Top comedian Yoo Jae-suk, arguably the biggest television celebrity in Korean broadcasting, won the grand prize at the MBC Entertainment Awards on Wednesday.

This year’s award makes it the 16th grand prize win for the 49-year-old comedian if combined with his previous awards from the country’s three major broadcasters -- at KBS in 2005 and 2014, at SBS in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019, and at MBC in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2020.

This year’s award recognized Yoo’s dedication and performances on MBC’s hit program “Hangout with Yoo.”

“As more people are suffering from the extended COVID-19 pandemic, I think it becomes clear for the comedians to know their role. I will make you guys laugh until the day my body runs out of energy with my fellow comedians and colleagues,” Yoo said at the awards ceremony at MBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul.

While thanking viewers, production staffers, the celebrities and members of the public who took part in his program, Yoo also paid respect to the late comedian Kim Chul-min and television director Kim Tae-ho as well, who worked with Yoo in one of South Korea’s longest-running and most successful variety shows, “Infinite Challenge.” Kim Tae-ho is scheduled to leave MBC later this year after 20 years with the company.

Proving the program’s popularity, the members of “Hangout with Yoo” also took home other honors as well. Lee Mi-joo won the female rookie award; Park Jae-jung the male rookie award; Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Mi-joo and rapper Haha the best couple award; Haha and comedian Jung Jun-ha the best character award; and MSG Wannabe the best teamwork award. The show was also awarded the variety program of the year.

Yoo has fully recovered from COVID-19 and was released from quarantine on Dec. 21, his agency said.