Honestly, if you’ve watched more than three K-dramas in the last decade, you’ve seen Oh Jung-se. He’s that guy. The one who shows up, steals the entire scene from the A-list lead, and leaves you wondering why he isn't in every single frame. But for a long time, the industry treated him like a reliable tool rather than a master craftsman. That changed. Big time.
The explosion of Oh Jung Se awards over the last few years isn't just a lucky streak. It's a massive, overdue correction. For twenty years, he was the king of the "minor role." We’re talking over 100 credits since his 1997 debut in Father. He’s played corrupt reporters, goofy sidekicks, and creepy villains. Then 2019 happened. Suddenly, the man who was always in the background was standing on the Baeksang stage. Twice in a row.
The Baeksang Miracle: Two Years, Two Trophies
Most actors dream of winning one Baeksang Arts Award in their lifetime. It's the "Korean Golden Globes," and it doesn't play favorites. Oh Jung-se did the unthinkable. He won Best Supporting Actor (Television) in 2020 and 2021. Back-to-back.
2020: When the Camellia Blooms
In When the Camellia Blooms, he played No Gyu-tae. He was a loser. Seriously, the guy was a petty, insecure landlord who desperately wanted respect but didn't know how to earn it. Oh Jung-se made him human. You’d be laughing at his idiocy one minute and feeling a weird pang of pity the next.
That 56th Baeksang win felt like the industry finally saying, "We see you." But he wasn't done.
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2021: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
If Gyu-tae was a breakthrough, Moon Sang-tae was a revolution. Playing a character with autism is a massive risk. It can go wrong so easily—becoming a caricature or a "prop" for the lead's growth. Oh Jung-se didn't do that. He spent time with fans who actually had autism to understand their world.
When he won the 57th Baeksang for this role, his speech went viral. He didn't just thank his agent. He spoke directly to the "Sang-taes" of the world, telling them that they aren't wrong, they’re just different. It was raw. It was real.
A Career Built on "Scene Stealing"
Before the big trophies, Oh Jung-se was stacking up smaller wins that proved his range. He’s basically a chameleon. You might have missed him as the hilarious Ted Chang in Extreme Job (2019), which, by the way, is one of the highest-grossing Korean films ever. He didn't win a major solo award for that one, but the ensemble's impact was undeniable.
Look at his 2017 win at the MBC Drama Awards. He took home the Golden Acting Award for Missing 9. He played a manager stuck on a deserted island. While the show itself was a bit of a wild ride (to put it lightly), his performance was the anchor. He’s got this weird ability to find comedy in absolute tragedy.
Recent Wins and Notable Nods
As we move into 2024 and 2025, the momentum hasn't slowed down. His work in Revenant (2023) earned him a Top Excellence Award at the Korea Drama Awards. He played a folklore professor who could see ghosts. It was a complete 180 from his comedic roles—stark, lonely, and deeply haunted.
- 2023 Grand Bell Awards: Won Best Supporting Actor for Cobweb.
- 2023 Korea Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award (Actor) for Revenant.
- 2025 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Good Boy.
- 2026 Korea First Brand Awards: Actor – Scene Stealer (a title he practically owns).
Why This Matters (The "Prosopagnosia" Factor)
Here’s the thing that makes his Oh Jung Se awards journey even more insane: he has prosopagnosia. That’s face blindness. He has openly admitted in interviews that he struggles to recognize faces—even his own family sometimes.
Think about that. An actor, whose entire job is reacting to other people’s faces and emotions, can’t easily recognize them. He has to work twice as hard to build chemistry. He relies on voices, gait, and energy. Maybe that’s why his acting feels so physical and grounded. He isn't just looking at a co-star; he’s feeling the scene.
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The "Must-Watch" Checklist
If you're trying to see why the critics are obsessed with him, don't just look at the list of trophies. Watch these specific performances. They show the "before and after" of his stardom.
- Fabricated City (2017): He plays a terrifyingly sane villain. It’s creepy.
- Hot Stove League (2019): He’s the "villain" you end up rooting for. He won the Best Character Award at the SBS Drama Awards for this.
- Uncle (2021): A rare lead role where he plays a washed-up musician. It’s pure heart.
- Mr. Plankton (2024): His role as Eo Heung is a masterclass in "sad-funny."
What’s Next for the Award-Winner?
By early 2026, Oh Jung-se has firmly moved from "that guy" to a "leading man who happens to support." His recent win for Good Boy at the 2025 Asia Contents Awards shows he's thriving in the OTT (streaming) era. He isn't tied to traditional TV ratings anymore.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you want to track his future wins, keep an eye on the 2026 film festival circuit. His upcoming project Hi-Five is already generating buzz for its ensemble cast. Also, check out his cameo in Queen of Tears—it’s a tiny role, but it shows he hasn't forgotten his "scene stealer" roots.
The best way to appreciate his craft is to watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and When the Camellia Blooms back-to-back. You won't believe it's the same actor. That’s the real reason he has all those trophies on his shelf.
Next Steps for You:
- Watch his Baeksang acceptance speeches on YouTube (with subtitles). They are famously humble and often quite moving.
- Follow the 2026 Blue Dragon Film Awards results. Rumor has it his latest film work might finally land him the elusive Best Actor trophy rather than "Supporting."