Disney and Netflix win big as Baeksang Arts Awards celebrates 60th edition

Cast and director of Disney original series ″Moving″ (2023) receive the Grand Prize at the television category of the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards on Tuesday evening in southern Seoul. [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
It was a glorious night for grave diggers, military usurpers and webtoon-based dramas on Disney and — once again — Netflix as they took home major honors at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards held Tuesday evening at southern Seoul's Coex, bustling with Korea's biggest stars filling the halls.

The film category saw a tie between last year's hit historical drama "12.12: The Day" and Korea's monumental occult film "Exhuma" (2024) splitting the majority of awards.

The Grand Prize of the film section went to director Kim Sung-su, who helmed "12.12: The Day," a modern historical drama portraying nine hours during the historic day of Dec. 12, 1979, when Chun Doo Hwan began a military coup to take control of the country.

Actor Hwang Jung-min, who played the role of Chun, took home the Best Actor award, while "12.12: The Day" received the Best Film award.

"It was a work that demanded the courage of everyone involved," Hwang said upon receiving the award. "I had lacked that courage but the director helped me find it within myself, telling us that we all have that spark in us. Thank you so much."

Actor Hwang Jung-min wins the Best Male Actor Award for the Film category for his role in film “12.12: The Day” (2023) at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards on Tuesday evening in southern Seoul. Hwang played a fictional version of Chun Doo Hwan, a former president who came to power through the military coup of 1979. [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
"And to my loving family and my wife, my forever partner and my best friend Kim Mi-hye — I want to tell you that I love you so much," Hwang said, tearing up as he closed his speech.

The first domestic occult film to see 10 million admissions in Korean cinema, "Exhuma," took home four awards, including Best Director for auteur Jang Jae-hyun, Best Actress for lead actor Kim Go-eun, Best Rookie Actor for Lee Do-hyun and Best Art award for sound director Kim Byeong-in.

"Exhuma" became the first-ever Korean occult film to hit 10 million tickets and won eight nominations at this year's Baeksang.

"Last year was a very painful one for me, personally," actor Kim Go-eun said, accepting her award. "But the work was so fortunately happy — I felt excited and healed going to work. I always work with a grateful heart, but 'Exhuma' made me do so even more. Thank you to everyone at 'Exhuvengers.' I will always endeavor to be an actor who tries hard and takes gratitude in everything."

Actor Kim Go-eun wins the Best Actress award for the film section at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards on Tuesday evening in southern Seoul. [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
Rookie actor award winner Lee made a special thanks to his family and Lim Ji-yeon, the fellow actor famed for her portrayal of the cruel villainess in 2023's hit Netflix series "The Glory." Lee also took part in "The Glory."

"Thank you to my father, mother, sibling, dog Gaeul and Jiyeon," he said.

Best New Director went to Lee Jung-hong, who released his first feature film "A Wild Roomer" (2023) to critical success. Netflix original film "My Name is Loh Kiwan" saw actor Lee Sang-hee take home the Best Supporting Actress award, while "Hopeless" (2023) actor Kim Hyeong-seo, who is better known as singer Bibi, received the Best Rookie Actress award.

Netflix also won big in the television category as it came face to face with Disney , perhaps the biggest winner of this year. Disney original fantasy action series "Moving" (2023) took home the Grand Prize, as well as the Best Script and Best Rookie Actor.

"Moving" is a fantasy action series based on the Daum Webtoon — currently known as Kakao Webtoon — series of the same name by webtoonist Kang Full. Kang took part in writing the script for the Disney original and received the Best Script award, the first webtoonist to do so at Baeksang.

"There are three cartoonists here today, including myself," Kang said, receiving the award, mentioning fellow cartoonists and entertainers Kian84 and Chimchakman. "But none of us are making cartoons, which may be evidence of how difficult the job is. I want to send my support to all fellow, junior and senior cartoonists out there."

Hong Jeong-do, vice chairman and CEO of JoongAng Holdings, left, and actor Park Eun-bin at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards on Tuesday evening in southern Seoul [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
Another Disney original crime series, "The Worst of Evil" (2023), had its producer Han Dong-wook take home the Best Production award.

Netflix original "Mask Girl" (2023) also took home two awards, both for supporting roles. Ahn Jae-hong received the Best Supporting Actor and Yeom Hye-ran was the winner of the Best Supporting Actress award.

"Mask Girl" is another webtoon-based drama series, inspired by the crime thriller webtoon series of the same title on Naver Webtoon.

"We received such great responses after the release of 'Mask Girl,' and I know everything was possible thanks to the best staff out there," Yeom said.

"It wouldn't have been just me — it would have made any actor great. I felt the magical moment where I would just put on the makeup, the costume and receive the spotlight and that would be enough to make everything look like a picture-perfect scene. I really want to tell the staff this has been the biggest honor of my life."

Hosts of the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, from left: Comedian Shin Dong-yup and actors Suzy and Park Bo-gum. [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
Television programs didn't miss out. MBC's drama series "My Dearest" (2023) took home Best Drama, and "Adventure By Accident 2" garnered the Best Entertainment Program award. KBS 1TV's two-part documentary program "The Japanese Man, Ozawa" was given the Best Educational Program award.

Best Actor went to "My Dearest" lead actor Namkoong Min and Best Actress to Lee Ha-nee for her lead role in MBC drama series "Knight Flower." Best Actress went to child actor Yuna of ENA drama series "The Kidnapping Day" (2023).

The Best Entertainer awards went to Nah Yung-suk and Hong Jin-kyung. Nah became the first TV producer to win an entertainer's award at Baeksang.

“I would have never expected this to happen; I really didn't see this coming," Nah said. "I have been focusing on my YouTube communications rather than producing something. I think people actually liked that. I'll keep trying everything I can. Thank you."

The Baeksang Play award, given to the best play or theater troupe, went to Theater Miin. Kang Hae-jin of Theater Miin received the Best Actor award.

Winners of the special popularity awards given by this year's sponsor and stream platform Prizm: Singer ? and entertainer these days ? Ahn Yu-jin of girl group IVE, left, and actor Kim Soo-hyun [BAEKSANG ARTS AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]
Special popularity awards given by this year's sponsor and stream platform Prizm went to actor Kim Soo-hyun and singer — and entertainer these days — Ahn Yu-jin of girl group IVE.

The Baeksang Arts Awards recognizes excellence in film, television and theater in Korea and is one of the three most prestigious awards ceremonies in the country, along with the Daejong International Film Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

This year's awards ceremony was broadcast live simultaneously on local cable channels JTBC, JTBC2 and JTBC4, and digitally on streaming platforms Tving and Prizm. Comedian Shin Dong-yup and actors Suzy and Park Bo-gum were the hosts again, just as they were for the past seven years, with the exception of 2021 when Park was serving in the military.

Content on traditional broadcasters, cable channels, streaming services and YouTube between April 1, 2023, until March 31 this year was eligible for nomination, as well as Korean feature films and plays performed domestically during the same period.