46th Baeksang Arts Awards

by javabeans

The 46th Baeksang Arts Awards were held on March 26 in Seoul, which is one of the biggest awards ceremonies in the industry, in both television and film. Only, this year I’ve got to say my reaction at the winners was mostly: WTF, Baeksangs?

I understand some of the awards. Go Hyun-jung (above) winning Daesang (the Grand Prize) on the television side for Queen Seon-deok, yeah. It was either going to be her or Lee Byung-heon, in my opinion, so it was also understandable that they threw Best Drama to IRIS since it didn’t garner the Daesang — even if I think IRIS is totally not deserving from a purely artistic standpoint. (If you were expecting Chuno to sweep, I’m actually expecting to see it more next year, with Baeksangs being a little behind the current television landscape. Even though Chuno did win for scriptwriting. Now, if it misses next cycle I will be confused.)

I even understand how Jang Geun-seok won a popularity award in film (Itaewon Murder Case) even though you’d think his wildly popular television drama You’re Beautiful would have been a better fit — but the television popularity award went to Lee Seung-gi, understandably. But Yoon-ah for popularity for Cinderella Man? I know I know, that’s a netizen vote and Yoon-ah has her SNSD fanbase, and she led Yoon Eun-hye and Han Hyo-joo in the votes… but given the overall dreariness of Cinderella Man — and the fact that the same fanbase couldn’t buoy that drama’s low ratings — an award for that role just seems weird.

Then there’s Newcomer winner Kim Nam-gil, who had a breakthrough performance in Queen Seon-deok, but he is most certainly NOT a newcomer. Dude made his official industry debut in 2003! He had significant (if supporting) roles in at least five dramas and has at least seven film roles to his credit. Yes, this is a way to give him an award without challenging Lee Byung-heon for Top Excellence, but come now.

Awards are often heavily political, but I didn’t think Baeksangs would produce such puzzling results. I mean, Queen of Housewives for best DIRECTING?

Boo, Baeksangs, BOO.

FILM SECTION

Daesang: Yoon Je-kyun (dir., Haeundae)
Best Picture: Take Off
Director: Jang Hoon (Secret Reunion)
New Director: Lee Ho-jae (The Scam)
Top Excellence, Actor: Ha Jung-woo (Take Off)
Top Excellence, Actress: Ha Ji-won (My Love By My Side)
New Actor: Lee Min-ki (Haeundae)
New Actress: Jo Ahn (Lifting King Kong)
Screenplay: Jang Min-seok (Secret Reunion)
Popularity Award, Actor: Jang Geun-seok (Itaewon Murder Case)
Popularity Award, Actress: Choi Kang-hee (Aeja)

TELEVISION SECTION

Daesang: Go Hyun-jung (Queen Seon-deok, MBC)
Best Drama: IRIS, KBS
Best Cultural Program: Tears of Amazon, MBC
Best Entertainment Program: High Kick Through the Roof, MBC
Director: Go Dong-sun (Queen of Housewives, MBC)
New Director: Yoo Hyun-ki (God of Study, KBS)
Top Excellence, Actor: Lee Byung-heon (IRIS, KBS)
Top Excellence, Actress: Kim Nam-joo (Queen of Housewives, MBC)
New Actor: Kim Nam-gil (Queen Seon-deok, MBC)
New Actress: Hwang Jung-eum (High Kick Through the Roof, MBC)
TV Entertainment Award (Male): Park Sung-ho (Gag Concert, KBS2)
TV Entertainment Award (Female): Kang Yumi, Ahn Young-mi (Gag Concert, KBS2)
Scriptwriting: Chun Sung-il (Chuno, KBS)
Popularity Award, Actor: Lee Seung-gi (Brilliant Legacy, SBS)
Popularity Award, Actress: Yoon-ah (Cinderella Man, MBC)

Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement: Bae Sam-ryong
In Style Award: Sohn Ye-jin

 
Kim Ah-joong (Accidental Couple) and comedian Lee Hwi-jae were the MCs for the event. She looks pretty, if a little bridal.

 
Ha Ji-won (My Love By My Side) won for playing the wife of a dying man, though she also had another big film in the past year, Haeundae, which picked up awards in other categories. I love how she always looks sexy and chic on red carpets.

 
Ha Jung-woo (Take Off) has had a string of hits, and here he is with co-star Kim Ji-suk (who looks crisp in white) and film director Kim Yong-hwa. I’m surprised at how well Kim Ji-suk pulls off the white suit, actually, given that it could so easily look cheesy. I’m actually a fan of his hair, too.

 
Choi Kang-hee (Aeja) is either pouting or gaping in the majority of her photos, which makes it hard to find nice shots. The uniform beige color sort of washes her out, especially without strong makeup, but she will cut you with those fingernails.

 
Jang Geun-seok (Itaewon Murder Case) may be wearing what looks like a sparkly smoking jacket, but considering his red carpet history this is decidedly a win. So cute.

 
Jo Ahn (LIfting King Kong) picked up a newcomer award. Not so hot about the dress (it’s cute) but I love her makeup. Pretty and pink.

