The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, known as one of the most prestigious award shows in the Korean entertainment industry, has announced this year's nominations and netizens are not too happy.

The Baeksang Arts Awards are highly anticipated every year, as they recognize excellence in Korean film, television, and theatre. Not just artists but fans also look forward to this night, hoping for acknowledgment for their favorite works and actors. While it is not possible for everyone's favorite artist to receive a nod or take home an award, this year, the nominations have been causing quite the controversy all over the world.

Korean netizens and global fans are unanimously discontent with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations, especially in the TV category. So, this article and analysis focus exclusively on the controversy surrounding the TV nominations.

 

60th Baeksang Arts Awards Nominations - Sentiment Analysis

We pulled and analyzed posts from all over the internet, such as on X, Instagram, and NATE PANN, to understand this controversy and highlight fans' opinions, concerns, and protestations. What we noticed was that fans from all over the world, regardless of whether they are Korean or international, shared similar opinions on the nominations this time, particularly in regards to actors who were snubbed.

Before we get into our findings, let's take a brief look at the nominations that are causing the most contention with the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. 

Categories under "TV" that are taking the most heat are "Best Actor" and "Best Actress".

In the "Best Actor (TV)" category, the nominations are Kim SooHyun for "Queen Of Tears", NamKoong Min for "My Dearest", Ryu SeungRyong for "Moving", Yoo YeonSeok for "A Bloody Lucky Day", and Yim SiWan for "Boyhood".

In the "Best Actress (TV)" category, we have Ra MiRan for "The Good Bad Mother", Ahn EunJin for "My Dearest", Uhm JungHwa for "Doctor Cha", Lee HaNee for "Knight Flower", and Lim JiYeon for "Lies Hidden In My Garden".

Rather than directly expressing disapproval of the nominated actors, fans are more upset with the actors and actresses who deserved nominations but were not named. You can check out our sentiment analysis chart below for more clarity.

As depicted in the chart, an overwhelming majority of netizens, constituting 78.7%, voiced dissatisfaction with the nominations. Conversely, only a marginal 5.8% displayed enthusiasm, while 15.5% remained neutral, neither impressed nor disappointed.

 

Criticism Of Selection Criteria

Netizens who showed a negative response raised questions about and criticism of the selection process, including doubts on whether the process was fair after all. The criteria used for nominations were brought into discussion alongside factors like viewership ratings and OTT ranking.

For those who might not know, the Baeksang Arts Awards nominees were chosen from K-Dramas that aired between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. A K-Drama will have to have aired at least one-third of its episodes by March 31 to qualify for a nomination. That is why the ongoing K-Drama "Queen Of Tears" was considered for the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

However, many fans were not too fond of the fact that a K-Drama that hasn't even finished airing was chosen for a category, whereas actors from several popular and beloved K-Dramas were not.

As many netizens disagreed with the standards of the Baeksang Arts Awards by which nominees are decided, they renounced the credibility of the same.

 

Actors Who Deserved Nominations, According To Global Fans

Six names stood out among the numerous posts we analyzed - Kim JiWon, Kim TaeRi, Ji ChangWook, Lee DongWook, Park BoYoung, and Shin HaeSun.

Among them, Kim JiWon is the actress fans are advocating for the most, even more so because Kim SooHyun has been nominated for the "Best Actor" category, but Kim JiWon did not get a "Best Actress" nomination. Fans are quite upset and disconcerted about the reasoning behind such a decision when Kim JiWon, who is playing the title role of one of the most successful K-Dramas right now, has not been nominated.

Comparisons between the ratings of "Queen Of Tears" versus those of "Lies Hidden In My Garden", intended to highlight Kim JiWon's snub, were also drawn, although the argument was quickly shut down when other comments emphasized that the Baeksang Arts Awards does not present awards based on ratings as last year, Kim JiWon's own drama "My Liberation Notes" was nominated for "Best Drama" despite its considerably lower ratings. Both Son SukKu and Kim JiWon were also nominated for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" respectively.

Another upsetting snub this year, according to fans, was that of Kim TaeRi, who delivered a spellbinding performance in "Revenant". Netizens are mentioning that if Kim TaeRi had been nominated, she would undoubtedly have taken the award home. However, it's a pity that her performance was overlooked.

Similarly, Park BoYoung was brought up in discussion, with many pointing out that Park BoYoung has consistently been snubbed by the Baeksang Arts Awards despite her excellent performances, such as in "Daily Dose Of Sunshine".

Shin HaeSun was also mentioned by several fans, who asserted that the actress' performance in "Welcome To Samdal-ri" was deserving of a nomination.

In response, some netizens who are neutral about the nominees mentioned that while it is true that there are other deserving candidates, the actresses who have been nominated are also incredible, and none of them can be replaced.

