This news article reports about mainland Chinese actor Yang Yang winning the “Asian Star Award” at the Seoul International Drama Awards surpassing the popular actor Zhang Linghe. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 8th.
The voting for the “2026 Seoul International Drama Awards – Asian Star Award” lasted for a month, with the final results announced on July 14th. Yang Yang made a last-minute comeback, securing the championship with 1.88 million votes to surpass Zhang Linghe’s approximately 1.2 million votes. Hong Kong actor Wallace Chung ranked third, followed by mainland Chinese actress Zhao Lusi in fourth place.
The voting for the Asian Star Award began in mid-June, with Zhang Linghe leading throughout the majority of the period due to the popularity of the costume drama “Pursuit of Jade.” However, in the final 24 hours, Yang Yang’s fans surged in votes to stage a successful comeback, resulting in Yang Yang winning the award with around 1.88 million votes, setting a record for the highest number of votes in this year’s ceremony.
The “Asian Star Award” is a fan-popularity award determined by global votes, reflecting the actors’ overseas appeal rather than being decided by judges. On the other hand, awards based on professional criteria like “Best Actor” are judged by an international panel and are not influenced by online votes.
Yang Yang, known for his handsome appearance, rose to fame after starring in the TV series “The Dream of Red Mansions” and gained further popularity through the idol drama “Love O2O.” Despite facing criticism for his acting in “The King’s Avatar,” causing a decline in his popularity, he made a comeback last year with the series “The Great Ruler.”
To portray the character of “Han Li” in “The Great Ruler,” Yang Yang underwent a weight loss of 20 kilograms and performed most of the action scenes himself, showcasing his dance background through flawless movements such as the “Rope Smoke Step” and sword-fighting, receiving praise for his performance, fight choreography, and dialogue delivery.
Behind his outstanding achievements, Yang Yang has quietly endured the pain of old injuries resurfacing. While filming in recent years, he has encountered several accidents, including being struck by a heavy cable on his foot and a facial injury from a blade, leaving a scar on his face. After winning the award, fans expressed that this was the best gift for the protagonist “Han Li” from “The Great Ruler.”
The 21st Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony is set to be held on October 8th in Seoul, South Korea. Zhang Linghe, with the hit drama “Pursuit of Jade,” is nominated for the “Best Male Actor” in the international competition category, being the only Chinese actor selected. The official nominations are expected to be announced in August.