The 60th annual Baeksang Arts Awards, held at the COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, proved to be an eventful celebration of Korea’s cultural talent. Hosted by Shin Dong Yup, Suzy, and Park Bo Gum, the ceremony unfolded with poignant tributes and heartfelt acknowledgments.
>> Winners of the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards: Kim Go Eun, Lee Hanee, Namkoong Min, ‘Moving’ and More
One of the evening’s highlights occurred when Lee Do Hyun, currently serving in the Air Force, made a heartwarming mention of his girlfriend, Lim Ji Yeon, upon receiving the Best New Actor in Film for his role in the blockbuster Exhuma. Despite being actively enlisted, the actor made a rare appearance with the cooperation of the Air Force. He first expressed his gratitude to the director for casting him for the movie, and to his co-stars, including Choi Min Sik, Yoo Hae Jin, and Kim Go Eun, for their support during filming.
He then surprised fans by saying, “Thank you to my loving father, mother, younger sibling, my dog Kaeul. And Ji Yeon, thank you so much.” Lim Ji Yeon, also a nominee for the Best Actress in a TV Series award, has been publicly dating Lee since their collaboration on the Netflix original series The Glory.
The event also featured a poignant tribute by Chun Woo Hee to the late Lee Sun Kyun. As she presented the Best Screenplay Award, scenes from Lee’s films Killing Romance and Sleep played, stirring emotions. “We saw Lee Sun Kyun on screen. His performances will forever remain in my heart,” Chun said, visibly emotional.
Another memorable moment came from Ahn Jae Hong, who won the Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series for his role in the Netflix series Mask Girl. “I want to thank the director for the opportunity to play such a fresh character in this wonderful production and special thanks to the makeup director for crafting my appearance,” he remarked before joyfully shouting the viral phrase from Mask Girl, “Aishiteru!“, eliciting laughter from the audience.
The ceremony also carried a poignant narrative from newcomer Lee Jung Ha, who received the Best New Actor in TV Series for his role in Disney Plus’s Moving. Overwhelmed, Lee shared, “Just being nominated was an honor, and winning this award is both surprising and thrilling. Filming ‘Moving’ was scary. Just bungee jumping scares me, so whenever I had to soar in the skies on wires, I wondered, ‘Could I really do this?’ But the director always assured me I could. I’d also like to thank my ‘Moving’ family Jo In Sung, Han Hyo Joo, Go Yun Jung, and Kim Do Hoon.”
The actor then added a tender message for a recently bereaved family member, “There’s someone I’d like to dedicate this award to—a newlywed couple recently suffered a tragic loss. The husband passed away, leaving his pregnant wife. Tomorrow would have been his birthday. I hope my sister can find strength.” This newlywed couple he mentioned was none other than his sister and brother-in-law. Not long ago, he spoke fondly of his close relationship with his sister, who is two years his senior, recalling how he sang at her wedding. However, last month, he shared a heartfelt tribute on his Instagram, writing, “Farewell, brother.”
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