Kim Yoo-jung's Stellar Performance in 'Dear X' Overlooked by Baeksang Arts Awards
The TVING original series 'Dear X', which gained attention for actress Kim Yoo-jung's (26) transformation into a sociopath, has been excluded from the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards nominations. Despite its popularity, the series did not receive a single nomination, raising questions about the selection criteria.
Kim Yoo-jung's Stellar Performance in 'Dear X' Overlooked by Baeksang Arts Awards
On the 13th, the Baeksang Arts Awards Secretariat announced the nominees on their official website. The drama category for the '62nd Baeksang Arts Awards', set to take place on May 8, includes tvN's 'Unknown Seoul', JTBC's 'The Story of Manager Kim at a Major Company in Seoul', Netflix's 'Eunjung and Sangyeon', Disney+'s 'Pine: The Country Bumpkins', and MBC's 'The Tyrant's Chef'. The Best Actress nominees are Kim Go-eun (Netflix's 'Eunjung and Sangyeon'), Park Bo-young (tvN's 'Unknown Seoul'), Park Ji-hyun (Netflix's 'Eunjung and Sangyeon'), Shin Hye-sun (SBS's 'Lady Doo-ah'), and Im Yoon-ah (MBC's 'The Tyrant's Chef'). Despite its high popularity throughout its airing, 'Dear X' and its cast were not included in the nominations.
The exclusion is particularly disappointing due to Kim Yoo-jung's outstanding performance. In 'Dear X', Kim Yoo-jung plays Baek Ah-jin, a sociopath who uses others as tools, portraying the psychological fractures of a character distorted by childhood abuse from her parents and stepmother. Her nuanced performance, including a scene where she smiles and cries simultaneously after being beaten by her father, and her chilling expressions and tone that dismantle other characters, have been praised for their depth.
Kim Yoo-jung's Stellar Performance in 'Dear X' Overlooked by Baeksang Arts Awards
Thanks to such a compelling performance, 'Dear X' achieved significant success both domestically and internationally. Kim Yoo-jung topped the TV-OTT integrated drama actor popularity ranking just two weeks after its release, and the series reached number one in 108 countries, including the US, Brazil, and the UK, through Rakuten Viki. The performances of Kim Do-hoon, Lee Yeol-eum, and Bae Soo-bin also received acclaim.
Despite being regarded as a well-made production, the industry's analysis suggests various reasons for Baeksang's snub of 'Dear X'. A broadcasting insider noted, “The high rating of 19+ may have been a factor that pushed it down the priority list during the judging process.” The view is that the provocative nature of the content or its rating may have negatively impacted its nomination chances.
Kim Yoo-jung's Stellar Performance in 'Dear X' Overlooked by Baeksang Arts Awards
Of course, award nominations consider not only popularity but also artistic merit and other criteria. There are aspects that make direct comparisons with other competitors difficult. However, the general sentiment is that it is hard to accept that a work with such clear presence in terms of acting and success was not even included in the nominations.
The authority of an awards ceremony comes from fair criteria. Barriers like content themes or viewing ratings should not obstruct an actor's efforts. It is regrettable that Kim Yoo-jung's 'performance of a lifetime' and the production team's efforts are overshadowed by the lack of nominations.
