The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards were a dazzling display of mastery, blockbuster hits, and heartwarming stories. The highlight of the night was the incredible moment when two lifelong friends, Yoo Hae-jin and Ryu Seung-ryong, both took home the Daesang (Grand Prize) in the movie and TV categories, marking a cinematic and television peak for their 30-year friendship.
The ceremony took place on the afternoon of May 8 at COEX D Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, hosted by the charismatic trio of Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum.
‘I Can’t Help It’ vs ‘The Man Living with the King’… The Ultimate Battle for Best Work and Daesang
The biggest buzz of the year was the head-to-head clash between Director Park Chan-wook’s ‘I Can’t Help It’ and Director Jang Hang-jun’s ‘The Man Living with the King’.
Director Park Chan-wook took the first win, securing the Best Film award. In a witty speech, he joked, “I want to thank the judges. I’m certain the judging was fair.” He continued, “This film is full of jokes. I believe that when we are angry or sad, we need to keep trying to joke, make others laugh, and even make self-deprecating jokes. That’s how we can release the energy of anger and sadness and find a way out. I may not be a director who won at the Venice Film Festival or the Oscars, but please believe me since I’m a Baeksang winner.”
However, the highest honor in the movie category, the Daesang, went to Yoo Hae-jin for ‘The Man Living with the King’. After drawing a massive 16.8 million viewers, Yoo Hae-jin shared his emotions: “I started with supporting actor awards and once hoped I could just act until I was 45, but receiving the Daesang like this is truly overwhelming.” Following Park Ji-hoon’s double win for Best New Actor and Popularity Award, Yoo Hae-jin’s Daesang was the perfect finishing touch for ‘The Man Living with the King’, matching its record-breaking success.
Additionally, the Best Actor and Actress awards in the movie category were won by Park Jung-min (‘Face’) and Moon Ga-young (‘If We’).
From ‘Bidet Factory Part-Timers’ to Daesang Winners: A Reunion 30 Years in the Making
The TV category Daesang was awarded to Ryu Seung-ryong for ‘The Story of Manager Kim Who Works at a Large Company and Owns a Home in Seoul’. During his speech, he brought the audience to tears by mentioning his 30-year friend, Yoo Hae-jin. “I remember the days 30 years ago when we were putting up posters at a theater in New York and working part-time at a bidet factory in Jochiwon for a month,” he recalled. “I never imagined we would both receive the Daesang together. I am deeply moved.” Ryu Seung-ryong earned widespread empathy by perfectly portraying the weight of a middle-aged man as a head of a household in ‘The Story of Manager Kim Who Works at a Large Company and Owns a Home in Seoul’.
Hyun Bin’s ‘Lover’ Speech and Park Bo-young’s ‘Healthy Competition’
The Best Actor and Actress awards for TV went to Hyun Bin and Park Bo-young. Winning for ‘Made in Korea’, Hyun Bin gave a sweet shout-out: “I love my wife Ye-jin and my son for supporting me so well.” The moment was made even sweeter as Son Ye-jin was spotted in the audience filming her husband’s win on her phone.
Park Bo-young, who won Best Actress for ‘Unknown Seoul’, credited her colleagues, saying, “There were times when the competition felt overwhelming and difficult, but I was able to make it here because the actors beside me acted as my pacemakers.”
Honoring the Rest of the Stars… A Tribute to Veteran Actors
The ceremony also included a special moment to honor the giants of the Korean entertainment industry who recently passed away. The entire cast and audience expressed their deep condolences while remembering the legacies of veteran actors like the late Lee Soon-jae, Ahn Sung-ki, and Jeon Yoo-sung, who dedicated their lives to acting and served as role models for juniors.
