The Baeksang Arts Awards, a prestigious event with a 61-year history, is set to commence.
The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci, the only comprehensive arts awards in Korea covering television, film, and theater, will take place at 8 PM on May 5th at the COEX D Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. The event will be hosted by the esteemed trio of Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum.
Celebrating its 61st year, the Baeksang Arts Awards aims to maintain its identity as a festival for all in the entertainment industry while introducing changes such as renaming the TV category to the Broadcasting category.
Known for its credibility and fairness, this year's ceremony will bring together industry professionals from broadcasting, film, and theater who have excelled over the past year.
The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci marks the third consecutive year of partnership with the Italian luxury brand Gucci. The event will be broadcast live on JTBC, JTBC2, and JTBC4, and digitally streamed on Prism, Naver TV, and Chizichic.
Broadcasting Category
This year, the Baeksang Awards have renamed the TV category to the Broadcasting category, welcoming key figures who have transcended platform boundaries. From stars of last year's hit shows to promising newcomers, nominees at the heart of K-content will gather to celebrate.
Leading the nominations with eight nods, "You Have Done Well" boasts the most attendees. Director Kim Won-seok and the production team, along with Best Actor and Actress nominees Park Bo-gum and IU, will reunite at the Baeksang Awards. Supporting Actor and Actress nominees Choi Dae-hoon and Yum Hye-ran, as well as Best New Actress nominee Kim Tae-yeon, will also attend.
The "Run Away with Seonjae" phenomenon will be recreated at the Baeksang Awards. Writer Lee Si-eun, along with Byun Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, and Song Geon-hee, will capture fans' attention. Byun Woo-seok, who was a Best New Actor nominee in the film category at the 59th Baeksang Awards, returns as a Best Actor nominee in the Broadcasting category after two years.
Director Lee Do-yoon, Joo Ji-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Ha Young from the "Trauma Center" team will showcase their teamwork once again at the Baeksang Awards. All nominees have confirmed their attendance, drawing more attention. Kim Tae-ri, Oh Kyung-hwa, and Jung Eun-chae will gather to continue the legacy of "Jeongnyeoni." Kim Tae-ri, who won Best Actress in the TV category at the 58th Baeksang Awards, is anticipated to take home another trophy after three years.
Jang Na-ra, who won her first acting award with "Good Partner," is nominated for Best Actress, while Kim Jun-han, nominated for Supporting Actor, returns to the Baeksang Awards for the third time. Writer Choi Yoo-na will also be present. Scene-stealer Kim Jae-hwa from "Lady Ok's Story" is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and rising star Choo Young-woo, nominated for Best New Actor, has confirmed his attendance. Director Song Yeon-hwa, cinematographer Lee Deok-hoon, Kim Jung-jin, and Chae Won-bin from "Intimate Betrayal" will make their first appearance at the Baeksang Awards. The beloved duo of Lee Joon-hyuk and Hyun Bong-sik from "Good or Bad Dong-jae" will reunite.
Actor Kim Hee-won will attend as the director of "Lighting Store." Go Min-si will represent "In the Forest Where No One Exists" as a Best Actress nominee. No Jae-won, nominated for Best Supporting Actor, will represent the "Squid Game" Season 2 team. Kim Guk-hee, praised for "Family Planning," will also attend the Baeksang Awards. Cha Woo-min from "Study Group" and Heo Nam-jun from "Your Honor" are nominated for Best New Actor, while No Jeong-eui from "The Witch" and Jo Yoon-soo from "Tyrant" are nominated for Best New Actress, representing their respective works. Supervisors Hong Jung-ho, Lee Seung-jae, and Kim Jung-min, responsible for the VFX of "Hellbound" Season 2, have confirmed their attendance as nominees for the Art Award.
The variety show nominees, spanning generations and platforms, reflect the Baeksang Awards' commitment to diversity. Veteran Shin Dong-yup and Yoo Jae-suk, genre-crossing Sung Si-kyung, the hottest entertainer Dex, and rising star Kim Won-hoon are nominated for Best Male Entertainer. Best Female Entertainer nominees include the consistently strong Hong Jin-kyung and Jang Do-yeon, the newly popular Lee Soo-ji, and rising variety show stars Ji Ye-eun and Haewon.
Creators of "Iron Girl Squad," "Stage Fighter," "The Life of Ajossi," "Wind Direction GO," "Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War," "DocuPrime - Where Is My Last Home," "All Family," "Become the Wind, With You Again," "Hakjeon and Kim Min-ki's Back," and "Shaman: Ghost Story" will compete for the Baeksang trophy. "Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War" will be celebrated with the production team and art director Lee Young-joo.
Film Category
In the film category, filmmakers who have brought laughter, comfort, and hope to audiences despite challenging circumstances over the past year will be present at the Baeksang Awards. With producers, directors, and 30 actor nominees all confirming attendance, the Baeksang Awards boast an "unprecedented attendance rate."
