At the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 5, 2025, Korean drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night—taking home four major awards, including Best Drama.
Best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Stellar Supporting Cast
Director Kim Won-seok accepted the award for Best Drama with an emotional speech:
“I created this series during a time of great conflict in the world. I hoped it would inspire peaceful coexistence. This award belongs to every member of the cast and crew who made it possible.”
The series also won Best Screenplay (accepted on behalf of writer Lim Sang-choon), and two supporting acting awards:
- Yeom Hye-ran won Best Supporting Actress for her poignant role as Gwang-rye, the mother of the female lead Ae-sun (played by IU). Her brief but powerful performance moved audiences with the emotional depth of maternal sacrifice and societal gender struggles.
- Choi Dae-hoon earned Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Captain Bong Sang-gil, a gruff squid boat captain. He played the character across multiple life stages and reportedly observed elderly people in real life to bring authenticity to the role.
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| Choi Dae Hoon and Yeom Hye Ran received the Baeksang Award for their supporting roles in the movie "When Life Gives You Tangerines". |
About the Drama: When Life Gives You Tangerines
The 16-episode series is set on Jeju Island and follows the heartfelt love story of Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum). Ae-sun, a smart girl from a poor family with a mother who works as a haenyeo (female diver), and Gwan-sik, a quiet, hardworking young man, face life’s harsh realities together—overcoming poverty, gender inequality, and personal setbacks to build a family and future.
The series weaves in themes of:
- Romantic love
- Mother-daughter bonds
- Class struggles
- Resilience in the face of life’s detours
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| IU and Yeom Hye Ran in "When Life Gives You Tangerines" |
Global Popularity on Netflix
Since its premiere on March 7, When Life Gives You Tangerines quickly soared into Netflix's global top 10 for non-English TV shows for two consecutive weeks. The drama struck a deep chord with audiences—especially Gen Z viewers—and received praise across social media and drama forums for the stellar performances of IU and Park Bo-gum.
Despite its success, the lead actors IU and Park Bo-gum were edged out in the Best Actor/Actress categories by:
- Ju Ji-hoon, who won Best Actor for Trauma Center, portraying a genius trauma surgeon
- Kim Tae-ri, who won Best Actress for Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born. This marks her second win after Twenty-Five, Twenty-One in 2022.
Other Major Winners at Baeksang 2025
Film Category Highlights:
- Best Film & Grand Prize (Daesang): Harbin, starring Hyun Bin, about Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun
- Best Director: Oh Seung-wook for Revolver
- Best Actress (Film): Jeon Do-yeon for Revolver
- Best Actor (Film): Jo Jung-suk for Pilot
- Best Supporting Actress (Film): Claudia Kim for A Normal Family
- Best Supporting Actor (Film): Yoo Jae-myung for Land of Happiness
TV/Streaming Category:
- Best Director: Song Yeon-hwa for Doubt, a psychological thriller about a profiler who suspects his daughter in a murder case
A Celebration of Korea’s Entertainment Excellence
Hosted by Shin Dong-yeop, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum, the Baeksang Arts Awards is one of Korea’s “Big Three” film and television honors—alongside the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Grand Bell Awards. First held in 1965, Baeksang recognizes achievements in TV, film, and theater.
This year, the "TV" category was renamed to “Broadcast,” reflecting the growing influence of online streaming platforms. Nominees now include both traditional TV series and content from OTT services.
The 61st ceremony also included a special Children’s Day tribute with childhood photos of stars like Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, and Kim Go-eun, alongside a heartfelt segment honoring those who work behind the scenes in entertainment.
References: joongyang news, chosunbiz,
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