The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci, held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on May 5, stood out as Korea’s only all-encompassing arts awards ceremony, honoring achievements across broadcasting, film, and theater. The spotlight was on each category as the night unfolded with remarkable wins and firsts.
The judging panel noted this year’s particularly fierce competition, with many entries gaining international acclaim. After intense deliberation, they arrived at a consensus that upheld the Baeksang values of popularity, artistry, and cultural relevance—honoring works that reinvigorated the industry amidst challenging times.
Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars made history as the first entertainment program to win the Grand Prize in the Broadcasting Category, going beyond simple entertainment to spark cultural conversations and spawn a wave of related content. Its boundary-breaking influence earned it the title of a full-fledged media phenomenon.
Best Director went to Doubt‘s Song Yeon-hwa, whose subtle and persistent vision earned her the award for her first full-length project. Meanwhile, writer Lim Sang-choon was awarded Best Screenplay for When Life Gives You Tangerines, praised for its emotionally rich and character-driven storytelling. Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born music director Jang Young-gyu received the Best Art Award for his compelling use of traditional Korean music, which shaped the drama’s entire tone.
In the acting categories, Ju Ji Hoon was honored with Best Male Actor for his gripping performance in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, while Kim Tae Ri won Best Female Actress for her powerful role in Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, a performance that included three years of voice training.
Supporting roles shone as well—Choi Dae Hoon and Yeom Hye Ran, both from When Life Gives You Tangerines, claimed the Best Supporting Actor awards for their dynamic contributions to the show’s humor and depth.
Rising stars Choo Young Woo (The Tale of Lady Ok) and Chae Won Bin (Doubt) were celebrated with the Rookie Acting Awards, recognized for their standout presence and memorable performances.
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