[All] '62nd Baeksang' Wins Grand Prize for Convincing and Empathizing with Ryu Seung-ryong and Yoo Hae-jin
[JTBC Enter News = Reporter Jung Ha-eun] The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards concluded successfully, highlighting outstanding works and popular culture artists with award results that evoked understanding and empathy.
The '62nd Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci' was held on May 8 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. As the nation's only comprehensive arts awards ceremony encompassing broadcasting, film, theater, and musicals, intense attention was focused on the results of the awards in all categories.
▲ Broadcasting Division
The Grand Prize in the broadcasting category went to Ryu Seung-ryong. He is the leading figure who moved the hearts of viewers with his realistic and passionate performance as Kim Nak-su, a family man in his 50s living in his own home in Seoul and working for a large corporation. Having fully embodied the pathos of an extremely realistic character, Ryu Seung-ryong painted a self-portrait of the times with his signature performance full of humanity, once again imprinting his irreplaceable presence. With this, Ryu Seung-ryong set a record as the first person to sweep both the Grand Prize in the film category and the Grand Prize in the broadcasting category at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards. Holding the Grand Prize trophy in his arms, Ryu Seung-ryong left a lasting impression once again with a witty acceptance speech: "Seung-ryong, you did a great job. And to all the Nak-su's across the country, be happy."
The Best Drama Series award went to 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon'. This result demonstrates the power of a calm yet profound story in a rapidly changing content market. It was recognized as a high-quality drama where every element—from the message and direction to the excellent performances of the actors—was in harmony. It achieved the honor of the award by capturing both artistic merit and popular appeal through a challenging endeavor.
The Best Variety Show Award went to 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-kyung'. 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-kyung' was the protagonist that sparked the women's volleyball syndrome last year. The program generated immense buzz by capturing the journey of world-class volleyball star Kim Yeon-kyung as she became the rookie coach of the 'Wonder Dogs' and grew alongside her players. It received praise for proving the positive influence of variety shows as the program's popularity spread throughout the women's volleyball community.
The Cultural Program Award went to 'Docu Insight: Our Time Is Shining.' This documentary captures the friendship and eventual farewell between 70-year-old Grandpa Kim Jong-do and his eight-year-old neighbor, Woori, in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. It garnered praise for calmly portraying the process of the two becoming friends across generations and for delicately conveying the values of coexistence and communication.
Director Park Shin-woo of 'Unknown Seoul' was named the winner of the Best Director Award. His strength was highly praised for his steadfast portrayal, with a weighty touch, of the journey to find the true definition of happiness through the story of twin sisters who swapped lives. The Best Screenplay Award went to writer Song Hye-jin of 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon.' Her writing prowess, which unfolded the love-hate and friendship between the two friends like a novel, moved many viewers to tears. Music Director Kang Seung-won, who is in charge of the 'The Seasons' series, became the recipient of the Best Art Award in recognition of his contribution to preserving the program's identity.
Hyun Bin of 'Made in Korea' won the Best Actor award, while Park Bo-young of 'The Unknown Seoul' took home the Best Actress award. Hyun Bin displayed a weighty charisma, controlling the tension of the drama with a sharp performance that head-on confronted the turbulent waves of the times. Park Bo-young undertook the bold challenge of playing two roles. Meticulously portraying the nuances of her characters, she completed the lyrical depth of 'The Unknown Seoul' with her signature emotional acting. The portrayal of 'me,' 'you,' and 'us' by Park Bo-young conveyed empathy, emotion, and comfort.
Yoo Seung-mok of 'The Story of Manager Kim, Who Lives in Seoul and Works for a Conglomerate' and Im Soo-jung of 'Fine: Country Bumpkins' achieved the feat of winning the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards, respectively. Their underlying strength, which conveyed the message contained in the dramas while displaying a dazzling presence, moved the hearts of many. Lee Chae-min of 'The Tyrant's Chef' and Bang Hyo-rin of 'The Horsewoman' became the recipients of the once-in-a-lifetime Best New Actor and Actress awards. Lee Chae-min struck the perfect balance between historical drama and romantic comedy, while Bang Hyo-rin foreshadowed the birth of a star with a bold and intense energy uncharacteristic of a newcomer.
