Baeksang Arts Awards: Why Top Korean Dramas Lost Big

Viewers are engaged in a debate regarding the exclusion of actress Kim Yoo-jung and the TVING drama 'Dear X' from the nominations for the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards in the television category. Kim Yoo-jung and 'Dear X' failed to secure a single nomination in major categories such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Drama.

The nominees for Best Actress include Kim Go-eun, Park Bo-young, Park Ji-hyun, Shin Hye-sun, and Yoona, while the nominees for Best Drama are 'Seoul City of God', 'Mr. Kim of a Large Corporation', 'Eun-jung and Sang-yeon', 'Pine: Country Bumpkins', and 'The Tyrant's Chef'. While the nominees are strong, making it difficult to entirely disagree with the results, the exclusion of 'Dear X', which swept the year-end buzz last year, and Kim Yoo-jung from the nominations has come as a surprise.

From its release, 'Dear X' made its presence felt in the OTT market with its intricate narrative, intense plot, and the actors' immersive performances. In particular, Kim Yoo-jung took on the role of 'Baek Ah-jin', who makes any choice for success, showcasing a performance that completely overturned her previous image. She was praised for successfully transforming her acting by delicately portraying the ruthlessness hidden behind a gentle face, and the complex emotions where desire and cracks coexist.

Kim Yoo-jung was evaluated as having made a definitive turning point as an adult actress, shedding her child actor image through this work. In a wrap-up interview, she revealed that she experienced a state close to fainting due to extreme emotional immersion, conveying the energy she poured into the project. During its broadcast, viewers expressed their anticipation for awards with high praise such as, "Kim Yoo-jung deserves a Daesang (Grand Prize)," and "If not Kim Yoo-jung, then who deserves the Daesang?"

In terms of buzz and performance, 'Dear X' and Kim Yoo-jung were not lacking. Kim Yoo-jung ranked first in drama appearance buzz for TV and OTT integration, and 'Dear X' proved its popularity by achieving top performance in the global OTT market. Despite being evaluated as possessing both artistic merit, public appeal, and buzz, the fact that they were excluded from the Baeksang nominations is met with reactions that are difficult to easily accept.