Yoo Hae-Jin, Ryu Seung-Ryong, “No Other Choice” Among Major Winners at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards

Key Takeaways

• Yoo Hae‑jin wins Film Daesang for ‘The King’s Warden’
• Ryu Seung‑ryong captures Broadcast Daesang for ‘The Dream Life of Mr. Kim’
• ‘No Other Choice’ named Best Film; Lee Sung‑min wins supporting
• Baeksang launches Musical Division; ‘Arang’ wins inaugural Best Musical

Pulse Analysis

The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards cemented their reputation as South Korea’s most comprehensive celebration of the performing arts. Hosted for the eighth year by Shin Dong‑yup, Bae Suzy and Park Bo‑gum, the four‑hour ceremony was broadcast on JTBC and streamed on Naver, drawing millions of viewers domestically and abroad. Veteran actors dominated the top honors: Yoo Hae‑jin earned the Film Grand Prize for his role in "The King’s Warden," while Ryu Seung‑ryong secured the Broadcast Grand Prize for "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim." Other highlights included Park Chan‑wook’s "No Other Choice" winning Best Film and Hyun Bin’s Best Actor award for the Disney+ series "Made in Korea," reflecting the growing impact of international streaming platforms on Korean content.

Beyond the headline winners, Baeksang’s results illustrate shifting dynamics within Korea’s entertainment ecosystem. The ceremony recognized a blend of established talent and emerging voices, with Park Ji‑hoon taking both the Best New Actor and Naver Popularity awards, and Seo Su‑bin earning Best New Actress for "The World of Love." The broadcast category highlighted strong drama offerings such as "You and Everything Else" and "Our Unwritten Seoul," while technical achievements in music and production underscored the industry’s increasing investment in high‑quality craftsmanship. Hyun Bin’s emotional acceptance speech, which went viral on social media, further amplified the awards’ reach, reinforcing Baeksang’s role as a launchpad for projects that resonate with both domestic audiences and the global Hallyu fanbase.

A historic milestone this year was the introduction of a Musical Division, a partnership with the Korea Musical Theatre Association marking the 60th anniversary of Korean musical theatre. "Arang" captured the inaugural Best Musical award, while performers like Kim Jun‑su and choreographer Seo Byung‑goo were honored for their contributions. This expansion acknowledges the burgeoning market for Korean musical productions, which are increasingly attracting investment, touring internationally, and integrating contemporary storytelling techniques. By formally recognizing musical theatre alongside film, broadcast and theatre, Baeksang signals a broader industry trend toward diversified content creation, offering new revenue streams and cross‑media opportunities for creators and investors alike.