Kim Soo Hyun’s 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards nomination called out for ‘misogyny’ as judge defends snubbing Kim Ji Won

The Baeksang Arts Awards, the most prestigious award ceremony in South Korea’s leisure replace, learned itself on the center of peculiar controversy in 2024. Whereas Queen of Tears, a drama sensation that shattered viewership data and captured hearts worldwide, modified into as soon as neatly-known for its ingenious merit, the evident absence of lead actress Kim Ji Gained from the Most fascinating Actress nominees record ignited a firestorm all over social media.

Now, almost a one year after the grime had apparently settled, the controversy has resurfaced in paunchy pressure following comments from Baeksang decide and passe culture critic Jeong Deok Hyeon. His most modern remarks, meant to elaborate the resolution-making job, absorb as a substitute reignited debate and deepened the divide between the judging panel and the public.

Queen of Tears, starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Gained, hasty grew to became one amongst the most-watched dramas of 2024, crossing the rare 20% nationwide viewership stamp: an success that positioned it among the ideal-rated Korean dramas in most modern history. The emotional storytelling and prominent performances by the lead actors had been widely praised, with many calling it the defining Okay-drama of the one year.

So when Baeksang announced its nominations, fans expected each ends in be identified. Whereas Kim Soo Hyun secured a nomination for Most fascinating Actor, Kim Ji Gained modified into as soon as noticeably and to many, inexplicably, passed over of the Most fascinating Actress category. The backlash modified into as soon as rapid and fans flooded forums and statement sections with frustration and disbelief.

In a most modern look on a discuss gift, Jeong Deok Hyeon addressed the controversy publicly for the first time. In step with him, the timing of the gift’s originate played a important role in how the nominations had been made up our minds. “When the first spherical of judging started, it started stunning early,” Jeong explained. “Queen of Tears hadn’t even begun airing yet. So there modified into as soon as quite a range of debate over whether or no longer to incorporate it or no longer. Because it barely made the cutoff, there’s actually an original identical outdated. If a particular share has aired, then it turns into eligible. Alternatively it modified into as soon as sophisticated for us to decide it neatly with out having considered the paunchy enlighten material.”

Jeong elaborated that throughout the screening period, Kim Soo Hyun’s performing stood out from the beginning place, whereas Kim Ji Gained’s performance had no longer yet reached its top in the early episodes. “At the purpose we had been looking out at it, Kim Soo hyun’s performance stood out clearly, but Kim Jiwon hadn’t in actuality shined yet on the video. That’s why she didn’t invent it into the nominations and actually, we explained all this to Kim Jiwon’s agency and the actress additionally heard it and permitted it all. The general public doesn’t know, although, so they handsome criticize us.”

But he additionally admitted a ingredient that didn’t sit effectively with many fans: “But awards worship this, actually, there’s a cramped bit of success alive to.” As a substitute of easing tensions, Jeong’s explanation has most fascinating sparked renewed frustration online. Fans hasty identified the inconsistency in the logic: if the drama wasn’t completely eligible on account of timing, how modified into as soon as Kim Soo Hyun nominated at all? If most fascinating partial performances had been accessible for overview, why modified into as soon as judgment handed on Kim Ji Gained’s role at all?

Others viewed the difficulty as portion of a elevated sample of gender bias in the replace, the place male actors are in total neatly-known for their performances, while female leads are misplaced sight of or undervalued. No subject the shortage of decent recognition from Baeksang, Kim Ji Gained’s portrayal of Hong Hae In, a affluent heiress, has been widely hailed as one amongst the most compelling female performances in Okay-drama history. As the debate all over the Baeksang snub continues, one thing is certain: fans are no longer letting this 2d pass quietly.

Discussions spherical transparency in award selection, equitable recognition of talent, and systemic replace biases absorb all been amplified in the wake of this controversy. And while trophies would perhaps perhaps also merely sit on cupboards, it’s obvious that Kim Ji Gained’s influence lives on in the hearts of fans, the place no committee vote is mandatory.