In the "Best Actor" category, netizens expressed the most frustration over Ji ChangWook and Lee DongWook being snubbed. Ji ChangWook, who impressed with his brilliant acting skills and range in the Disney+ K-Drama "The Worst Of Evil" and Lee DongWook, who made viewers fall in love with him all over again in "A Shop For Killers", also on Disney+, definitely deserved nominations, according to netizens. International netizens were most vocal about this exclusion.

Once again, there were opinions that these actors were outstanding in their respective roles but the current nominees simply cannot be replaced.

What do you think about the Baeksang Arts Awards nominations this year? Tell us on X!

The 60th Baeksang Arts Awards will be held on May 7, 2024 (Tue) at 5:00 PM KST in COEX Hall D, Seoul.

The highly anticipated Korean sci-fi K-Drama "Parasyte: The Grey" is finally streaming, and over the weekend, it has already taken the #1 spot on Netflix's most-watched TV shows chart. This is the first #1 in a while for a Korean production on Netflix, which speaks volumes of the drama's high quality, but also of its mass appeal.

"Parasyte: The Grey" is a wonderful extension of Hitoshi Iwaaki's "Parasyte" universe, but it makes a bold creative choice in adopting broader themes and a more easily palatable plotline than the original, thus serving as a gateway for the popularization of Korean sci-fi. However, it's a far cry from the idiosyncratic humor and particular complexity of Hitoshi Iwaaki's work.

As a result, much like the title, "Parasyte: The Grey" falls a bit in the grey area. You see, fans of the manga and/or anime will easily recognize the recurring parallels while acknowledging the deviations, but they might find themselves grappling with the lack of humor that the original work is characterized by. On the other hand, viewers who have not encountered the original work yet may be left underwhelmed by the simplicity of the K-Drama, especially when considered as a part of Yeon SangHo's oeuvre.

However, despite this, there remains a wide scope for the general audience, who perhaps checked out "Parasyte: The Grey" simply by chance or out of sheer curiosity and unaffected by biases, to enjoy this work. Not only is "Parasyte: The Grey" a fantastic K-Drama for beginners, boasting outstanding set design, impeccable CGI, fleshed-out characters, and a storyline that is neatly wrapped up with a bow of the perfect happy ending, but it also unveils the novelty of Korean sci-fi to the world, drawing attention to this budding genre from a wider audience.

So, in order to appreciate this K-Drama for what it is and not what it could/should have been, it is important to look at "Parasyte: The Grey" as an isolated work.

Spoiler Alert!

 

The Positives

First, let's justify the title of this review. "Parasyte: The Grey" is undoubtedly an action-packed, riveting thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The episodes seem to fly by, and before you know it, you've binge-watched the entire series in one day. Then, why am I calling it a slow burn?

This is because despite all the breathless momentum, the quick turn of events, and quite a few shockers, the true essence of "Parasyte: The Grey" doesn't really settle in until the last two episodes. Most of the action scenes involve parasites sprouting out from human heads and having it out with our heroine, Jung SuIn (Jeon SoNee), or, more appropriately, Heidi.

When it's not that, it's Seol KangWoo (Koo KyoHwan) evading gangsters, which is brilliantly choreographed, albeit slightly dampened by the shaky camera cinematography. Such scenes are complete with the Koo KyoHwan breed of humor we're familiar with from "D.P.", which gives viewers just enough space to breathe and unclench our tense jaws.

However, despite all the extraterrestrial spectacle, the heart of the drama is hidden in the most ordinary human themes - identity, belonging, and loneliness vs. being alone. Throughout the first half, Jung SuIn is pained by the fact of her endless misfortune, unable to find community or comfort. Darkness veils her peripheral vision, so all she can register is the despair she keeps stepping into.

From being abused as a child to getting stabbed for no reason and even ending up hosting a parasite, essentially becoming a monster - Jung SuIn has lost all sense of agency and identity. All that is left is the husk of a woman who wants nothing to do with her own self because, to her, no one else does either!

Still, when she is repeatedly consoled by Detective ChulMin (Kwon HaeHyo) or "ahjussi",  feels needed by Seol KangWoo, and on a larger scale, the world, she regains clarity, empathy, trust, and camaraderie. All these feelings are those she longed for from others but inadvertently ended up finding in her own self. Such a realization only dawns after SuIn spends some time inside her head, literally, but it leaves a deep enough impact on her to want to save the world.

By this time, Seol KangWoo joins hands with Detective ChulMin to save SuIn, and the action picks up. We are thrown into a compelling sequence of gore and destruction but hope shines feebly in the midst. Only then does the drama find true conviction, bringing the slow burn to a most satisfying climax.

Now, when speaking of positives, we cannot forget about the unmatched acting performances we got from the cast of "Parasyte: The Grey". Jeon SoNee is an absolute master of her craft, effortlessly weaving through light and dark, SuIn and Heidi, while Koo KyoHwan is at one with his character, a soft-hearted delinquent. Kwon HaeHyo holds a lot of the story's substance together with his firm resolution, and Lee JungHyun sprinkles in the much-needed unhinged genius of Choi JunKyung.

