Nominees Announced For 61st Baeksang Arts Awards

On April 7, 2025, the Baeksang Arts Awards Secretariat unveiled the nominees for the '61st Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci' across film, television, and theater categories via its official website and social media platforms. This prestigious event, which celebrates the best in Korean entertainment, is set to take place on May 5, 2025, at 8 PM KST at COEX D Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and will be broadcast live on JTBC, JTBC2, and JTBC4.

The Baeksang Arts Awards have broadened their criteria over the years, expanding from traditional broadcasting networks to include cable, streaming platforms, and even web content, reflecting the evolving landscape of content consumption. This year, the television category has been rebranded as the broadcasting category, marking another significant change in the awards' history.

In the television drama category, fierce competition is anticipated with nominees including tvN's Sunjae Upgo Tureo, JTBC's Queen of Tears, MBC's Wonderful World, and Netflix's The 8 Show and Parasyte: The Grey. The entertainment program nominees feature popular shows such as tvN's You Quiz on the Block, Mnet's Street Fighter, and Netflix's Devil's Plan: Yo-ri Gyegeup Jeonjeing.

The educational program nominees are equally varied, showcasing works like EBS's Daekyu Prime - Where is My Last Home and SBS's Special - School Crime and Kim Min-ki's Backside. The directors competing for recognition include Kim Won-Seok for The 8 Show and Kim Hee-Won for Disney+'s Moving.

In the acting categories, the Best Actor nominees feature heavyweights such as Park Bo-Gum for The 8 Show, Byeon Woo-Seok for Sunjae Upgo Tureo, and Han Seok-Kyu for Wonderful World. The Best Actress category sees contenders like IU for The 8 Show and Kim Tae-Ri for Jeongnyeoni.

The Best Supporting Actor nominees include Kim Jun-Han from Good Partner and Noh Jae-Won from Netflix's Squid Game Season 2, while the Best Supporting Actress category features Kim Guk-Hee from Family Plan and Yeom Hye-Ran from The 8 Show.

In the film category, the competition is equally intense. The nominees for Best Picture include A Normal Family, Knuckle Girl, Graveyard of the Sea, Exhuma, and The Land of Peace. The Best Director nominees are Hur Jin-ho for A Normal Family and Woo Min-Ho for Harbin.

Best Actor nominees in film include Yoon Ju-Sang for Knuckle Girl and Hyun Bin for Harbin. The Best Actress category features Kim Go-Eun for A Normal Family and Song Hye-Kyo for The Black Nuns.

In the theater category, which has become a highlight of the Baeksang Awards since its revival in 2019, nominees for Best Play include Gumishik and Jews of Malta. Best Actor nominees in theater are Kang Ji-Seop and Lee Jin-Kyung, while the Best New Actor category showcases emerging talents.

Additionally, the Gucci Impact Award, now in its third year, recognizes works that address social issues and promote a better future. Nominees include To My Daughter and A Normal Family.

In related news, Byeon Woo-Seok, who gained popularity from tvN's Sunjae Upgo Tureo, is preparing for his upcoming role in MBC's 21st Century Grand Prince alongside IU. This romantic drama tells the story of Sung Hee-Joo, a commoner, and Lee An Daegun, a prince with nothing to gain, with Byeon taking on the role of Lee An Daegun.

Byeon Woo-Seok's agency, Varo Entertainment, recently released photos showcasing his masculine charm, further endearing him to fans. The actor's recent photoshoot shows him with a strong, masculine image, leaving fans excited for his upcoming projects.

As the Baeksang Arts Awards approaches, anticipation builds for the celebration of talent across the film, television, and theater industries. With a diverse lineup of nominees and categories, this year's awards promise to be a noteworthy event in the Korean entertainment calendar.