‘Beyond the Bitter Orange’ Wins 4 Baeksang Awards, IU Misses Out for Third Time

The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards took place on the evening of the 5th at COEX D Hall in Seoul. For the 10th consecutive year, 'Baeksang Goddess' Suzy took on hosting duties, paired for the 7th time with Shin Dong-yeob and Park Bo-gum. The Grand Prize in the television category was awarded to the cooking program 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War'. The drama 'Beyond the Bitter Orange' won big with four awards including Best Drama and Best Supporting Actor and Actress. The Best Film award went to Hyun Bin's 'Harbin', whose cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo received the Grand Prize recognition.

The cooking show 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War' achieved the Grand Prize in the television category. However, its host, Baek Jong-won, is currently embroiled in various negative news. He later issued a formal apology via a YouTube video lasting over five minutes, announcing his withdrawal from entertainment activities to return to his business roots. Baek Jong-won previously faced allegations of false labeling on his group’s products, power harassment, forcing program crew changes, and over-interfering with program production, all severely damaging his celebrity chef image. Ultimately, he had to bow to public opinion.

'Beyond the Bitter Orange' saw its writer Im Heung-soon score first triumph of the night, with 'Uncle Hasi' Choi Dae-hoon and 'Gwong-li' Yum Hye-ran sweeping Best Supporting Actor and Actress, but nominees for Best Actor and Actress 'Kwan-sik' Park Bo-gum and 'Ae-chun' IU were defeated by Joo Ji-hoon from 'Trauma Center' and Kim Tae-ri from 'A Year'. Although they did not win the acting awards, the drama was vindicated with the Best Drama award, scoring a total of four wins on the night 

When IU lost to Kim Tae-ri, a disappointed expression was captured on screen. Fans who support IU subsequently posted expressions of regret online, with some even suggesting a bias among judges against 'idols turning actors'. IU had previously been nominated twice for Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for 'My Mister' and 'Hotel del Luna', but failed to win. Despite 'Beyond the Bitter Orange' being a hit series this year where IU played dual roles spanning 50 years, it still did not sway judges to award her.

Joo Ji-hoon played a genius trauma surgeon who refuses to compromise with reality in 'Trauma Center', and humbly said upon winning over Han Seok-kyu, Lee Jun-hyuk, Park Bo-gum, and Byun Woo-seok for Best Actor, “As I continue to accumulate works, I increasingly realize an acting career is something you can't achieve alone.” He expressed that he was accepting the award on behalf of the entire team.

In the film category, the big winner was the historical film 'War and Chaos', with Jung Sung-il winning Best New Actor, famous director Park Chan-wook and screenwriter Shin Cheol securing Best Screenplay, and winning for Music in Best Art, taking home three awards making it a significant film victor. Although Hyun Bin missed out on Best Actor with his portrayal of national hero An Jung-geun in 'Harbin', the film still snagged Best Film, with its cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo winning the Grand Prize.

Jeon Do-yeon claimed her fifth Best Actress award with 'Revolver', leaving Song Hye-kyo from 'Black Priestess 2: Dark Nun' and Kim Go-eun from 'In-his-Man, Friend' empty-handed; Jo Jung-suk won his first Baeksang Best Actor award by playing a cross-dressing pilot in 'Transforming Captain', defeating strong competitors like Lee Byung-hun from 'Ultimate Match' and Hyun Bin.

When Jo Jung-suk took the stage, he confessed: “I wanted to win, but I didn’t expect too much, my mind went blank.” In his cross-dressing portrayal, he confessed: “It was a challenge for me to begin this work. I doubted whether I could do it well,” jokingly adding, “After all, anyone can tell I have broad shoulders, I was worried if this would be a reckless challenge.” He also declared his affection to his singer wife and daughter, “Gummy and my daughter, I love you both. I will continue to be an actor who challenges himself.”

61st Baeksang Arts Awards Winners

★Television★
Grand Prize: 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War'
Best Drama: 'Beyond the Bitter Orange'
Best Actor: Joo Ji-hoon 'Trauma Center'
Best Actress: Kim Tae-ri 'A Year'
Best Supporting Actor: Choi Dae-hoon 'Beyond the Bitter Orange'
Best Supporting Actress: Yum Hye-ran 'Beyond the Bitter Orange'
Best New Actor: Choo Yong-woo 'Lady Yukshi Chronicles'
Best New Actress: Chae Won-bin 'Intimate Betrayer'
Best Director: Song Yeon-hwa 'Intimate Betrayer'
Best Screenplay: Lim Heung-soon 'Beyond the Bitter Orange'
Best Variety: DdeunDdeun 'Go Wind'
Best Variety Male Performer: Shin Dong-yeob
Best Variety Female Performer: Lee Soo-ji
Best Art: Music 'A Year'
Popularity Award: Byun Woo-seok, Kim Hye-woon 'Running with Sun-jae'

★Film★
Grand Prize: 'Harbin' Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo
Best Film: 'Harbin'
Best Director: Oh Seung-wook 'Revolver'
Best Actor: Jo Jung-suk 'Transforming Captain'
Best Actress: Jeon Do-yeon 'Revolver'
Best Supporting Actor: Yoo Jae-myung 'Nation of Happiness'
Best Supporting Actress: Soo-hyun 'Normal Family'
Best New Actor: Jung Sung-il 'War and Chaos'
Best New Actress: Noh Yoon-seo 'Tell Me'
Best New Director: Oh Jung-min 'Eldest Grandson'
Best Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Shin Cheol 'War and Chaos'
Best Art: Music 'War and Chaos'