The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards celebrated another incredible year for Korean entertainment, honoring the most unforgettable K-dramas, films, performances, and creators of 2026. From emotional healing dramas and gripping thrillers to breakout rookie stars and cinematic masterpieces, this year’s winners showcased why Korean entertainment continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
One of the biggest success stories of the year was The King’s Warden, the historical blockbuster that became a full cultural phenomenon in Korea. The film shattered box office records, becoming the second most-watched film in Korean cinema history with more than 16.2 million admissions. Veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin also solidified his status as one of Korea’s most beloved actors, leading yet another massive box office hit with his emotionally powerful performance in the film. Alongside him, rising actor Park Ji-hoon earned widespread acclaim for his breakout role as the tragic young King Danjong.
Held in Seoul on May 8, 2026, this year’s Baeksang Arts Awards brought together Korea’s biggest stars, including Hyun Bin, Park Bo-young, Moon Ga-young, Park Jung-min, and Ryu Seung-ryong. Some wins were long-awaited career milestones, while others introduced exciting new faces who are quickly becoming the next generation of Korean stars.
Whether you’re searching for your next K-drama binge, an award-winning Korean movie to watch, or simply want to see which shows and actors dominated this year’s awards season, here are all the winners from the 2026 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Let’s take a closer look at the works and stars that triumphed at the 2026 Baeksang Arts Awards.
2026 Film Category of the Baeksang Arts Awards:
The King’s Warden — Yoo Hae-jin for The Grand Prize (Daesang), Park Ji-hoon for The Best New Actor, and The Gucci Impact Award
“The King’s Warden,” starring Park Ji-hoon (left) and Yoo Hae-jin (Showbox)
Director: Jang Hang-jun
Starring: Yoo Hae-jin (The Grand Prize), Park Ji-hoon (The Best New Actor), Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mi-do, Park Ji-hwan, Ahn Jae-hong
Genre: Historical Drama / Political Thriller
Runtime: 117 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 4, 2026 (South Korea), February 12, 2025 (United States)
Summary:
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, The King’s Warden follows the tragic final chapter of the dethroned King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon), whose fate is sealed after being exiled following a brutal political coup. As power struggles continue within the royal court, a loyal warden (Yoo Hae-jin) finds himself torn between duty, survival, and an impossible moral choice.
The King’s Warden became one of Korea’s biggest cinematic events of 2026, surpassing 16 million admissions and ranking among the most-watched films in Korean box office history. Yoo Hae-jin’s performance also earned him the Film Grand Prize (Daesang), cementing his status as one of Korea’s most respected and widely watched actors.
*not available for streaming
No Other Choice – The Best Film and Lee Sung-min for The Best Supporting Actor
Director: Park Chan-wook (The Best Film)
Cinematography: Kim Woo-hyung
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min (The Best Supporting Actor), Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won
Genre: Thriller / Drama / Black Comedy
Runtime: 139 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 24, 2025 (South Korea), December 25, 2025 (United States)
Summary:
No Other Choice is a razor-sharp thriller-drama from master director Park Chan-wook, exploring desperation, moral rot, and survival within a high-pressure modern society. The story follows Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a dedicated paper factory manager abruptly discarded by corporate downsizing. Pushed over the edge by an unforgiving system, Man-su pivots from corporate loyalty to calculated savagery, launching a secret campaign to secure his future by any means necessary.
As he navigates a series of increasingly extreme decisions to reclaim his status, the line between middle-class survival and total moral collapse begins to dissolve. Meanwhile, his wife Miri (Son Ye-jin) is pulled into a chilling domestic dilemma, forced to weigh the cost of their security against the escalating madness of their new reality.
Blending pitch-black social commentary with heart-stopping suspense, the film has earned widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers have praised its precision storytelling, masterclass direction, and complex psychological depth, cementing its status as a definitive and unforgettable modern thriller.
