Jessica Soho meets The Glory's Lim Ji Yeon, Moving's Ryu Seung Ryong and Lee Jung Ha during Asia Contents Awards
Award-winning broadcast journalist Jessica Soho met several Korean drama stars during the 2023 Asia Contents Awards in the city of Busan on Oct. 8.
GMA Network's program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) was nominated as Best Reality and Variety Show for its report Sugat ng Pangungulila (Wounds of Woes), which featured the story of an overseas Filipino worker's son who has a skin disease.
It's the only Philippine nominee in the category, competing with Korea's reality competitions Physical 100 and Bloody Game 2, sketch comedy SNL Korea, documentary series Our Game: LG Twins and Food Chronicle, and Vietnam's Let’s Feast Vietnam.
During the ceremony, Soho had a selfie with Lim Ji Yeon, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Netflix's psychological thriller series The Glory.
Soho also took selfies with Ryu Seung Ryong and Lee Jung Ha of the supernatural series Moving. They won Best Lead Actor and Best Newcomer Actor, respectively.
She also posed with Indian actress Karishma Tanna, who won Best Lead Actress for her role in the crime series Scoop.
Soho also bonded with Filipino representatives at the event, including Arjo Atayde, a nominee for Best Lead Actor for his role in Cattleya Killer.
Lee Joseph Marquez Castel, KMJS's head of production, in a Facebook post also recalled their moments ahead of the program proper.
Castel said it was raining that day, which reminded him of OPM band Lola Amour's smash hit Raining in Manila.
As they were headed to the venue, they went to the wrong gate, prompting them to go around another block.
"Mabuti na lang at nagbigay ang isang Korean volunteer ng disposable raincoat para hindi kami mabasa," Castel said. "Inaalalayan ko si Ma’m Jess sa paglalakad at baka kung madulas siya… ako naman ang ma-award!"
He shared a photo of Soho walking in heels as she wears a raincoat.
When they finally made it to the red carpet, Castel noted how different the Asia Content Awards and Global OTT Awards were.
"Ipararamdam sa’yong star ka sa mga Korean drama. Naka-project kayo sa mga naglalakihang LED wall sa venue," he said. "Nakakatuwa ring marinig sa venue ang hiyawan ng mga Pilipino nang rumampa na ang Team KMJS."
Castel said though they lost, he felt the nomination itself was already a win since out of over 200 programs worldwide, only seven programs became finalists in the category.
Castel ended his post by referencing the lyrics of Raining in Manila.
"At sa ganitong mga milestone at pagkakataon, naalala ko lahat ng mga nakasama namin sa KMJS, sa bawat pag-ngiti at pag-iyak, pagbagsak at paglipad," he said.
"It’s raining in Korea, pero hindi ako nilalamig. Dahil dito, ramdam ko ang init ng pinagsama-samang mga tala… mula sa iba’t ibang sulok ng mundo."
The Asia Content Awards and Global OTT Awards celebrate excellent television, OTT, and online content across Asia every year.