Jang Do-yeon. MBC Entertainment Awards screen capture

After winning the MBC Entertainer of the Year award, broadcaster Jang Do-yeon captured the attention of viewers with a decidedly humble acceptance speech.

On the 29th, at the MBC Media Center Public Hall in Sangam-dong, Seoul, at the ‘2025 MBC Entertainment Awards’, Jang Do-yeon received the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award, which is a Grand Prize candidate honor.

She also served as an MC for the ceremony alongside Jun Hyun-moo, and through her work on ‘Born to Travel’, ‘Radio Star’, and more this year, she made the Grand Prize shortlist for the first time since her debut.

After taking the trophy, Jang Do-yeon opened with humility, saying, “Thankfully, MBC has given me awards a few times and I received them, but not once did I think ‘I deserve this.’ Today feels the most shameless.”

On the possibility of winning the Grand Prize, she drew a firm line: “During the photo time, Yoo Se-yoon picked me as a Grand Prize candidate. That makes no sense. I thought it was a new kind of mockery,” and added, “You will not give it to me anyway, and I will not accept it either. It makes no sense.”

Jang Do-yeon. Provided by MBC

Jang Do-yeon said, “Even ‘Born to Travel’ is a program we filmed with difficulty, yet I just sit and do it, and with ‘Radio Star’ I feel every week how many people covet that seat,” adding, “I always feel regret that I do not seem to fulfill my share. In the new year I will try even harder, and although I think everything is luck, I will keep working until luck comes to me.”

Then came a remark that drew attention. Jang Do-yeon emphasized, “These days I am reading ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ If you are not humble, everyone dies. To survive in the frightening variety world, I will live humbly, as my father always said.”

The eyes and ears of viewers focused on the acceptance speech that placed particular emphasis on humility. This is because the entertainment industry has recently been wracked by various controversies, including managers abusing power, suspicions of illegal medical procedures, and rumors of ties with gangsters. Close friends of Jang Do-yeon, Park Na-rae and Cho Se-ho, were embroiled in these issues in succession and halted their activities. As a result, their names were naturally absent from this awards ceremony.

In particular, Park Na-rae, who was outstanding on ‘I Live Alone’ this year, as well as a considerable number of other cast members who made strong impressions on the program, were cited as nominees but did not win.