Nevertheless, "Parasyte: The Grey" is not without its shortcomings, although they are few.

 

The Negatives

"Parasyte: The Grey" is, for the most part, less show and more tell. The drama drags on with a lot of exposition, such as when the pastor parasite (Lee HyunKyun) explains his philosophy, when Choi JunKyung presents her findings about the parasitic creatures, or in the final episode, when a parasite-possessed Kang WonSeok (Kim InKwon) bitterly reflects on the monstrosity of humans and their selfishness, destroying the earth with evils like war.

This anti-war sentiment is an incredibly important theme of the show and yet, its impact falls short of its potential. The dialogue between Kang WonSeok and Heidi, representing a clash of philosophies between two of a kind, lacks the profound impact it aims to deliver. Instead, it comes across as somewhat preachy, especially coming from a man-eating parasite, missing the opportunity to resonate deeply with the audience.

Even stranger is Heidi trying to reassure SuIn that she isn't alone. This scene inside SuIn's head is especially inconsistent with what we're told about parasites so far. These parasites are supposed to have little to no understanding of human emotions. After all, they're barely getting by with their best imitation of humans. So, it is a little disconcerting when Heidi can not only offer sympathy to SuIn but also rationalize her mother's actions!

If we are to understand that Heidi could scan SuIn's memories and come to the logical conclusion that her mother didn't really hate her, it still does not explain how Heidi is so confident about her mother's perspective. Alternatively, she might just be telling SuIn what she needs to hear to move on. Either way, such emotional intelligence is unexpected from a parasite unless, of course, Heidi isn't like other parasites. Perhaps, this connection between SuIn and Heidi is what gives this show the K-Drama sensibility.

The change in scenery as we enter SuIn's inner thoughts for this sequence, though, is quite reminiscent of Netflix's latest sci-fi offering, "3 Body Problem," so it doesn't leave too deep an impression but rather appears out of place.

Still, undoubtedly, the positives far outweigh the negatives, making "Parasyte: The Grey" a worthy watch.

 

Will There Be "Parasyte: The Grey" Season 2?

One of the best parts about "Parasyte: The Grey" is how beautifully the show ties the loose ends, signals a happy ending on the horizon and gives fans of the original work the best cameo possible. Izumi Shinichi, the protagonist of the manga "Parasyte" by Hitoshi Iwaaki, played by Japanese top star Masaki Suda, makes a cameo in the very last scene of the K-Drama, as he meets Choi JunKyung.

This has left many fans wondering if Netflix is leaving the possibility open for a second season. While "Parasyte: The Grey" season 2 has not been confirmed yet, the fact that this K-Drama is not labeled as a "limited series" means there is a chance for a second season.

Netflix usually decides whether or not to renew a show based on the response of viewers worldwide, quantified through numbers like hours streamed and completion rate metric. The completion rate metric measures how many viewers completed the show after starting it. As such, the number of people who watch all the episodes within, say, 30 days of the show's release, matters the most in Netflix's decision to renew it or not.

So, if you really want to see "Parasyte: The Grey" season 2, hopefully with the original cast returning alongside Masaki Suda joining the main cast, then rewatch all the episodes of the show, share the show as much as possible, post about it all over social media, and hope for the best!

"Parasyte: The Grey" is now streaming on Netflix.

"Parasyte: The Grey" is starting off strong right out the gate, captivating the entire international audience. The sci-fi mystery K-Drama received much hype since it was announced by Netflix, breaking every expectation and more upon its opening weekend. It stars a magnificent cast in Jeon SoNee, Koo KyoHwan, Lee JungHyun, and Kwon HaeHyo.

The new Netflix series portrays the story of parasites that fell from space who take control of innocent human bystanders. What ensues afterwards is bloodshed, panic, and the need for a special task force. The show mainly focuses on Jung SooIn (Jeon SoNee), who becomes infected by a parasite but retains her human consciousness. She teams up with Seol KangWoo (Koo KyoHwan) who looks into the parasites in order to find his missing little sister. And together, they confront Choi JunKyung (Lee JungHyun), hellbent on exterminating the extraterrestrial beings as team leader of the parasitic life team, "The Grey".

"Parasyte: The Grey" is available for viewers worldwide on Netflix (Note: The drama is yet to be available for a number of countries). Based on the data from FlixPatrol, the drama is the 1st most popular TV show on Netflix on April 7, 2024.

The drama steadily entered the top 10 of several countries, and placed no. 1 on Netflix Worldwide on April 7th. "Parasyte: The Grey" is part of the top 10 most popular TV show in countries and territories such as Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, and more.

If you want to access the data for more details, you can find it here. (Note that FlixPatrol does not have access to data from all the countries of the globe but a huge majority).

Are you watching "Parasyte: The Grey"? What are your thoughts on the drama so far?