Choi Min-sik wins Grand Prize at Baeksang Awards in Seoul

Los Angeles: Popular South Korean actor Choi Min-sik took home the grand prize at the 2015 Baeksang Arts Awards for his leading role in the record-setting film "Roaring Currents".

The movie beat the long-standing score of Avatar (13.3 million admissions) to become Korea's most-watched (17.6 million admissions) and highest-grossing (USD 123 million) film of all time last summer, said The Hollywood Reporter.

The annual awards ceremony is one of the country's top entertainment industry events, and the 51st edition took place at Kyung Hee University's Peace Hall in Seoul.

Sharing the grand prize with Choi was star TV producer Na Young-seok. Na has been behind some of the country's most popular programs including "Grandpas Over Flowers", a reality show featuring elderly actors backpacking overseas. NBC announced plans to adapt the show for American audiences last year.

Meanwhile, "Revivre", the 102nd film by veteran director Im Kwon-taek, won best film and supporting actress (Kim Ho-jung).

"A Hard Day", an actioner that received positive reviews at Cannes last year, took home awards for best director (Kim Seong-hun) and actor (Lee Sun-kyun).

July Jung was given the best new filmmaker award for "A Girl at My Door", which was also invited to show at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Yum Jung-ah was named best actress for "Cart", which premiered at Toronto last year. The film penned by Kim Kyung-chan also won best screenplay.

Pop star-turned-actor Park Yoo-chun won best actor for "Sea Fog" (aka Haemoo), Korea's Oscar submission produced by Bong Joon Ho.

Chun Woo-hee, who won critical praise for her role in the hit indie film "Han Gong-ju", won best new actress.

In the television category, "Misaeng", a rare smash hit among cable TV dramas, swept several awards including best director, best actor and best new actor.