The 55th annual Baeksang Arts Awards were held on May 1, 2019 and stars from cinema and television were in attendance to receive their awards and fete their colleagues. Unlike the year-end shows, the Baeksang Awards aren’t organized by broadcaster so the nominees and winners tend to be more interesting and less predictable. Last year’s emcee trio, Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum returned to host again (though this is actually Suzy’s fourth consecutive year hosting).
Kim Hye-ja and Jung Woo-sung were the big winners of the night as they were awarded the Daesang. Kim Hye-ja was received the Daesang in television for her role in The Light in Your Eyes and Jung Woo-sung won the Daesang in film for his role in Innocent Witness. SKY Castle picked up the most awards in the TV section, with four awards in total for directing and acting. My Ajusshi prevailed in a strong field to win best drama (the other nominees: Mr. Sunshine, The Light in Your Eyes, SKY Castle, and Red Moon, Blue Sun)
Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum
The dramatic film Miss Baek scooped the most awards in the film section with three wins, but the North Korean spy thriller The Spy Gone North followed closely behind with two awards. Han Ji-min won the top acting award for her role as the lead in Miss Baek and castmate Kwon So-hyun picked up the best supporting actress award. The film’s director, Lee Ji-won, was honored with the best new director award for Miss Baek. The Spy Gone North won best film and Lee Sung-min was awarded the top acting award for his role in the movie.
Fashion-wise, I normally find Korean awards shows uninspiring, but I actually enjoyed the Baeksangs more than last year’s year-end awards shows. The color palette was still largely monochrome but there was a tiny step away from the bridal looks we usually get. The men’s fashions were by and large the same old black suits and tuxedos. Some actors went the experimental route with their blazers, opting for textures and colors that departed from the norm. While I admire the effort, I think it worked better for some people (Kim Young-kwang) more than others (Choi Jin-hyuk).
On to the winners!
55th Baeksang Award winners
WINNERS LIST:
FILM SECTION
Daesang: Jung Woo-sung (Innocent Witness)
Best Picture: The Spy Gone North (Yoon Jong-bin)
Director: Kang Hyung-chul (Swing Kids)
Top Excellence, Actor: Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North)
Top Excellence, Actress: Han Ji-min (Miss Baek)
Supporting Actor: Kim Joo-hyuk (Believer)
Supporting Actress: Kwon So-hyun (Miss Baek)
New Actor: Kim Young-kwang (On Your Wedding Day)
New Actress: Lee Jae-in (Svaha: The Sixth Finger)
New Director: Lee Ji-won (Miss Baek)
Screenplay: Dark Figure of Crime (Kwak Kyung-taek)
Art Award: Burning (Hong Kyung-pyo)
TV SECTION
Daesang: Kim Hye-ja (The Light in Your Eyes)
Best Drama: My Ajusshi (Kim Won-seok)
Variety Program: Omniscient Interfering View
Educational Program: Journalism Talk Show
Directing: Jo Hyun-tak (SKY Castle)
Top Excellence, Actor: Lee Byung-heon (Mr. Sunshine)
Top Excellence, Actress: Yeom Jung-ah (SKY Castle)
Supporting Actor: Kim Byung-chul (SKY Castle)
Supporting Actress: Lee Jung-eun (The Light in Your Eyes)
New Actor: Jang Ki-yong (Come Here and Hug Me)
New Actress: Kim Hye-yoon (SKY Castle)
Variety, Male Performer: Jun Hyun-moo (I Live Alone)
Variety, Female Performer: Lee Young-ja (Omniscient Interfering View)
Scriptwriting: Park Hye-young (My Ajusshi)
Visual Effects Award: Park Seong-jin (Memories of the Alhambra)
VLive Popularity Award, Actor: D.O. (100 Days My Prince)
VLive Popularity Award, Actress: IU (My Ajusshi)
Bazaar Icon Award: Kim Hye-soo
Kim Hye-soo
Kim Seo-hyung, Yeom Jung-ah
Kim Young-kwang, Choi Jin-hyuk
Honey Lee, IU
Kim Seo-hyung