Esom to Be the First-Ever Solo Female Host at 2023 Buil Film Awards Following Lee Je Hoon’s Health Issues

Due to Lee Je Hoon's health issues, Esom will be the sole host at the 2023 Buil Film Awards.

Scheduled on October 5 at Signiel Busan and hosted by Busan-based daily newspaper Busan Ilbo along with sponsor Hwaseung Group, the 32nd Buil Film Awards will continue despite the changes with the MCs.

Esom Becomes First-Ever Solo Female Host at the Buil Film Awards

According to a report, the organization has not replaced Lee Je Hoon, who confirmed his absence due to emergency surgery.

Media outlets confirmed that Esom, who was initially Lee Je Hoon's co-MC for the ceremony, will be hosting the awards night alone.

With this, Esom becomes the first solo female to host the Buil Film Awards.

It can be recalled that Lee Je Hoon's agency, COMPANY ON, confirmed that the actor was rushed to the hospital on the night of October 1.

According to the label's statement, the "Taxi Driver" star was complaining about severe abdominal pain and later was diagnosed with ischemic colitis.

"He received emergency surgery early on October 2," COMPANY ON added, confirming that Lee Je Hoon's surgery was successful but that he is currently continuing his recovery at the hospital.

"We will have to watch the progress of his recovery, but he will probably have to be hospitalized for about a week," the agency furthered, hence why his appearance for upcoming activities such as the 32nd Buil Film Awards and Busan International Film Festival 2023, together with Park Eun Bin, has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, Esom and Lee Je Hoon both headlined the hit crime action K-drama "Taxi Driver," but the actress failed to appear in season 2 due to issues with her schedule.

32nd Buil Film Awards Nominees

Slated to broadcast live via MBC and Naver TV, Jo In Sung and Kim Hye Soo's movie "Smugglers" received the most number of nominations after getting 10 nods from 9 categories.

Meanwhile, Park Seo Joon and Park Bo Young's disaster movie "Concrete Utopia" had 8 nominations, followed by "The Night Owl" with 7 nominations.

READ MORE: Lee Dong Hwi Exposes Esom's Bad Habit on the Set of 'Dr Cheon and Lost Talisman': 'She secretly...'

For the complete list of the 32nd Buil Film Awards, check out the nominees below.

Best Director

• Yim Soon-rye, The Point Men (2023)
• Jung Juri, Next Sohee (2022)
• Roo Seung-wan, Smugglers (2023)
• Um Tae-Hwa, Concrete Utopia (2023)
• Hong Sang-soo, Walk Up (2022)

Best New Director

• Kim Sein, The Apartment with Two Women (2022)
• Park Song-yeol, Hot in the Day, Cold at Night (2022)
• Lee Ji-eun, The Hill of Secrets (2022)
• Choi Seung-yeon, Sprinter (2022)
• Ahn Tae-jin, The Night Owl (2022)

Best Actor

• Doh Kyung-soo, The Moon (2023)
• Ryu Jun-yeol, The Night Owl (2022)
• Yoo Hae-jin, The Night Owl (2022)
• Yim Si-wan, Unlocked (2023)
• Lee Byung-hun, Concrete Utopia (2023)

Best Actress

• Yang Malbok, The Apartment with Two Women (2022)
• Jeon Do-yeon, Kill Boksoon (2023)
• Bae Doona, Next Sohee (2022)
• Yum Jung-ah, Smugglers (2023)
• Kim Seo-hyung, Greenhouse (2022)

Best Supporting Actor

• Kang Ki-young, The Point Men (2023)
• Kim Jong-soo, Smugglers (2023)
• Park Jeong-min, Smugglers (2023)
• Kyo Kyu-pil, The Roundup: No Way Out (2023)
• Kim Sung-cheol, The Night Owl (2022)

Best Supporting Actress

• Lee Yeon, Kill Boksoon (2023)
• Go Minsi, Smugglers (2023)
• Na Moon-hee, Hero (2022)
• Park Sewan, 6/45 (2022)
• Kim Sun-young, Concrete Utopia (2023)

Best New Actor

• Byeon Woo-seok, 20th Century Girl (2022)
• Jung Il-woo, Highway Family (2022)
• Kim Seonho, The Childe (2023)
• Lee Shin-young, Rebound (2023)
• Lee Soon-won, 6/45 (2022)

Best New Actress

• Im Jee-ho, The Apartment with Two Women (2022)
• Kim Si-eun, Next Sohee (2022)
• Kim Yong-ji, Doom Doom (2022)
• Go Minsi, Smugglers (2023)
• Ahn Eun-jin, The Night Owl (2022)

Best Cinematography

• Kim Young-ho, The Moon (2023)
• Choi Young-hwan, Smugglers (2023)
• Kim Tae-seong, Ransomed (2023)
• Cho Sang-yoon, Hero (2022)
• Cho Hyung-rae, Concrete Utopia (2023)

Best Film or Picture

• Next Sohee (2022)
• Smugglers (2023)
• The Night Owl (2022)
• Concrete Utopia (2023)
• Walk Up (2022)

Best Art or Technical Award

• Jin Jong-hyun, The Moon (2023)
• Lee Hu-Kyung, Smugglers (2023)
• Kim Bo-muk, Phantom (2023)
• Cho Hwa-sung, Concrete Utopia (2023)
• Shin Yu-jin, Killing Romance (2023)

Best Screenplay

• Kim Sein, The Apartment with Two Women (2022)
• Jung Juri, Next Sohee (2022)
• Han Gyu-ri and Ahn Tae-jin, The Night Owl (2022)
• Park Gyu-tae, 6/45 (2022)
• Lee Sin-Ji and Um Tae-Hwa, Concrete Utopia (2023)

Best Music

• Chang Kiha, Smugglers (2023)
• Hwang Sang-jun, Hero (2022)
• Kang Ki-young, Phantom (2023)
• Kim Joon-seok, Life Is Beautiful (2022)
• Kim Hae-won, Concrete Utopia (2023)

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Written by Geca Wills