Ryu Seung-ryong has set a historic record at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards! By winning the Broadcast Grand Prize for JTBC’s “The Story of Manager Kim Who Works at a Large Company and Lives in His Own House in Seoul,” he became the first person ever to win Grand Prizes in both the Broadcast and Movie categories, having previously won the Movie Grand Prize for “Miracle in Cell No. 7” 13 years ago. Actor Yoo Seung-mok also shared the glory, winning his first-ever award for the same drama. Kian84 made history as the first webtoon artist to win at Baeksang. Additionally, newcomers Lee Chae-min and Bang Hyo-rin, as well as supporting actress Lim Soo-jung, all lifted their first Baeksang trophies.
The “62nd Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci,” held on the 8th, prioritized fairness and professionalism, selecting winners after more intense deliberation than ever before. This year’s awards evaluated content from terrestrial, cable, and OTT platforms released between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Before the first round of judging, the Baeksang secretariat gathered recommendations from a 30-member pre-survey group, who suggested five candidates or works per category. While these survey results didn’t directly determine the nominees, they served as vital reference material for the seven judges, including Chairperson Hong Jong-chan, Professor Kim Mi-ra, Producer Kim Tae-sung, Producer Ryu Jae-ho, Writer Yoo Hyun-mi, Critic Jung Duk-hyun, and Writer Choi Dae-woong, who engaged in heated discussions to finalize the winners.
Early in the process, the Grand Prize candidates were narrowed down to Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Bo-young, Kim Go-eun, and the drama “The Story of Manager Kim Who Works at a Large Company and Lives in His Own House in Seoul.” In the first vote, Ryu Seung-ryong received 3 votes, Kim Go-eun 2, Park Bo-young 1, and the drama 1. After debating who was most suitable for this year’s honor, the second vote saw Ryu Seung-ryong with 4 votes and Kim Go-eun with 3. However, after further discussion, the third vote completely flipped, with Park Bo-young taking 4 votes and Ryu Seung-ryong 3. The shifting votes showed that the judges weren’t just blindly supporting one person but deeply respected all candidates. They analyzed everything from the year’s performance and industry impact to public resonance. In the final vote on the day of the ceremony, Ryu Seung-ryong ultimately secured the win with 4 votes, while 3 judges supported Kim Go-eun.
Chairperson Hong Jong-chan stated, “The narrative Ryu Seung-ryong presented maximized the power of empathy in drama.” Judge Choi Dae-woong added, “Ryu successfully led not only ‘The Story of Manager Kim…’ but also ‘Fine: The Country Bumpkins.’ It’s impossible to discuss this year without him.” Judge Kim Tae-sung praised how Ryu provided answers to the voids many modern people feel. Judge Jung Duk-hyun noted that choosing a character representing retirees was a brave move that resonated with both the middle-aged and the younger generation, praising Ryu’s stable acting. Judge Yoo Hyun-mi also applauded the courage to tackle a subject that isn’t easily accessible to viewers.
Speaking of the other candidates, Judge Jung Duk-hyun praised Park Bo-young, saying she is an actress who has never disappointed. He added that in “Unknown Seoul,” she delivered a delicate performance that healed the wounds of the younger generation, creating a character and work that received an incredible response this year.
Judge Yoo Hyun-mi mentioned that Kim Go-eun’s role in “Eunjung and Sangyeon” was a challenging choice, as the drama is led by two female protagonists. She praised Kim’s dedication to the overall quality of the work. Chairperson Hong Jong-chan also lauded her courage and versatility, mentioning her great performance in “Price of Confession” as well, emphasizing that her willingness to sacrifice for the work resulted in a better final product.
Best Work Keywords: Sincerity and Communication
Judge Kim Tae-sung described “Eunjung and Sangyeon” as a sophisticated exploration of friendship, love, and death, praising its overall production, script, and acting. Judge Yoo Hyun-mi added that the drama had a distinct charm and successfully persuaded the public through great casting and acting.
There was also strong support for “Seongmul.” Judge Yoo Hyun-mi praised its high completion and heavy message, while Judge Choi Dae-woong stated that “K-Docu” is now ready for the global stage, emphasizing the role of public broadcasting in creating such works.
Best Direction, Screenplay, and Art
Judge Choi Dae-woong praised the meticulous music work in the variety category, applauding the passion involved in such detailed production.
Judge Jung Duk-hyun noted Hyun Bin’s strong presence in “Made in Korea,” stating he found the perfect tone and proved once again that he is a skilled actor.
Park Jin-young was a close competitor to Hyun Bin. Judges praised his delicate acting in “Unknown Seoul” and his performance in the recently ended “Shining,” noting that he has grown into a trend-setting actor.
The Best Actress category was one of the most competitive, with a lineup described online as “legendary.” Judges agreed that all five nominees delivered performances that surpassed their previous works and left a lasting impact.
After a long process of persuasion and repeated voting, six judges ultimately chose Park Bo-young for “Unknown Seoul,” giving her her first-ever Baeksang Best Actress award.
Judge Yoo Hyun-mi praised Lim Soo-jung’s performance in “Fine: The Country Bumpkins” as a masterpiece, noting how she perfectly captured the character’s worldly desires and greed, even acting with her “hips” and the way she walked up stairs.
Variety Award Winners
For the Best Male Entertainer, the keywords were sincerity, trend, and laughter. Six out of seven judges chose Kian84.
The judges concluded that this year’s winners stood out for their ability to bridge generations and break genre boundaries. While it was one of the hardest years to choose winners due to the strong candidates, they finalized the list after deep discussions on the spirit of the times and public acceptance.
