The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards are almost here! As one of Korea’s ‘big three’ film honours alongside the Daejong International Film Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards, this particular awards night celebrates contributions across both the big and small screens.
Often compared to America’s Golden Globe Awards, the Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony is organised by the JoongAng Group. Surprisingly enough, while globally celebrated auteur Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 scored multiple nods at this year’s Director’s Cut Awards in Korea, the Warner Bros film remained ineligible for today’s awards night. This snub has been attributed to the event’s exclusive focus on works produced by Korean companies, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.
With the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards slated for Monday, May 5, Korea’s top stars are expected to walk the red carpet this evening. The Baeksang dream team — Shin Dong Yup, Bae Suzy and Park Bo Gum — will return to host the 61st edition of the prestigious series at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. It marks their seventh time joining forces as the main MCs of the big night.
The nominees across three categories — broadcasting (TV + OTT), film and theatre — for the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards were announced last month. Netflix led the ranks, thanks to the Park Bo Gum and IU-starrer romance drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines, being nominated for eight awards. Neftlix’s The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call and tvN’s Lovely Runner follow suit, sharing the second-highest number of Baeksang nods.
Here’s what we know about today’s ceremony broadcast.
When and where to watch 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards
With Gucci as the Baeksang Arts Awards’ official partner, today’s event will be broadcast live on Korean networks JTBC, JTBC2 and JTBC4. According to K-media outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, PRIZM (global) and PRIZM, Naver’s Chizik (Korea) have the digital streaming access. Fan-shared streams and award-winning moments often pop up on X and YouTube as well. Stay tuned.
Date and time: The main ceremony kicks off on May 5 at 8 pm KST (4:30 pm IST), whereas the Red Carpet event is scheduled to precede the awards ceremony at 6:15 pm KST (2:45 pm IST).
61st Baeksang Arts Awards presenters
Last year’s Daesang winners, Ryu Seung Ryong (Moving) and director Kim Sung Soo (12.12: The Day), will grace the stage as top star presenters tonight.
Other A-lists set to take on presenting duties in pairs are Lee Jung Hae and Yoo Na, Ahn Jae Hong and Yeom Hye Ran, Kim Jong Soo and Lee Sang Hee, Na Young Suk and Hong Jin Kyung, Namgoong Min and Lee Ha Nee, and Hwang Jung Min and Kim Go Eun.
As last year’s Best New Actress recipient, singer-actress BIBI will present this year’s Best New Actor and Actress awards. With Lee Do Hyun, aka last year’s Best New Actor title-holder, serving in the military, Ong Seong Wu join BIBI as his replacement.
Last year’s Best Actor in Theatre Kang Hae Jin will come up to present this year’s theatre-related acting award. Meanwhile, Kim Shin Rok, director Cho Hyun Chul will present the GUCCI IMPACT AWARD.
Some more star-studded appearances will see Kim Seon Ho, Seo in Guk, Jeong Eun Ji, Go Kyung Po, Seohyun, Ahn Hyo Seop, Nana, Byun Yo Han and Go Ah Sung take the stage to celebrate some heartfelt reunions or promotions of highly anticipated projects.
2025 Baeksang Arts Awards nominees
Best Drama
- Lovely Runner (tvN)
- Doubt (MBC)
- When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix)
- The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix)
- The Tale of Lady Ok (JTBC)
Best Actor
- Byeon Woo Seok – Lovely RUnner
- Han Suk Kyu – Doubt
- Park Bo Gum – When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Lee Joon Hyuk – Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard
- Ju Ji Hoon – The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Best Actress
- Go Min Si – The Frog
- Kim Hye Yoon – Lovely Runner
- IU – When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Kim Tae Ri – Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
- Jang Nara – Good Partner
Best Supporting Actor
