Without a doubt, the Korean film industry is filled to the brim with amazing talent. This list only seems to grow by the year, with rising stars making a name for themselves through standout roles. While it's nice to see new faces, one cannot forget the celebrated veterans that have elevated the scene for years on end.

This year alone has seen the likes of Kim SooHyun, Kim JiWon, Cho JungSeok, and Kim NamJoo, among many others, return to roaring praise across their respective series. These experienced veterans have consistently shown what it means to be a top tier actor. Another name that should be a part of this list is Joo Won who is currently starring in "Night Photo Studio". Just like his previous work, the actor has been an utter joy to watch, bringing laughter and comfort to the start of the week.

He is a man of many faces, being able to tackle every genre imaginable. Joo Won is an individual that millions recognize and anticipate only great things from. Taking part of numerous projects, Joo Won continues to mesmerize audiences with his incredible acting talent.

Joo Won The Actor

Joo Won made his acting debut in 2010 through the KBS series, "Bread, Love, and Dreams". While still gaining his footing, he put on a stunning performance that proved why he was chosen as one of the main characters. Joo Won masterfully took audiences on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, going through the feelings of romance, despair, and so much more. After this point, he set off on an upward trajectory earning countless accolades all throughout his career.

KBS

Some of his most notable works include "Good Doctor", "Naeil's Cantabile", and "Yong Pal". Regardless of genre or storyline, Joo Won covered it all. His versatility as an actor is recognized by everyone, from his colleagues, staff, and the critics analyzing his every move. He has even taken on the challenge of rough action scenes, leaving millions in awe of his outstanding charisma.

A Beloved Variety Presence

While he's incredibly charismatic on screen, Joo Won has a golden personality that everyone loves. He has become a ray of sunshine across various programs, becoming the friendly next door oppa/hyung that you'd love to meet. Being part of iconic variety program, "2 Days 1 Night" surely helped audiences get to know Joo Won more than ever before. He became a surprising source of laughter and joy, synergizing well with the rest of his castmates.

While his handsome visuals might make Joo Won seem like he's from another world, he exudes such an inviting aura. He is naturally a warmhearted individual, making it hard not to fall for the actor. Witnessing his mesmerizing duality, you can't help but look forward to more appearances by Joo Won across multiple variety programs.

Incredible Vocal Prowess

Before making his start in K-Dramas, Joo Won initially debuted as a musical actor. Despite making waves as an acting legend, he never forgot his roots, gracing the musical stage, with his most recent appearance being in 2021. The actor also participated in several OST recordings and even has a scene in SBS K-Drama "Alice" where he shows off his incredible vocal prowess.

His sweet, honey-like vocals will have you swooning at your knees, ready to become his full-fledged fan in an instant. Considering the amazing harmonies he's able to produce, fans cannot wait for the next opportunity to hear Joo Won's singing once more.

A Terrific Showing In "Night Photo Studio"

In "Night Photo Studio", Joo Won plays Seo KiJoo, a photographer with a supernatural ability. He has taken on the mantle of the family-owned photo studio, a shop specially made for ghosts. As he takes these ghostly being's photographs, he also helps them make peace with the earthly life they're leaving behind. While he can be a bit hesitant to take on these jobs, Seo KiJoo has a sincere heart that Joo Won wonderfully portrays.

Ghost Studio

Being surrounded by the paranormal has skewed his relationships with the living, however, Joo Won navigates the character in such a way that makes you want to protect him from any harm and hope that one day, Seo KiJoo will be free from this curse. Then there's Joo Won's chemistry with his castmates that leave you yearning for more. His quirkiness portrayed through the drama is reminiscent of his variety show persona. And his ability to switch between that and a more serious tone is enough to have audiences coming back every week.

Joo Won is an icon in every right, deserving of all the accomplishments and praise.

Have you been watching Joo Won's most recent K-Drama, "Night Photo Studio"? What do you think of the actor?

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?