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".

Baeksang Official's Instagram

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".

Baeksang Official's Instagram

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.

Kpopmap

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

60th Baeksang Arts Awards

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.

tvN / SBS / Disney+ / Netflix / JTBC

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.

"Wedding Impossible" has finally reached its long-awaited end, closing out in spectacular fashion. Led by Jun JongSeo, Moon SangMin, Kim DoWan, and Bae YoonKyung, the lighthearted rom-com made the start of the week enjoyable and fun. Watching them grow as people and in their relationships served as a source of inspiration to all.

Now that it's over, the drama's absence is already setting in. Although there are many more amazing K-Dramas currently on air, "Wedding Impossible" held a special place in audiences' hearts. If you're feeling dismayed about the tvN show's end, then you've come to the right place.

Here are a few K-Dramas to add to your watchlist following the conclusion of "Wedding Impossible"!

1. "Because This Is My First Life"

tvN

Cast: Lee MinKi, Jung SoMin, and others

Summary: Yoon JiHo is a single woman who dreams of becoming the main scriptwriter for a hit drama. Nam SeHee is a single, IT-worker who owns a house but owes a large mortgage. In order to alleviate the costs, he rents out a room and unknowingly agrees to sign on Yoon JiHo as a tenant. After various happenings and pressures from outside sources, they decide to enter into a contract marriage.

Reasons To Watch: "Because This Is My First Life" is a classic marriage contract K-Drama. Although the two main leads accidentally enter into each other's lives, they form an unlikely bond that becomes even stronger with every new episode. They become sturdy pillars of support, causing them to realize just how much they mean to one another, leading to true love.

2. "Love In Contact"

tvN

Cast: Park MinYoung, Ko KyungPyo, Kim JaeYoung, and more

Summary: Choi SangEun works as a contract marriage specialist, helping her clients to live the perfect single life. She decides to close down her business, but this proves to be difficult, as one of her last clients, Jung JiHo, happens to fall in love with her. Then there's top star, Kang HaeJin, who also employs SangEun's services and vies for her affection.

Reasons To Watch: Piloted by the rom-com queen herself, "Love In Contract" is lighthearted right down to its core. While there are moments of pure sincerity and genuine affection, you can be certain that there will be various scenes filled with side-splitting laughter. You'll become completely immersed, eager to find out how Choi SangEun and Jung JiHo's relationship will progress, crossing over the line between contract marriage specialist and client.

3. "Business Proposal"

SBS

Cast: Ahn HyoSeop, Kim SeJeong, Kim MinGue, Seor InA, and more

Summary: Shin HaRi is an ordinary office worker. One day, she disguises herself and attends a blind date in place of her friend Jin YoungSeo, with the goal of being rejected. Come to find out, the man she's meeting is the CEO of HaRi's company, Kang TaeMu. Plans backfire when he calls the next day, asking for HaRi's hand in marriage.

Watch Because: Similar to "Wedding Impossible", Shin HaRi jumps through numerous hoops to ensure her secret identity remains just that — a secret. Watching her live a double life provides limitless excitement. But the drama gets better as TaeMu and HaRi realize their feelings for each other, eventually transforming into a true couple right in front of our eyes.

4. "Doona!"

Netflix

Cast: Suzy, Yang SeJong, Kim DoWan, Park SeWan, Ha Young, and more

Summary: Lee DooNa is the main vocalist for idol group Dream Sweet. However, due to an accident, she has stepped away from the spotlight. Lee WonJun is a university student who just moved away from home and ended up at the same share house as DooNa. They meet and life is never quite the same for either of them.

Reasons To Watch: If you're a fan of second leads, you might want to check out "Doona!" which features Kim DoWan! He has much better luck in finding himself and someone to truly love here. Aside from the success of Kim DoWan's character, Suzy and Yang SeJong absolutely kill it. Their chemistry is sizzling and will have you binging through the series in an instant. If you start the series at night, beware, you might be in for an all-nighter if you do.

