It’s been a week since the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards wrapped up, but the heat is still on! The debate over the Best Supporting Actress in the film category has reignited.
On the 15th, JTBC reviewed the results of each category and revealed the specific judging process and comments.
According to the report, the race for Best Supporting Actress was a tight battle between Shin Se-kyung for the movie Humint and Yeom Hye-ran for I Can’t Help It. In the end, Shin Se-kyung took home the trophy by just one single vote. While Yeom Hye-ran seemed to have the lead during the initial review, Shin Se-kyung ultimately edged her out in the final second round of voting, which also included Jeon Mi-do from The Man Living with the King.
The real controversy lies in the conflicting criteria used by the judges. Regarding Yeom Hye-ran, judges noted, “Her acting skill itself is so great that there’s nothing special to discuss, but if we consider whether she fit the character, some questions remain,” and “The image of a character created through acting effort was felt throughout.” Despite some judges countering that she possessed “animalistic sexiness” and was “an actress who personally extracted the character’s keywords,” the idea that the character was “crafted through effort” seemed to become a hurdle for her win.
On the other hand, Shin Se-kyung received high praise, with comments like “Regardless of whether one likes the work or not, Shin Se-kyung’s utility was great,” and “The actress’s inherent charm partially offset the resistance toward the character.” Judges also noted she was “a case where she expanded a small role, which was close to a scene-stealer, through her own ability.” However, one judge’s comment sparked confusion by focusing on production and aura rather than acting, stating, “The cinematographer’s contribution must have been significant, but it also had the feel of some black-and-white movies. In some scenes, she created the image of the movie itself.”
Once these judging comments were made public, sharp criticisms poured into online communities, questioning the standards of the awards.
Netizens are voicing their frustrations, saying, “After seeing the judging comments, it’s even harder to understand why Shin Se-kyung won and Yeom Hye-ran didn’t,” “It’s amazing how the same criteria are applied differently to each actor. Yeom Hye-ran isn’t award-worthy because she crafted the character through effort, but Shin Se-kyung is award-worthy because she showed her charm through effort?” “It’s an acting award, so the person who acts well should get it. This is a case of undervaluing someone because they are originally great,” “The cinematographer’s credit is turning into praise for the actor?” and “Since when did Baeksang become an award for charm rather than acting skill?”
Meanwhile, some people expressed agreement, saying, “I agree to some extent with the comments on Yeom Hye-ran. If you think about whether she fit the character, there are some regrets.”
Through these revealed comments, the Baeksang Arts Awards has left the impression that it relies on the subjective and abstract standards of judges without clear criteria. In particular, the “double standard” regarding the Best Supporting Actress award has raised serious questions about the fairness of the ceremony.
