‘The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards’
Traditional masters, the choices of ten-million moviegoers, and finely crafted works that comforted middle-aged lives adorned the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards. In particular, two friends who shared ups and downs 30 years ago, Yoo Hae-jin and Ryu Seung-ryong, stood side by side to seize the Grand Prizes in the film and television divisions, bringing the ceremony to a close.
On the afternoon of the 8th, at COEX D Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the ‘62nd Baeksang Arts Awards’ wrapped up its long journey under the hosting of MCs Shin Dong-yeob, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum.
‘The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards’
■ ‘No Other Choice’ vs ‘Wangsa-nam’… the fiercest showdown dividing Best Picture and the Grand Prize
At Baeksang this year, the biggest point of interest was the head-on showdown between director Park Chan-wook with ‘No Other Choice’ and director Jang Hang-jun with ‘A Man Living with the King’.
First to smile was director Park Chan-wook. Accepting Best Picture in the film division, Park even joked, “I would like to thank the judges who worked hard. I feel certain that a fair evaluation took place.” He added, “The film I made was itself filled with jokes, and even when there are times of anger or sadness, I think it is necessary to keep trying jokes, to try to make people around you laugh, and to make self-deprecating jokes. Only then can we vent the steam from the energy of anger and sorrow and find some kind of exit. Although I am not a director who became the protagonist at the Venice Film Festival or the Academy Awards, please believe it because these are the words of a producer who won at Baeksang.”
In contrast, the highest honor in the film division, the Grand Prize, went to Yoo Hae-jin of ‘A Man Living with the King’. Having drawn 16.8 million viewers and set a record-breaking box office run, Yoo said, “I began with a Supporting Actor award and once said I would like to act only until forty-five, but receiving the Grand Prize like this is overwhelming,” sharing his emotions. Following Park Ji-hoon taking both the Rookie and Popularity awards, Yoo added the finishing touch with the Grand Prize, and ‘Wangsa-nam’ took home results worthy of the best score of the year.
‘The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards’
Next, the film division Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to Park Jung-min (‘Face’) and Moon Ga-young (‘If We Were’).
■ Colleagues from a ‘bidet factory part-time job’ 30 years ago reunite on the Grand Prize stage
On this day, the television division Grand Prize went to Ryu Seung-ryong of ‘The Story of Manager Kim, Who Owns a Home in Seoul and Works at a Conglomerate’. In particular, he mentioned his friend of 30 years, Yoo Hae-jin, in his acceptance speech, moving the venue to tears. He said, “I remember the days 30 years ago when I was putting up posters at a theater in New York and doing a part-time job for a month at a bidet factory in Jochiwon,” and added, “We did not expect this, but for the two of us to receive Grand Prizes together is profoundly moving.” Ryu, through ‘The Story of Manager Kim, Who Owns a Home in Seoul and Works at a Conglomerate’, perfectly portrayed a middle-aged man bearing the weight of being the head of a household, drawing deep empathy from the public.
‘The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards’
■ Hyun Bin’s ‘devoted husband’ remarks and Park Bo-young’s ‘good-natured competition’
The television division Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to Hyun Bin and Park Bo-young. Winning for ‘Made in Korea’, Hyun Bin said, “To my wife Ye-jin and our son, you have supported me so well, and I love you.” A shot of Son Ye-jin in the audience recording her husband on her phone added warmth.
Receiving Best Actress for ‘Unknown Seoul’, Park Bo-young credited her colleagues, saying, “There were times when competition felt burdensome and hard, but thanks to the actors beside me who served as pacemakers, I was able to come this far.”
■ Honoring stars at rest… a tribute to veteran actors
Meanwhile, the ceremony included a special moment to commemorate towering figures in Korean entertainment who have recently left us. Remembering the footsteps of veteran actors such as the late Lee Soon-jae, Ahn Sung-ki, and Jeon Yoo-sung, the entire cast and audience expressed deep condolences.
