2025 Baeksang Awards Snubs: 6 Wins That Could’ve Gone Another Way

The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 5, celebrated outstanding talent and content across film, television, and OTT platforms. Only works released between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, were eligible for nomination. The star-studded evening saw appearances by top celebrities including Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon, Hyun Bin, Kim Tae Ri, IU, and Ju Ji Hoon, among many others. Fans tuned in eagerly, waiting to see if their favorite stars and dramas would take home trophies in the major categories.

While the ceremony was well-received overall, with organizers ensuring that most nominees and attendees felt acknowledged, some fans were left surprised and disappointed by a few results. Certain wins sparked debate, with many feeling that other nominees were just as deserving.

Here, we highlight six Baeksang Awards snubs from the 2025 ceremony — moments where the award could have easily gone to someone else. Note: This list isn’t meant to discredit the winners but rather to spotlight other outstanding performances and works that were equally worthy of recognition.

1. Best Drama - When Life Gives You Tangerines

   
   

Who else deserved it: Lovely Runner

There’s no denying that When Life Gives You Tangerines is a beautifully crafted and emotionally moving drama. However, Lovely Runner, starring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon, could have easily taken home the award as well. The drama resonated deeply with audiences with its heartfelt storytelling, sensitive portrayal of mental health, and standout performances. Romantic dramas rarely receive top honors at major award shows, but Lovely Runner broke through cultural barriers and had a significant global impact, making it a worthy contender for the win.  

2. Best Actor – Ju Ji Hoon: The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

   
   

   

   
   

   Who else deserved it: Han Suk Kyu - Doubt

   
   

   There’s no doubt that Ju Ji Hoon delivered a powerful performance as trauma specialist Baek Kang Hyuk. However, Han Suk Kyu was equally exceptional in Doubt, portraying top criminal profiler Jang Tae Su - a single father whose world is shaken when he suspects his daughter’s involvement in a case he's investigating. The role demanded emotional depth, restraint, and moral complexity, and Han Suk Kyu rose to the challenge with the finesse only a veteran actor can bring. Doubt showcased his decades-long mastery of the craft, making him a strong contender for the award.

3. Best Actress – Kim Tae Ri: Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

   
   

   

   
   

   Who else deserved it: IU - When Life Gives You Tangerines

   
   

   Kim Tae Ri continues to prove she’s one of the most accomplished actresses of her generation, delivering a powerful and emotionally rich performance in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born. However, many fans were disappointed that IU did not take the award home. In When Life Gives You Tangerines, she portrayed both the mother and daughter versions of her character with exceptional depth and grace. Her performance was certainly one for the ages. 

4. Best New Actor – Choo Young Woo: The Tale of Lady Ok 

   
   

   

   
   

   Who else deserved it: Cha Woo Min - Study Group

   
   

   Choo Young Woo had a standout year, impressing audiences with his performances in both The Tale of Lady Ok and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. His growing range and screen presence mark him as one of the most exciting emerging talents in the Korean entertainment industry. That said, Cha Woo Min also delivered a breakout performance as the sharp and menacing Pi Han Wool in the gritty young adult drama Study Group. His intensity and control on screen stood out, making a strong case for recognition in the Best New Actor category.

5. Best New Actress – Chae Won Bin: Doubt

   
   

   

   
   

   Who else deserved it: Jo Yoon Soo - The Tyrant

   
   

   It’s an exciting era for young actresses in the Korean entertainment industry, with a wider range of complex, dynamic roles being written than ever before. Chae Won Bin delivered a strong performance in Doubt as a daughter harboring a dark secret that threatens to unravel her bond with her father. However, Jo Yoon Soo also gave a standout performance in The Tyrant as Chae Ja Gyeong, a cold yet compelling assassin entrusted with a critical mission. Acting alongside heavyweights like Kim Seon Ho, Kim Kang Woo, and Cha Seung Won, Jo Yoon Soo held her own with remarkable poise and presence, firmly establishing herself as a rising talent to watch.

6. Best Director – Song Yeon Hwa: Doubt

   
   

   

   
   

   Who else deserved it: Kim Hee Won- Light Shop

   
   

   Doubt and Light Shop emerged as genre-defining Korean dramas over the past year. Song Yeon Hwa earned well-deserved acclaim for her sharp, gripping direction in Doubt, crafting a tense psychological thriller that held audiences in suspense from start to finish. Meanwhile, Kim Hee Won delivered a compelling vision in Light Shop, a mystery-horror drama built on an inventive and emotionally layered premise. His direction infused the story with a haunting elegance, offering viewers a fresh and resonant take on the genre.

   
   

    All of these dramas are available for streaming on major domestic and international platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Do you agree with our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!  

   
   

   #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines #IU #KimSeonHo #ParkBoGum #Suzy #LovelyRunner #ByeonWooSeok #KimHyeYoon