'Authenticity' was the key keyword for the Variety Award. Kian84, who has established an unrivaled position with his 'unadorned' concept, achieved the feat of winning on his third attempt, following 2023 and 2024. Lee Suzy lifted the Variety Award trophy for the second consecutive year, following last year. The sharp blade of satire, honed through various characters such as a 'Daechi Mom' and a kindergarten teacher, led to the win.
The judges in the broadcasting category stated, "It was a year with many works and characters that resonated across different eras and generations. The works fully captured a diverse range of stories, from the worries of those in their 20s and the concerns of middle-aged people approaching retirement, to human desires, friendship and love, and even the contemplation of death that everyone faces at least once," adding, "Regardless of genre, the content even fostered communication between generations."
▲ Film Division
The Grand Prize in the film category, which garnered immense attention right up until the day of the awards, was awarded to Yoo Hae-jin for *The Man Who Lives with King*. His power as a national actor—playing the title role in *The Man Who Lives with King*, which boasts a cumulative audience of 16.8 million, and having starred in five films that surpassed 10 million viewers—led to him becoming the recipient of the Baeksang Grand Prize trophy. Although he has long enjoyed a reputation as a talented actor, Yoo Hae-jin and his character Uhm Heung-do in *The Man Who Lives with King* imprinted a sincerity on everyone that cannot be simply described as "acting." Consequently, Yoo Hae-jin, who had been a nominee for a long time since winning Best Supporting Actor in the film category at the 51st awards, moved audiences to tears once again with the massive hit of the Grand Prize, his first in 11 years. Yoo Hae-jin also gave credit to the audience, saying, "I would like to express my gratitude to the 17 million viewers who came to see *The Man Who Lives with King*. It was a theater full of people with healthy complexions."
"The Man Who Lives with King," which brought Yoo Hae-jin his first Grand Prize, won the Gucci Impact Awards under this year's "The Stage of Impact" theme, which recognized "works that expand audience perception and shape social discourse through powerful cinematic messages." It also took home the Best New Actor award for Park Ji-hoon, who played a significant role in rewriting the history of Korean box office success and sparked the "Danjong fever" and "Danjong syndrome," prompting a re-evaluation of a well-known historical figure. With these achievements, it became the film with the most awards this year.
The Best Picture award went to Director Park Chan-wook’s *Unavoidable*, a black comedy that captivated audiences beyond Korea and globally by portraying the realistic global issues of mass unemployment caused by AI and the job crisis. The film resonated deeply with audiences for its poignant and weighty story capturing moments in life that do not go as planned. Furthermore, Lee Sung-min, who delivered a masterful performance within the story, confirmed his boundless spectrum by winning Best Supporting Actor after previously receiving Best Actor and Best Actor awards for both film and television.
"Master of the World," which garnered the attention of the domestic and international film industry as the best independent film of last year, also shone as a double winner. Director Yoon Ga-eun, recognized for her directing power that deeply draws the audience in solely through the characters' gazes and a twist that wasn't quite a twist, confidently clinched the Best Director award, satisfying everyone. Seo Su-bin, who became the master of Director Yoon's film, delivered an unsurprising result by taking home the Best New Actress award—a prize that can only be won once in a lifetime—for her realistic portrayal of the character.
In the results of this year's Baeksang Arts Awards, where "growth" emerged as another keyword, the Best Actor and Best Actress awards further solidified their respective identities. Park Jung-min of *The Face* and Moon Ga-young of *If We* won side by side, proving that they represent a new generation that has already become the center of Chungmuro. In particular, Park Jung-min of *The Face* achieved the "first-ever Grand Slam" by winning Best Actor, Best New Actor, and Best Supporting Actor for his intense performance in a dual role. Moon Ga-young of *If We* secured the universally recognized title of "Melodrama Queen" by delicately unfolding the melodramatic skills she had honed on television onto the big screen.
