year’s ceremony for Way Back Love (The Week Before I Die), returned this year to open the awards show with a live performance of the jazz classic “That’s Life.”
Displaying expressive stage presence and unexpectedly impressive vocal skills, Kim captivated the audience, leaving many viewers surprised by her talents as a singer.
Host Jun Hyun Moo praised her performance, saying: “This isn’t the Academy Awards. Is there any awards ceremony that puts this much heart into its congratulatory performance? Today, we didn’t meet actress Kim Min Ha—we met musician Kim Min Ha. It was an incredible stage. It felt like being in a jazz bar. This kind of surprising charm is always welcome.”
Kim Min Ha’s appearance also became a hot topic after it was revealed that she had lost 17kg over two years for an upcoming acting project.
For the opening stage, she wore a gray off-the-shoulder gown that highlighted her delicate shoulders and defined collarbone, showcasing her noticeably slimmer physique. Compared to photos from last year’s Blue Dragon Series Awards, her silhouette appeared dramatically different.
Later in the ceremony, Kim Min Ha returned to the stage as a Best New Actress presenter alongside actor Noh Sang Hyun. This time, she stunned in an elegant white sheer dress paired with an updo hairstyle, presenting a completely different yet equally sophisticated look.
Having worked together from Pachinko to their recent project Messily Ever After, Noh Sang Hyun shared his admiration for Kim Min Ha’s opening performance. “We’ve worked together since Pachinko and most recently on Messily Ever After, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a performance as amazing as today’s opening stage.”
Kim Min Ha admitted that the performance was particularly nerve-racking. “Out of every set and stage I’ve ever been on, this was the moment I was most nervous.” Noh Sang Hyun responded warmly: “You were amazing. I was completely impressed.”
In a recent interview, Kim Min Ha explained that her weight loss was entirely for the sake of portraying a character authentically. “There are all kinds of people in the world, and I wanted to be able to express those different sides through my role.”
She revealed that she gradually lost the weight by eating one small meal a day, while also exercising consistently. “Some people think I didn’t work out, but I actually exercised very hard. I wanted to lose weight as healthily as possible, without putting myself under excessive stress, so I did it gradually over a long period.” Her disciplined yet balanced approach has earned praise from fans, many of whom applauded her focus on maintaining her health while preparing for her role.
From delivering an unexpectedly polished jazz performance to showcasing her dramatic physical transformation, Kim Min Ha proved she is far more than just a talented actress. Even without receiving an award this year, she became one of the ceremony’s biggest highlights, leaving audiences eager to see her upcoming projects.
Sources: Daum | 뉴스엔