The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards lit up Seoul on April 5, 2025, showcasing South Korea’s finest in film, television, and theatre. As the country’s most respected entertainment awards, the night brought both surprises and anticipated victories, setting the tone for industry trends in the coming year.

Drama Highlights: Tangerines Take the Crown

Netflix’s acclaimed K-drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” was the undisputed star of the night, taking home the coveted Best Drama award. Inspired by a real-life couple from Jeju Island, the show stars Park Bo Gum and IU, portraying lifelong companions navigating the complexities of love, sacrifice, and family across decades.

Despite sweeping eight nominations, both lead actors missed out on individual honors. However, the series excelled in key categories such as Best Screenplay (Im Sang Choon), Best Supporting Actor (Choi Dae Hoon), and Best Supporting Actress (Yeom Hye Ran). This positions the drama as a standout in current market trends for emotionally grounded storytelling in streaming content.

Meanwhile, the popular romance drama “Lovely Runner” didn’t clinch major awards but saw its stars—Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon—win the Prizm Popularity Award, highlighting the growing impact of fan-driven metrics in award outcomes.

Film Category: “Harbin” Leads With Depth and Precision

In the film division, “Harbin” emerged as the biggest winner, securing Best Film. With Hyun Bin in the lead and veteran cinematographer Hong Kyung Pyo earning the Grand Prize, the historical action drama beat heavyweights like “Revolver” and “Love in the Big City.”

Director Oh Seung Wook took home Best Director for “Revolver,” which also earned Jeon Do Yeon the Best Actress title. Meanwhile, Cho Jung Seok won Best Actor for his role in “Pilot,” an aviation-themed drama that resonated with viewers and critics alike.

The awards spotlighted emerging talent as well. Jung Sung Il and Roh Yoon Seo took home Best New Actor and Best New Actress, respectively, signaling fresh momentum in South Korea’s evolving cinematic landscape.

Trends and Takeaways

This year’s Baeksang Awards reflected key shifts in industry focus—stories rooted in realism and emotional depth continue to dominate. Platforms like Netflix remain instrumental in shaping narratives that reach global audiences. Meanwhile, the recognition of both mainstream hits and critically nuanced projects suggests a balance between popularity and artistic merit.

Here’s a quick look at some of the top winners:

With attention-grabbing wins and a strong lineup of contenders, the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards not only recognized artistic excellence but also hinted at evolving market trends in South Korean entertainment—from streaming dominance to a rising emphasis on character-driven storytelling.

For the complete list of winners and official event highlights, visit the Baeksang Awards website.