The controversy surrounding the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards is continuing even after the ceremony ended.
On May 15, JTBC revealed the judging process and detailed comments for each award category. After the comments were released, the Best Supporting Actress award in the film category became a hot topic again.
According to the report, the award came down to a close race between Shin Se Kyung from “Humint” and Yeom Hye Ran from “No Other Choice”. Shin Se Kyung eventually won by only one vote.
During the first round of voting, Yeom Hye Ran, Shin Se Kyung, and Jeon Mi Do from “The King's Warden” were in the running. In the final second vote, Shin Se Kyung passed Yeom Hye Ran and took the award.
The debate grew after people saw the judges’ different comments about the two actresses.
For Yeom Hye Ran, the judges praised her acting skills but questioned whether she fully matched the character.
One comment said, “Her acting ability itself is so great that there is nothing special to discuss, but if we look at whether she suited the character, some questions remain.”
Another said, “In several parts, it felt like a character created through effort with her acting skills.”
Some judges defended Yeom Hye Ran, saying they “felt an animal like sensuality” from her performance and that she was “an actress who pulled out the character’s keywords herself.”
However, the idea that her role felt “created through effort” appears to have affected the final result.
Meanwhile, Shin Se Kyung received comments praising her presence and how she used the role. Judges said, “Regardless of likes or dislikes about the work, Shin Se Kyung was used well,” and “The natural charm of the actress partly reduced the rejection people might feel toward the character.”
Another judge said Shin Se Kyung expanded a limited role with her own ability, explaining, “It was a case where she used her own ability on set to expand a role that was originally closer to a scene stealer with limited screen time.”
However, another comment caused confusion among some viewers because it seemed to focus more on the film’s visuals than acting. The judge said, “The cinematographer probably also deserves a lot of credit,” adding that in some scenes, Shin Se Kyung “created the image of the film.”
After the comments spread online, many netizens questioned the judging standards. Some asked why Yeom Hye Ran’s effort was treated as a weakness, while Shin Se Kyung’s ability to show her charm was praised. Others said an acting award should focus more clearly on acting.
Comments included, “After seeing the judges’ comments, I understand even less why Shin Se Kyung won and why Yeom Hye Ran did not,” and “Since when did Baeksang judge charm instead of acting ability?”
However, some people said they understood the concerns about Yeom Hye Ran’s fit with the character, saying there was some disappointment when looking at that part.
The released judging comments have now raised more questions about whether the award was judged with clear and consistent standards.
Source: [1]
