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Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Culinary Class Wars wins top prize at Baeksang Arts Awards; IU loses out on Best Actress again
Netflix's hit cooking competition series Culinary Class Wars became the first variety series in the Baeksang Arts Awards history to clinch the top honour of Grand Prize. PHOTO: NETFLIX Culinary Class Wars wins top prize at Baeksang Arts Awards; IU loses out on Best Actress again Netflix originals won big in the television category at South Korea's prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards on May 5. The streamer's hit cooking competition series Culinary Class Wars, which pits established chefs against underdogs, became the first variety series to clinch the top honour of Grand Prize, also known as 'daesang', in the television category. 'It feels especially meaningful to receive the grand prize for a variety show,' Mr Yoon Hyun-joon, chief executive of Studio Slam, the production company behind the series, said in his acceptance speech. 'The stature of South Korean variety shows is rising.' The Baeksang Arts Awards was introduced in 1965 and recognises the country's best in film and television. The Best Drama prize went to the Jeju-set tearjerker When Life Gives You Tangerines, which wrapped its run on Netflix in March. It beat period drama The Tale Of Lady Ok, romance series Lovely Runner, thriller Doubt and Netflix's medical comedy The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call, which won for Best Screenplay. The supporting stars of When Life Gives You Tangerines were named Best Supporting Actress and Actor. Yeom Hye-ran played the protagonist's haenyeo (female free diver who harvests seafood for sale) mother, and Choi Dae-hoon played a vulgar village bully. Yeom's co-stars, singer-actress IU and child star Kim Tae-yeon, both of whom played her daughter Ae-sun onscreen, cheered her on in the audience. In tears, Yeom said: 'It's just nice that both my Ae-suns are here. Ae-sun, mummy won a prize!' Choi broke out his character's favourite catchphrase, 'Damn it!', in his speech. In disbelief, he said: 'Is this some sort of hidden camera prank? I'll continue living and doing my best. And in this cruel world, when you feel tired, remember to yell out: 'Damn it!'' Singer-actress IU pulled double duty playing two characters in When Life Gives You Tangerines. But she lost out for a third time in the Best Actress category. The winner was Kim Tae-ri, who reportedly spent three years training in the traditional Korean art of musical storytelling, or pansori, for period drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born. IU was previously nominated for My Mister (2018) and Hotel Del Luna (2019). The Best Actor accolade also went to the star of a Netflix series, with Ju Ji-hoon winning for his role of a cocky trauma surgeon in The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call. In the film category, the Grand Prize was given to cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo for his work on the Hyun Bin-led biographical period drama film Harbin, which also won the Best Film award. The movie centres on Ahn Jung-geun, a Korean independence activist who assassinated the first Prime Minister of Japan in 1909. Hyun Bin, who was nominated for Best Actor for Harbin, lost to Jo Jung-suk, who played a pilot in the comedy film Pilot. The Best Actress prize went to Jeon Do-yeon for the crime action movie Revolver. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Clash of stars: 61st Baeksang Arts Awards delivers shake-up in Korean entertainment
Auteur Park Chan-wook speaks about similarity between his film 'Uprising' and current political landscape Amid a banner year for Korean entertainment propelled by breakout hits such as "When Life Gives You Tangerines," "Culinary Class Wars" and "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," this year's Baeksang Arts Awards delivered one of the most hotly contested races in the award ceremony's history. Held Monday night at Coex in Seoul's Gangnam-gu, the Baeksangs, widely regarded as one of Korea's most prestigious awards spanning film, television and theater, were closely watched as globally beloved Korean titles battled it out for top accolades. In a historic twist, the grand prize in the television category went not to a drama, but to a variety program, marking the first time in the ceremony's history that an entertainment show took home the top honor. In the TV category, Netflix's culinary competition juggernaut "Culinary Class Wars" emerged victorious, clinching the grand prize. 'This feels especially meaningful to receive the grand prize for a variety show,' said Yoon Hyun-joon, CEO of Studio Slam, the production company behind the series. 'The stature of Korean variety shows is rising.' Director Kim Hak-min reflected on the journey to the win: 'Ten years ago, I watched producer Na Young-seok receive the grand prize backstage at the Baeksang Arts Awards and wondered what it would feel like to win such an award as a producer. And now, something that felt impossible has actually happened.' Meanwhile, Netflix's hit human drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" secured four major honors, including best drama, best screenplay and both best supporting actor and actress awards. Director Kim Won-seok emphasized the show's central message of empathy in his acceptance speech. 'These days, people call this an era of hate, but while working on this drama, I found myself thinking, 'Let's not hate, let's try living well together.' I believe this award recognizes that sentiment.' The race for best actress in television was especially competitive, with nominees including Jang Na-ra from "Good Partner," Lee Ji-eun (IU) from "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Kim Hye-yoon from "Lovely Runner," and Go Min-si from "The Frog." Ultimately, Kim Tae-ri triumphed for her portrayal in "Jeong-nyeon: The Star is Born." Meanwhile, Ju Ji-hoon took home best actor for his performance in "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call." On the film side, the grand prize was awarded to the historical film "Harbin," headlined by Hyun Bin and Park Jung-min. Veteran actor Jeon Do-yeon earned best actress for her role in the thriller "Revolver," while Cho Jung-seok picked up best actor honors for his comedic turn in "Pilot." Auteur Park Chan-wook, previously honored at the Oscars for "Decision to Leave," won best screenplay alongside co-writer Shin Cheol for Netflix's period film "Uprising." The film tells the story of Jong-ryeo, the son of Joseon's most elite military family, and his servant Cheon-yeong, as they reunite as enemies amid the turmoil of the Japanese invasions. 'Looking at the current political situation in our country, I often thought about this film. I believe there are strong similarities. Just like in the past, it's the brave and wise citizens who save a nation in crisis,' said Park during his acceptance. He added a pointed political message: 'The time is coming when we must elect leaders who match the greatness of our people,' adding, 'Instead of someone like Cha Seung-won's character, King Seonjo, who is cruel and foolish, we must choose a leader who knows to fear the people,' referencing the upcoming June 3 elections following the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. This year's Baeksang Awards ceremony, hosted by Bae Suzy, Park Bo-gum and comedian Shin Dong-yeob, honored excellence across content released between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Eligible works included Korean feature films, television series, variety shows and streaming platform originals.
