Lee Kwang-soo has picked up a major government honor. The South Korean actor and entertainer received a Prime Minister’s Commendation on October 27, 2026, at the 11th Financial Day ceremony held at The Westin Josun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. The award recognized his charitable work, including support for pediatric patients’ medical costs and relief supplies, along with his practice of sound saving and investing.
The honor lands at a busy moment for Lee Kwang-soo. His public relationship with actress Lee Sun-bin has been steady since 2018, now spanning eight years. Separately, his playful use of the fan messaging app Dear U Bubble has turned him into one of the platform’s most talked-about stars, drawing over 20,000 subscribers in just 10 days.
What the Prime Minister Commendation Recognizes
The Financial Services Commission presented awards to 194 people across three categories: innovative finance, inclusive finance, and saving and investment. Lee Kwang-soo was honored in the saving and investment category for activities that include covering medical treatment costs for children, providing relief supplies, donating his talents, and maintaining healthy financial habits.
“We will actively identify virtuous cycles in which finance builds the foundation of future industries, creates local jobs and, through social contribution projects, cares for the lives of neighbors in difficulty,” FSC Chairman Lee Eok-won said at the ceremony.
Actress Park Eun-bin also received a commendation at the same event, taking home the FSC Chairman’s Commendation for social contribution campaigns and fan-led donation work.
The Eight-Year Relationship With Lee Sun-bin
Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Sun-bin first met through SBS’s Running Man in 2016, when Lee Sun-bin appeared as a guest. The two confirmed their relationship publicly in 2018 and have stayed together since. The couple keeps their relationship relatively low-key, but Lee Sun-bin has shared small details about how they support each other.
“Both of us are not good at expressing ourselves face-to-face. We are pacifists,” Lee Sun-bin said on SBS’s Geojang Hangjun in October 2026. “Talking to each other is a great comfort”.
Lee Sun-bin also said they talk often about work, venting about difficult moments on set and sharing what they feel. No marriage plans have been announced by either side.
How Lee Kwang-soo Turned Bubble Into a Fan Favorite
Lee Kwang-soo opened his Bubble channel on October 1, 2026. The paid messaging service costs 5,000 won (about $3.80) per month and lets celebrities send one-on-one style messages to subscribers. Within 10 days, he crossed 20,000 subscribers. Reports say he sends dozens of messages a day, runs polls, and asks fans for advice on everyday choices.
“I simply shared a photo of me on IV, and most of the messages I get every second are telling me to stop messaging and go to bed,” Lee Kwang-soo wrote on October 7. “I am very thankful, and at a loss for words. I will live with the gratitude on my heart”.
His activity has pulled in celebrity subscribers as well. Actors Kim Woo-bin and Park Bo-young, along with idols from groups like IVE and Kiss of Life, have either subscribed or shown interest in his Bubble updates. The surge in sign-ups briefly pushed the Bubble app to the top of App Store download charts.
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Lee Sun-bin Calls Herself a Private Subscriber
Lee Sun-bin was asked in an October 21 interview whether she subscribed to her boyfriend’s Bubble. Her answer drew laughter.
“I haven’t gone that far… I think it’s impossible for me to do that,” she said. “I can check it later if I’m curious, but since fans love it so much, everything gets shared even without my subscription”.
She also joked that she is his “private subscriber,” a line that spread quickly across Korean entertainment outlets. Lee Sun-bin added that she supports the platform because it gives actors a direct way to reach fans outside of dramas and films.
Lee Kwang-soo continues to balance charity work, fan communication, and acting. His upcoming projects include the Disney+ series A Man’s Man and the film The Gardeners, both scheduled for 2027. The Prime Minister’s Commendation adds a government-level recognition to a career already built on comedy, variety shows, and a long-running public relationship.
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