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| Song Weilong Stuns With Korean Speech as Tian Xiwei Wins Hearts at Global OTT Awards. (Credits: Sina) |
Song Weilong and Tian Xiwei turned one of the biggest nights in Asian streaming entertainment into a celebration for Chinese drama fans after both stars secured the coveted People’s Choice Awards at the 2026 Global OTT Awards in Busan, South Korea. Arriving among the final celebrities to walk the red carpet, the pair received some of the loudest cheers of the evening before later stepping onto the stage to collect trophies that reflected just how far C-dramas have travelled beyond their home market.
The win marked another major milestone for Song Weilong, whose performance as Lin Yusen in Shine on Me earned approximately 7.82 million votes from viewers worldwide.
Tian Xiwei, meanwhile, claimed the female category with around 7.06 million votes thanks to her portrayal of Fan Changyu in Pursuit of Jade, a drama that has continued to gather attention across multiple international markets.
Held at the Busan Cinema Center on 20 June, the ceremony placed both actors firmly in the spotlight. They were among the most anticipated arrivals on the red carpet, with photographers and fans eager to catch a glimpse of two stars whose popularity has surged dramatically over the past year.
If the organisers were hoping to save some excitement for later in the evening, putting Song Weilong and Tian Xiwei near the end of the arrivals list was certainly one way to do it.
When it came time to accept his award, Song Weilong showed his appreciation for the international audience by opening in Korean.
“Annyeong haseyo!” he greeted the crowd before thanking viewers and supporters for their continued love. The actor, who introduced himself as a Chinese actor, kept his speech warm and sincere, earning another round of applause from attendees who appreciated the effort.
It turns out that winning an award is impressive, but winning one while speaking directly to local fans in their language scores a few extra points as well.
Tian Xiwei delivered one of the most talked-about speeches of the night. Speaking in English, Chinese and Korean, she confidently addressed the audience despite later admitting she had been nervous beforehand.
“Hello everyone, my name is Tian Xiwei, I come from China and I’m an actress. It’s great to be here,” she began before thanking viewers and fans for their support.
She wrapped up her speech with a cheerful “Saranghae,” meaning “I love you,” sending the crowd into another wave of enthusiastic applause.
Although both stars were nominated in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories, neither took home those awards. Even so, their People’s Choice victories arguably generated just as much discussion online.
In many ways, audience-voted awards often reveal something equally important: who viewers are genuinely spending their evenings watching instead of promising themselves they will start a new series tomorrow.
One talking point that quickly emerged among drama followers was the absence of Zhang Linghe from the Best Actor nominees despite the enormous international success of Pursuit of Jade.
Many viewers expected to see the lead actor represented in the category, making his omission one of the biggest surprises surrounding the awards. At the same time, Deng Kai, whose profile also rose significantly through the drama, secured a nomination for Best Supporting Actor and gave fans another reason to celebrate.
Across Chinese social media platforms, reactions poured in almost immediately after the winners were announced. Supporters praised Song Weilong’s calm stage presence and multilingual effort, while Tian Xiwei’s confidence, elegance and trademark finger-heart gestures quickly became trending discussion topics.
Clips from their speeches spread rapidly, with many fans describing the moment as a proud showcase of Chinese talent on an international stage.
Not everyone focused solely on the awards themselves. Some netizens joked that Tian Xiwei looked far more relaxed than someone who had admitted to being nervous, while others teased that Song Weilong’s Korean greeting may have lasted only a few seconds but was enough to send fan communities into celebration mode.
Several viewers also pointed out that both stars appeared remarkably comfortable under the bright lights of a major international ceremony, something that is often easier said than done.
The buzz surrounding the awards has once again highlighted the growing influence of Chinese dramas in the global streaming market.
From Shine on Me to Pursuit of Jade, productions that were once discussed mainly within domestic circles are increasingly finding audiences across Asia and beyond. Judging by the reaction in Busan, viewers are paying attention, and they are doing so in very large numbers.
With fans still sharing clips, photos and reactions days after the ceremony, the conversation shows no sign of slowing down. Were Song Weilong and Tian Xiwei the right choices for the People’s Choice Awards? And do you think Zhang Linghe should have received a Best Actor nomination?