5. "My Lovely Liar"

tvN

Cast: Kim SoHyun, Hwang MinHyun, Seo JiHoon, Lee SiWoo, and more

Summary: Depicts the story of Mok SolHee, a woman who's cautious of others due to her ability to hear lies. She meets murder suspect, Kim DoHa, whom no one believes in. Their paths start to intertwine as they slowly learn more about one another and uncover the secrets that have remained hidden all these years.

Reasons To Watch: Just like "Doona!", no themes of contract marriage can be found in "My Lovely Liar". But in similar fashion to "Wedding Impossible", the main leads must navigate life together, slowly figuring out each other's various charms. They work through a mountainous pile of misunderstandings before they're finally able to be together, happy and in love.

Which K-Drama are you watching now that "Wedding Impossible" is over?

Korean movies are stealing the spotlight on a global scale, and more and more international fans are interested in the Korean film industry. So, we're bringing to you the latest news from Chungmuro - the Korean Hollywood, also known as Hallyuwood. Check out the hottest movies at the Korean box office, what the upcoming Korean movie releases are, what's hot in Chungmuro, and more!

Top Korean Movies At The Box Office

Over the last month, the top 2 Korean films at the domestic box office were as follows, according to Cine21:

1. "Exhuma"

"Exhuma" Movie

The K-Occult film on everyone's radar these days - "Exhuma" - retained the top spot. Starring Choi MinSik, Kim GoEun, Yoo HaeJin, and Lee DoHyun, "Exhuma" continues to break records and set new ones, with a total of 10,512,767 admissions to date. "Exhuma" was released on February 22.

CineFact: "Exhuma" was not just the most-watched film among Korean releases but also international releases in Korea in March.

2. "Troll Factory"

"Troll Factory" Movie

Starring Son SukKu, Kim SungCheol, Kim DongHwi, and Hong Kyung, "Troll Factory" was the second most-watched Korean movie at the domestic box office in March 2024, with a total of 194,541 admissions to date. The film was released on March 27.

Upcoming Korean Movies

There are a number of Korean movies coming up in April. Among them, here are our picks for the top 3 Korean movies that you should look forward to!

1. "SEWOL: Years In The Wind"

"SEWOL: Years In The Wind" Movie

In April 2024, ten years will have passed since the terrible Sewol Ferry Tragedy. "SEWOL: Years In The Wind" is a documentary made by Moon JongTaek - a father who lost his daughter, JiSeong, in the tragedy, alongside documentary director Kim HwanTae. The film consists of footage by Moon JongTaek himself as he documents the lives of the bereaved families throughout the last ten years and emphasizes national and individual responsibility towards creating a safer society for all. It is also aimed at raising awareness about the tragedy among young people who may not be aware.

If there's one Korean film you watch in April, we hope it will be this one. "SEWOL: Years In The Wind" releases on April 3 in Korea.

2. "YuMi's Cells: The Movie"

"YuMi's Cells: The Movie" Movie

The hugely popular webtoon turned blockbuster K-Drama is now coming to you as a movie! This time, YuMi's cells are the main characters, so the movie is entirely animated. Watch your favorite cell characters from the webtoon and K-Drama return and fall in love with them all over again! This film will follow YuMi as she prepares for her writing contest after quitting her job to become a writer.

"YuMi's Cells: The Movie" releases on April 3.

3. "Again 1997"

"Again 1997" Movie

"Again 1997" is a Korean movie that tells the story of a young man named WooSeok, who wanted to be an actor, but because of a scar he got on his face, he ended up making a living as a stuntman. Now, he is the breadwinner of his family but not a great father or husband. After a fateful encounter with a monk, he gets into an accident and travels back in time to his high school days, before he got the scar. With this second chance at life, WooSeok is determined to do things right.

"Again 1997", starring Cho ByeongKyu, Han EunSu, iKON Ju-ne, Choi HuiSeung, and more, releases on April 10.

That concludes this month's Chungmuro report! Which Korean movies are you excited about? Tell us on X!