The Best Supporting Actress award went to Shin Se-kyung for *HUMINT*, who was acclaimed for her passionate performance convincingly portraying a North Korean waitress—essentially the title character of the film—and for her role as the puzzle piece that finally completed the genre. The Best Screenplay award was given to directors Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-sung for *Good News*, which rewrote a famous true story with cinematic wit. The Best New Director award went to Park Joon-ho for *3670*, who highlighted both realism and cinematic appeal by featuring a protagonist who is a minority within a minority: a North Korean LGBTQ+ defector. This raised expectations for a bright future for the independent film scene. The Art Direction award was presented to Music Director Lee Min-hui of *Pavane*, who moved hearts with music full of cinematic sensibility.
The film jury stated, "The film sector, which has left us with challenges both big and small every year, temporarily broke away from the atmosphere of being a declining industry this year and returned vibrant theaters to audiences for the first time in a while. It was also full of diversity, ranging from commercial films and independent films to OTT movies." They added, "We extend our sincere gratitude not only to the filmmakers who presented high-quality films without giving up, but also to the audiences who waited for and responded to the revival of movies and the film industry with unwavering affection, even while sometimes offering harsh criticism without compromise."
▲ Theater Division
The Baeksang Arts Awards, equivalent to the Grand Prize in the theater category this year, went to "Jellyfish" by the Korea Disabled Persons Culture & Arts Center and Creative Table Seokyeong, which depicts the love and independence of Kelly, a person with Down syndrome, based on the original work by British playwright Ben Weatherill. The Young Theater Award was presented to the Theater Company Chariot of Fire, which was praised for "showing hope by clearly revealing an exploration of theatrical language more distinctly than any other team," while the Best Actor Award was given to Kim Shin-rok of "Prima Passi," who captivated the audience with her high level of appeal even amidst the recent trend of one-person plays in the theater scene. By adding a trophy in the theater category to her win of the Best Supporting Actress in the TV category at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards, Kim Shin-rok has firmly established herself at the true center of popular culture and arts.
The judges for the theater category stated, "We placed the greatest emphasis on artistic excellence and popular appeal, adding customized evaluation criteria for each field," and added, "While the process of reaching the results was by no means easy, we believe this year's awards will serve as a turning point to gauge the current state and future direction of the theater industry."
▲ Musical Division
The honor of the first Best Musical Award in the Musical category, newly established at this year's Baeksang Arts Awards to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korean musicals, went to 'Dream of the Peach Blossom Land'. It demonstrated the power of 'K-Musical' by infusing a story based on the legend of Domi with Korean aesthetics. The winner of the Best Original Creation Award was choreographer Seo Byung-gu, who showcased delicate yet dynamic choreography with 'Evita'. Kim Jun-su, who broke his own limits by challenging the black comedy genre with 'Beetlejuice', took home the prestigious first Best Actor trophy.
The judges of the musical category stated, "It is even more meaningful that the musical category was newly established to mark the 60th anniversary of musicals," adding, "Works that have garnered a positive response from audiences of various generations and possess competitiveness in the global market have emerged, proving the qualitative and quantitative growth of K-musicals simultaneously. The industry's attention is focused on the achievements that the musical category will reap at this year's Baeksang Awards, as it has embarked on a new leap forward by expanding the boundaries of stage art."
Meanwhile, voting for the Naver Popularity Award at the Baeksang Arts Awards, selected 100% by vote, took place for 12 days from April 24 to May 5. 41 male and 38 female nominees were selected from the broadcasting, film, theater, and musical categories. Following fierce voting, Park Ji-hoon from the movie 'The King and the Clown' (1,095,330 votes) and Im Yoon-ah from the tvN drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' (406,877 votes), who received the most votes among the male and female nominees respectively, were chosen by fans as the winners of the Naver Popularity Award.