 
The hair, the hair! (The bowtie! The cuffs!) Okay we get it, you’re a rockstar and you don’t care that the noonas find you adorable, Lee Min-ki (Haeundae).

 
Kang Ye-won, Lee Min-ki’s Haeundae co-star, sparkles in her dress, but it reads kind of matronly to me.

 
Love this girl. Park Bo-young was last year’s newcomer winner for Speed Scandal and she’s adorable here in a sweet pink confection of a dress, although I swear I’ve seen this dress at another red carpet.

 
On the TV side, it’s no surprise that Go Hyun-jung was the big winner; this makes two Daesangs for her portrayal of ambitious villain Mi-shil in Queen Seon-deok.

 
Han Hyo-joo (Dong Yi) has this way of looking elegant with a hint of awkwardness, and I mean that as a compliment, since it gives her a fresh sort of appeal. I think it’s her slightly gangling limbs; in a few shots she looks like a startled deer. A polished, glam, startled deer. I do think the proportion is a little off in the dress, though.

 
Kim Nam-gil (Queen Seon-deok), you sexy bastard. Check out that look in his eye in Pic #1.

 
The kelly green is a pretty shade, but I was perplexed about the bright bubblegum-pink lips until I saw the full-body shot for Kim Nam-joo (Queen of Housewives). But matching or not, coordinating lips-to-shoes does not excuse the clash in my book. (I would’ve loved this look in a black, silver, or even gold shoe.)

 
Lee Byung-heon (IRIS) always looks sharp and confident. I sorta feel like they gave IRIS the win to make up for throwing the Daesang to Go Hyun-jung instead of Lee.

 
I suspect some will hate it, but I absolutely loved this tangerine/sherbet color on Sohn Ye-jin (Personal Taste). I love the color more than the shape, though.

 
Sohn’s latest co-star, Lee Min-ho (Personal Taste), is looking a lot more comfortable on the red carpet. Remember how Lee Min-ho was so awkward and stiff-looking last year in his plain suit and with the red-carpet fall? Much more put-together this time around! Our baby’s growing up.

 
Lee Min-jung (Smile) is so pretty. I’m not a fan of the dress, which I don’t think does much for her, but the overall look is nice.

 
Lee Seung-gi (Brilliant Legacy) looks okay if kind of plain. He did win a popularity award, so yay for him.

 
Here’s the thing about Moon Geun-young (Cinderella’s Sister). Sometimes “eat a sandwich” comments are snarky and bitchy and not made with a helpful spirit, but with Moon, I really really don’t like seeing her so thin because it looks scary and wrong. It’s particularly pronounced with her because, as the Nation’s Little Sister, we’ve all seen her growing up over the past decade and we know she wasn’t always so skeletal. This makes me sad.

 
Hwang Jung-eum (High Kick Through the Roof) has this tendency to make Scary Eyes. She’s one degree below its more-fearsome cousin, Crazy Eyes. Despite that, I like this look on her, even though I keep seeing it as a ’70s-inspired jumpsuit rather than an evening dress.

 
Seo Woo (Cinderella’s Sister) is going for pretty and sweet, and I’m not a fan of the dress — it looks sloppy with the asymmetry — but I can see that she’s going with the cute, innocent image of her upcoming Cinderella character. And what better place to promote the image than the Baeksangs a week before your premiere, right?

 
This has been a huge year for Shin Se-kyung (High Kick Through the Roof) and I think this gown is a fab choice for her. I would’ve made her the pic at the top, only she didn’t win anything, and you can’t argue with Daesang! She still seems shy on the red carpet, but I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future.

 
Uh, WTF So Ji-sub? This is like Gu Hye-sun coming to an award dressed in Jan-di gear. I get that he came in character for his Korean War drama Road No. 1, which he is currently filming — but for the Baeksangs, really? The drama doesn’t air for three more months, so promoting it here seems premature. Perchance he came directly from set and had no chance to change? (Wishful thinking?)

 
I love this simple, strong look on Sunwoo Sun (Will It Snow For Christmas). It really works with her height.

 
Daniel Choi is here with his High Kick Through the Roof co-star, Yoon Shi-yoon:

 
Yoon-ah (Cinderella Man) sort of reminds me of a Barbie Doll, especially in the last photo. Which I don’t mean as a bad thing.

 
There was a good amount of pink on the red carpet, and Hong Su-ah‘s (My Precious You) is one of my favorites.

 
More pink from Jang Hee-jin (Tae-hee, Hye-gyo, Ji-hyun):

 
Joo Jin-mo (Dream) is looking rather casual, isn’t he? It’s like he’s here for a business meeting, not an awards ceremony.

 
Uhh… I get what Lee Chae-young (Wife Returns) was going for, I really do. I just don’t like it. Maybe for a fashion show?

 
Joo Sang-wook (Queen Seon-deok, Accidental Couple) goes for a simple, classic look:

 
And last but not least, here’s rocker-actor Jung Yong-hwa (You’re Beautiful)!

Via Yonhap News

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