- Yoon Kyung Ho – The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
- Choi Dae Hoon – When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Kim Jun Han – Good Partner
- Roh Jae Won – Squid Game 2
- Hyeon Bong Sik – Dongjae, the Good of the Bastard
Best Supporting Actress
- Jung Eun Chae – Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
- Oh Kyung Hwa – Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
- Yeom Hye Ran – When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Kim Guk Hee – Family Matters
- Kim Jae Hwa – The Tale of Lady Ok
Best New Actor
- Song Geon Hee – Lovely Runner
- Choo Young Woo – The Tale of Lady Ok
- Kim Jung Jin – Doubt
- Cha Woo Min – The Study Group
- Heo Nam Jun – Your Honor
Best New Actress
- Roh Jeong Eui – The Witch
- Chae Won Bin – Doubt
- Ha Young – The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
- Kim Tae Yeon – When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Jo Yoon Soo – The Tyrant
Best Director
- Kim Hee Won – Light Shop
- Song Yeon Hwa – Doubt
- Lee Do Yoon – The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
- Jung Ji In – Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
- Kim Won Seok – When Life Gives You Tangerines
Best Male Entertainer
- Dex
- Shin Dong Yup
- Yoo Jae Suk
- Kim Won Hoon
- Sung Si Kyung
Best Female Entertainer
- Jang Do Yeon
- Haewon
- Lee Soo Ji
- Ji Ye Eun
- Hong Jin Kyung
Best Variety Show
- Stage Fighter (Mnet)
- Ajossi’s Life (literal title) (Choo Sung Hoon)
- Punghyanggo (DdeunDdeun)
- Culinary Class Wars (Netflix)
- Iron Girl (tvN)
Best Educational Show
- Just Family (Wavve)
- Special-Haekjeon (SBS)
- Shaman: Whispers from the dead (TVING)
- Saddle the Wind with You 2 (Wonju MBC)
- Docuprime – Where is My Final Home (EBS)
Best Screenplay
- Park Ji Sook – The Tale of Lady Ok
- Lee Si Eun – Lovely Runner
- Cho Yu Na – Good Partner
- Kim Jung Min – Family Matters
- Im Sang Choon – When Life Gives You Tangerines
Best Technical Direction
- Lee Jin Suk, Lee Deok Hoon – Doubt for camera
- Jo Dong Hyuk – Study Group for stunt coordination
- Jang Yeong Gyu – Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born for music
- Lee Young Joo – Culinary Class Wars for art
- Hong Jung Ho, Lee Seung Je, Kim Dae Joon, Kim Jung Min – Hellbound 2
The White Lotus creator Mike White was unaware of BLACKPINK’s Lisa, was hesitant about casting her for the show
Baeksang Arts Awards nominees: FILM
Best Actor
- Lee Byun Hun – The Match
- Jo Jung Suk – Pilot
- Hyun Bin – Harbin
- Yoon Joo Sang – The Land of Morning Calm
- Lee Hee Joon – Handsome Guys
Best Actress
- Kim Go Eun – Love in the Big City
- Song Hye Kyo – Dark Nuns
- Jeon Do Yeon – Revolver
- Cho Yeo Jeong – Hidden Face
- Kim Geum Soon – Jeong-Sun
Best Supporting Actor
- Park Jung Min – Uprising
- Jung Hae In – I, the Executioner or Veteran 2
- Jo Woo Jin – Harbin
- Koo Kyo Hwan – Escape
- Yoo Jae Myung – Land of Happiness
Best Supporting Actress
- Claudia Kim – A Normal Family
- Lim Ji Yeon – Revolver
- Jeon Yeon Been – Dark Nuns
- Han Sun Hwa – Pilot
- Gong Seung Yeon – Handsome Guys
Best New Actor
- Noh Sang Hyun – Love in the Big City
- Moon Woo Jin – Dark Nuns
- Jung Sung Il – Uprising
- Jang Sung Bum – Work to Do
- Kang Seung Ho – House of the Seasons
Best New Actress
- Park Ji Hyun – Hidden Face
- Hyeri – Victory
- Roh Yoon Seo – Hear Me: Our Summer
- Lee Myung Ha – Mimang
- Ha Seo Yoon – Streaming
Best Film
- Love in the Big City
- Harbin
- Revolver
- House of the Seasons
- Uprising
Gucci Impact Award
- Love in the Big City
- Blesser
- Jeong-Sun
- The Land of Morning Calm
- The Voices of the Silenced
Best Director
- Lee Jong Pil – Escape
- Oh Seung Wook – Revolver
- Woo Min Ho – Harbin
- Park Yi Woong – The Land of Morning Calm
- Lee Eon Hee – Love in the Big City
Best New Director
- Lee Mi Rang – Concerning My Daughter
- Kim Se Hwee – Following
- Oh Jung Min – House of the Seasons
- Nam Dong Hyeop – Handsome Guys
- Jung Ji Hye – Jeong-Sun
Best Scenario
- Park Yi Woong – The Land of Morning Calm
- Oh Jung Min – House of the Seasons
- Oh Seung Wook, Joo Byul – Revolver
- Kim Hyung Joo, Yoon Jong Bin – The Match
- Shin Chul, Park Chan Wook – Uprising
Best Technical Direction
- Lee Seo Jin – Pilot for makeup
- Hong Kyung Pyo – Harbin for camera
- Park Byung Joo – Wonderland for VFX
- Yoo Sang Seop, Jang Han Seung – I, the Executioner or Veteran 2 for action
- Jo Young Wook – Uprising for music