"The Laws of Love in a Big City," "Revolver," "War," and "Harbin," each nominated in five categories including Best Picture, will attend as teams. "The Laws of Love in a Big City," aiming for two trophies with nominations for Best Picture and the Gucci Impact Award, will be led by director Lee Eon-hee. Last year's Best Actress winner Kim Go-eun returns to the Baeksang Awards after a year, and No Sang-hyun makes his debut with excitement.
"Revolver" sees the return of veteran actress Jeon Do-yeon to the awards scene, enhancing the Baeksang Awards' prestige. Rising star Lim Ji-yeon and director Oh Seung-wook will join her. Hyun Bin, who has added "Harbin" to his impressive filmography, will also attend, completing the Baeksang Awards' star-studded lineup. Director Woo Min-ho and Jo Woo-jin's presence adds strength both on and off the screen.
The "War" team, the first Netflix film to be nominated for Best Picture in the Baeksang film category, will attend in full force. Global auteur Park Chan-wook leads the charge. Park Chan-wook, who participated in production and screenplay writing, is nominated for Best Screenplay alongside writer Shin Chul. Director Kim Sang-man, though not nominated for Best Director, will share in the joy as part of the Best Picture nominee team. Familiar faces like Baeksang regular Park Jung-min and first-time Best New Actor nominee Jung Sung-il will be warmly welcomed.
Films with strong female narratives, "Black Nuns" and "Hidden Face," will be represented by their actors. Song Hye-kyo, who has beautifully evolved as an actress, continues her three-year streak with the Baeksang Awards, transitioning from TV to film with the occult movie "Black Nuns." Jeon Yeo-bin and Moon Woo-jin will support her warmly. Jo Yeo-jeong and Park Ji-hyun from "Hidden Face," who have shattered genre stereotypes with their performances, will also reunite at the Baeksang Awards.
Comedy favorites "Handsome Guys" and "Pilot" will bring laughter to the Baeksang Awards. Director Nam Dong-hyup, Lee Hee-jun, Gong Seung-yeon, Jo Jung-suk, Han Sun-hwa, and makeup director Lee Seo-jin promise an entertaining Baeksang Awards experience. Director Kim Hyung-joo and Lee Byung-hun from "The Match," director Park Yi-woong and Yoon Joo-sang from "The Seagull," director Jung Ji-hye and Kim Geum-soon from "Jeongsoon," director Lee Jong-pil and Koo Kyo-hwan from "Escape," director Jung Hae-in and martial arts director Yoo Sang-seop from "Veteran 2," and director Oh Jung-min and Kang Seung-ho from "The Eldest Son" will attend as pairs.
Additionally, director Lee Sang-chul and actor Sung Do-hyun from "To Her" are nominated for the Gucci Impact Award. Director Kim Se-hwi from "She Died," director Lee Mi-rang from "About a Daughter," Yoo Jae-myung from "The Land of Happiness," Soo-hyun from "Ordinary Family," Jang Sung-beom from "Things to Do," Lee Myung-ha from "Widow," Lee Hye-ri from "Victory," Ha Seo-yoon from "Streaming," No Yoon-seo from "Listening," and supervisor Park Byung-joo from "Wonderland" proudly represent their respective works as the sole nominees.
Theater Category
The theater category, which was revived at the 55th Baeksang Awards after 18 years, will present its seventh set of winners. As in previous years, awards will be given for the Baeksang Theater Award, Acting Award, and Young Theater Award. The unique aspect of being the only theater awards ceremony with media coverage adds to the weight and high attendance rate, supporting the strength of the theater category.
Three productions, each nominated for both the Baeksang Theater Award and Acting Award, will have their production teams, directors, and actors attend the Baeksang Awards. "The Jew of Malta" will be represented by director Lee Gon, Ma Jeong-hwa, the head of the theater company Jeok, and actor Kwak Ji-sook. "Jincheon Recommends Jincheon Recommends Jincheon Recommends Jincheon Recommends" will be represented by director Lee Cheol-hee and actor Jo Young-kyu. "The Sound of the Flute" will be represented by director Ko Seon-woong, producer Park Ji-hwan, and actor Jung Sae-byul.
Another Baeksang Theater Award nominee, "Gumi-style," will be represented by actor Yoon Kyung, and "The Eldest Daughters" will be represented by director Seo Ji-hye. Acting Award nominees Lee Jin-kyung from "Women on Earth" and Choi Hee-jin from "All" will walk the Baeksang red carpet.
The Young Theater Award, which seeks the freshness of youth rather than biological age, will feature director Kang Hoon-goo from the theater company Gongnori Club's "Dried Peppers and Peach Scented Lipstick," producer Lee Bo-ram from the theater company Universal Theater's "Romance of Destruction," director Jeon Yoon-hwan and producer Kwon Geun-young from the theater company And Theater's "Uwon," director Lee Seung-won from "The Seagull," and director Lee Tae-rin from "1923 Korean Choi Young-woo" as nominees and representatives.
Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr