“They both deserved trophies.” That’s the consensus among stunned viewers after the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards wrapped without honoring two of Korea’s most celebrated performances of the year. IU and Park Bo Gum, widely considered frontrunners for their emotional work in Netflix’s breakout hit When Life Gives You Tangerines, left the ceremony without hardware despite massive critical acclaim.
IU masterfully embodied the complex inner life of Ae Soon, effortlessly handling the Jeju dialect while navigating the emotional journey from teenage rebellion to adult disillusionment. Her nuanced portrayal repeatedly reduced viewers to tears across the series’ run.
Meanwhile, Park Bo Gum delivered a quietly powerful performance as Gwan Sik, the steadfastly loyal man whose unwavering devotion to Ae Soon was made all the more convincing through his warm gaze and carefully restrained emotional palette.
The duo’s dual nominations in the top acting categories seemed like a foregone conclusion, with many predicting at least one win for the critically adored pair. But in a stunning twist, other performers claimed the prestigious trophies.
what’s so frustrating about baeksang is that they basically used iu for clout and views. why put her in the front row and give her all that screentime so she can’t even relax for 4 hrs straight only to send her home empty handed🥲
— mathisred (@IstanUxxxi) May 5, 2025
Social media exploded immediately after the ceremony, with fans expressing disbelief across platforms. “How could the best performances of the year go unrewarded?” wrote one viewer, while another insisted, “Without IU and Park Bo Gum, this drama wouldn’t have left such a profound impact.” Even in disappointment, supporters remained appreciative: “Thrilled on the winner but felt so sad for IU, I thought she would of had the Daseng in the bag. The way that none of the main actors won anything broke my heart. Tough competition this year” and “They may have left without awards, but the emotion they gave us was real.”
it’s so disappointing that iu left the baeksang awards empty-handed ☹ her performance in ‘when life gives you tangerines’ changed my life ❤🩹pic.twitter.com/kwBfcNpZqB
— n 🌷 (@iwishfortherain) May 5, 2025
So you’re telling me, Baeksang completely snubbed Moon Sori and Park Haejoon then dumped IU and Park Bogum???? 🤯 I’m really so lost. pic.twitter.com/03glgxWg8d
— S//WLGYT🍊 (@iucamz) May 5, 2025
>> IU Talks On-Screen Love and Family’s Thoughts on ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’
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