Yoo Hai-jin, Hyun Bin, and Park Chan-wook Lead a Night of Surprises at the 2026 Baeksang Arts Awards

The moment that had everyone talking at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards came in the Best Film Director category, when indie filmmaker Yoon Ga-eun beat out No Other Choice director Park Chan-wook, one of Korea's most decorated auteurs, to take the award for her film The World of Love. It was the kind of upset that resets a room.

The ceremony was held Friday evening at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, kicking off at 7:50 p.m. and running for over four hours under the theme "the stage." The awards covered content released between April 2025 and March 2026 across television, film, theater, and, for the first time, musicals. Returning emcees Shin Dong-yeop, Bae Suzy, and Park Bo-gum hosted the night, which unfolded in a notably solemn tone, coinciding with Parents' Day. A special tribute segment honored late cultural icons Lee Soon-jae and Ahn Sung-ki, their recorded voices filling the venue during a reflective early stretch of the show.

Film Grand Prize: Yoo Hai-jin, The King's Warden

In the film category, the Grand Prize went to Yoo Hai-jin for his portrayal of Heung-do, an empathetic village leader, in The King's Warden, a historical drama that became the first film in years to surpass 10 million admissions at the Korean box office. That milestone alone made it one of the year's defining titles, and the Baeksang nod confirmed the industry's embrace of its commercial and critical reach.

Best Film: Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice

Despite losing the directing prize, Park Chan-wook still took home Best Film for No Other Choice. In his acceptance speech, he described the film as one "filled with humor," and made a case for levity in difficult moments, suggesting that self-deprecating jokes can serve as emotional release valves. He then landed one of the night's better quips: noting that he hadn't won at Venice or reached the Oscars, but had won at Baeksang, so audiences could trust his judgment.

The Indie Upset: Yoon Ga-eun Wins Best Director

The World of Love centers on Joo-in, a high school girl and survivor of sexual violence who pushes back against the idea that "a victim's life is irreparably destroyed", choosing instead to reclaim agency and learn to love herself. Director Yoon Ga-eun, accepting the award, reflected on the collaborative nature of making the film, saying she had drawn from books, online articles, and even comment sections throughout the process. It was a genuinely gracious speech for a genuinely unexpected win.

Television Grand Prize: The Dream Life of Mr. Kim

On the TV side, the Grand Prize went to The Dream Life of Mr. Kim, a human drama following a middle-aged man suddenly laid off from his job and trying to rebuild his life. Ryu Seung-ryong, accepting the award, acknowledged the series contained elements "that could easily have been overlooked in traditional drama frameworks", expressing gratitude to everyone who took a chance on a project that took creative risks.

Best TV Actor: Hyun Bin, Made in Korea

Hyun Bin won Best TV Actor for Made in Korea, and his acceptance speech was one of the warmer moments of the night. He called out his wife, Son Ye-jin, who was in the audience as a nominee for her role in No Other Choice, and their son, thanking both for their support during filming. The room responded visibly.

Best TV Director: Our Unwritten Seoul

The Best TV Director award went to Park Shin-woo for Our Unwritten Seoul, a contemporary drama about twin sisters living opposite lives between city and countryside. His speech was direct and pointed: "We live in an era where, if you are deemed useless, you are pushed aside and left behind. Even so, I believe television dramas should exist for those who have nowhere to rely on and nowhere else to go, that is the true purpose of drama."

Variety and a Historic Musical Category

In variety, Kian84 edged out a competitive field including Kim Won-hoon, Kwak Beom, and Lee Seo-jin for the male award, crediting his decade as a webtoon artist and his production teams. The female variety award went to Lee Su-ji for the second consecutive year, she was initially brought out as a presenter, then overcome with emotion when her name was called as the winner, struggling to find words through the surprise.

Perhaps the most structurally significant development of the night was the inaugural Best Musical category, marking a formal expansion of Baeksang's scope to include stage productions. Arang took home the first-ever Best Musical award, while longtime musical performer and K-pop artist Kim Jun-su (JYJ) won Best Musical Actor for his role in Beetlejuice, a fitting first recipient for a category that recognizes a performance world K-pop and theater have long shared.