Hallyu fans, the *most awaited* event of the year is happening soon! The Baeksang Arts Awards just announced the nominees for their 59th year. If you're new to Korean awards ceremonies, here's a quick guide on the highly talked-about event.
What is the Baeksang Arts Awards?
If Hollywood has the Oscars, South Korea has the Baeksang Arts Awards. The annual event is hosted by TV network JTBC and newspaper Ilgan Sports. From K-dramas, Korean movies, Korean variety shows, and Korean plays, it recognizes the best of the best in the entertainment industry. The Baeksang Arts Awards was initiated by Hankook Ilbo founder Chang Key Young, whose pen name is Baeksang.
According to The Korea Times, selecting the winners for the Baeksang Arts Awards requires a "rigorous process." The nominees and nominated shows are presented to a diverse group of critics to allow for a broader viewpoint.
Who are the nominees for the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards?
We're not entirely sure how the judges selected the winners for this year's Baeksang, because all of the nominees deserve the recognition! For the Best Actor for Drama, Son Suk Ku (My Liberation Notes), Lee Byung Hun (Our Blues), Lee Sung Min (Reborn Rich), Jung Kyung Ho (Crash Course in Romance), and Choi Min Sik (Casino) are nominated.
Additionally, the Best Actress for Drama nominees are Kim Ji Won (My Liberation Notes), Kim Hye Soo (Under the Queen’s Umbrella), Park Eun Bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo), Song Hye Kyo (The Glory), and Bae Suzy (Anna).
Here are the rest of the nominees for the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards:
Best Supporting Actor for Drama
- Kang Ki Young (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
- Kim Do Hyun (Reborn Rich)
- Kim Jun Han (Anna)
- Park Sung Hoon (The Glory)
- Jo Woo Jin (Narco-Saints)
Best Supporting Actress for Drama
- Kim Shin Rok (Reborn Rich)
- Yeom Hye Ran (The Glory)
- Lee El (My Liberation Notes)
- Lim Ji Yeon (The Glory)
- Jung Eun Chae (Anna)
Best New Actor for Drama
- Kim Gun Woo (The Glory)
- Kim Min Ho (New Recruit)
- Moon Sang Min (Under the Queen’s Umbrella)
- Joo Jong Hyuk (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
- Hong Kyung (Weak Hero Class 1)
Best New Actress for Drama
- Kim Hieora (The Glory)
- Roh Yoon Seo (Crash Course in Romance)
- Lee Kyung Sung (My Liberation Notes)
- Joo Hyun Young (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
- Ha Yun Kyung (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
Best Director For Drama
- Kim Kyu Tae (Our Blues)
- Kim Seok Yoon (My Liberation Notes)
- Kim Hee Won (Little Women)
- Yoo In Shik (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
- Lee Joo Young (Anna)
Best Screenwriter For Drama
- Kim Eun Sook (The Glory)
- Moon Ji Won (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
- Park Hae Young (My Liberation Notes)
- Jeong Seo Kyung (Little Women)
- Hong Jung Eun, Hong Mi Ran (Alchemy of Souls)
Best Drama
Best Actor for Film
- Ma Dong Seok (The Roundup)
- Ryu Jun Yeol (The Night Owl)
- Park Hae Il (Decision to Leave)
- Song Kang Ho (Broker)
- Jung Woo Sung (Hunt)
Best Actress for Film
- Bae Doona (Next Sohee)
- Yang Mal Bok (The Apartment With Two Women)
- Yum Jung Ah (Life Is Beautiful)
- Jeon Do Yeon (Kill Boksoon)
- Tang Wei (Decision to Leave)
Best Supporting Actor for Film
- Kang Ki Young (The Point Men)
- Kim Sung Cheol (The Night Owl)
- Park Ji Hwan (The Roundup)
- Byun Yo Han (Hansan: Rising Dragon)
- Im Siwan (Emergency Declaration)
Best Supporting Actress for Film
- Park Se Wan (6/45)
- Bae Doona (Broker)
- Ahn Eun Jin (The Night Owl)
- Yum Jung Ah (Alienoid)
- Lee Yeon (Kill Boksoon)
Best New Actor for Film
- Noh Jae Won (Missing Yoon)
- Jinyoung (Christmas Carol)
- Byun Woo Seok (20th Century Girl)
- Seo In Guk (Project Wolf Hunting)
- Ong Seong Wu (Life Is Beautiful)
Best New Actress for Film
- Go Yoon Jung (Hunt)
- Kim Si Eun (Next Sohee)
- Kim Hye Yoon (The Girl On a Bulldozer)
- IU (Broker)
- Ha Yun Kyung (Gyeong Ah’s Daughter)
Best Director For Film
- Kim Han Min (Hansan: Rising Dragon)
- Park Chan Wook (Decision to Leave)
- Ahn Tae Jin (The Night Owl)
- Lee Jung Jae (Hunt)
- Jung Ju Ri (Next Sohee)
Best Screenwriter For Film
- Park Kyu Tae (6/45)
- Lee Jung Jae, Jo Seung-hee (Hunt)
- Jeong Seo Kyeong, Park Chan Wook (Decision to Leave)
- Jung Ju Ri (Next Sohee)
- Ryu Jun Yeol, Yoo Hae Jin (The Night Owl)
Best Film
- Next Sohee
- The Night Owl
- Hansan: Rising Dragon
- Hunt
- Decision to Leave
Best Male Entertainer
- Kian84
- Kim Kyung Wook
- Kim Jong Kook
- Jun Hyun Moo
- Hwang Jae Sung
Best Female Entertainer
- Kim Min Kyung
- Park Se Mi
- Lee Soo Ji
- Lee Eun Ji
- Joo Hyun Young
Best Variety Show
- Earth Arcade
- Psick Show
- Physical: 100
- EXchange 2
- SNL Korea 3
Best Educational Show
- National Office of Investigation (literal title)
- In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal
- Your Literacy Skills+ (literal title)
- Adult Kim Jang Ha (literal title)
- Hidden Earth: 3 Billion Years on the Korean Peninsula
When is the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards?
Save the date: The 59th Baeksang Arts Awards will happen on Friday, April 28 at Paradise City in Incheon starting at 5:30 p.m. KST. The program will be broadcast live on television via JTBC, JTBC2, and JTBC4, and it will also be broadcast live via TikTok.
As of 11AM KST on Tuesday, April 18, the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards (Popularity Awards) official fan vote has opened! The voting period runs from April 18th until 4PM KST on April 26th, so show your faves some ~love~.