The World Of Love – Yoon Ga-eun for The Best Director and Seo Soo-bin for The Best New Actress
Director: Yoon Ga-eun (The Best Director)
Cinematography: Kim Ji-hyun
Starring: Seo Su-bin (The Best New Actress), Jang Hye-jin, Kim Jeong-sik, Kang Chae-yoon, Lee Jae-hee
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 119 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 7, 2025 (TIFF), October 22, 2025 (South Korea)
Cinematography: Kim Ji-hyun
Starring: Seo Su-bin (The Best New Actress), Jang Hye-jin, Kim Jeong-sik, Kang Chae-yoon, Lee Jae-hee
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 119 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 7, 2025 (TIFF), October 22, 2025 (South Korea)
Summary:
The World of Love is a nuanced and powerful social drama from director Yoon Ga-eun, exploring the fragile boundaries of adolescent relationships, trauma, and personal recovery. The story centers on Lee Jooin (Seo Su-bin), an energetic and outspoken 17-year-old high school student whose vibrant demeanor hides a painful secret from her past. When a child sex offender is released in her community, triggering a petition at her school, Jooin’s sudden refusal to sign prompts an impulsive, angry outburst that sends shockwaves through her entire social circle.
As anonymous notes questioning her reaction begin to surface, the facade of her typical high school life starts to shatter, forcing her classmates and family to confront their own latent biases and unspoken complicity. Alongside her mother (Jang Hye-jin), who struggles to shield her daughter while guiding her toward healing, Jooin is forced to weigh the comfort of conformity against the devastating friction of exposing the truth. Balancing moments of lighthearted teenage humor with raw emotional realism, the narrative serves as a deeply affecting look at how a community handles discomfort and how a young woman fights to reclaim ownership of her own story.
3670 – Park Joon-ho for The Best New Director
Director: Park Joon-ho (The Best New Director)
Starring: Cho Yoo-hyun, Kim Hyun-mok, Cho Dae-hee, Cha Mi-kyung
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 124 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: April 19, 2025 (SFFILM), September 2025 (South Korea)
Starring: Cho Yoo-hyun, Kim Hyun-mok, Cho Dae-hee, Cha Mi-kyung
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 124 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: April 19, 2025 (SFFILM), September 2025 (South Korea)
Summary:
3670 is a poignant and intimate drama from debut director Park Joon-ho, exploring identity, belonging, and self-acceptance within two heavily marginalized worlds. The story follows Cheol-jun (Cho Yoo-hyun), a young North Korean defector living in Seoul who has built tight-knit, brotherly bonds with fellow defectors. However, he carries a deep sense of isolation while keeping his gay identity hidden from the friends who feel like family. Driven by a longing for a genuine connection, Cheol-jun gathers the courage to cautiously venture into South Korea’s vibrant, underground queer community.
At a casual gathering, he meets the welcoming Yeong-jun (Kim Hyun-mok), who introduces him to a close-knit group of peers and helps him decode the unspoken social rules of the local gay scene. As Cheol-jun begins to open up and finds his footing, he even forms a promising romantic bond with a man named Hyun-taek (Cho Dae-hee). Yet, keeping his dual lives compartmentalized becomes increasingly difficult. When a minor misunderstanding threatens to fracture his newly built safe haven, Cheol-jun is forced to navigate the fragile nature of trust while fighting for a place where he can live authentically.
*not available for streaming
The Ugly – Park Jung-min for The Best Actor
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Starring: Park Jeong-min (The Best Actor), Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Hyun-been, Han Ji-hyun, Im Seong-jae
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 11, 2025 (South Korea), September 26, 2025 (United States)
Starring: Park Jeong-min (The Best Actor), Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Hyun-been, Han Ji-hyun, Im Seong-jae
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 11, 2025 (South Korea), September 26, 2025 (United States)
Summary:
The Ugly is a razor-sharp thriller-drama from master director Yeon Sang-ho, exploring desperation, moral rot, and survival within a high-pressure modern society. The story follows Im Dong-hwan (Park Jeong-min), who is stunned when the skeletal remains of his long-lost mother are discovered at a construction site forty years after her disappearance. Intrigued by a past he never knew, Dong-hwan teams up with a documentary filmmaker to interview old acquaintances, only to find a wall of silence and cruel descriptions of his mother’s supposed physical deformity.
As the investigation digs into the dark history of a local garment factory, the line between historical truth and buried sin completely dissolves. Dong-hwan faces a chilling dilemma as he uncovers how the community’s obsession with physical appearance twisted the lives of both his mother and his blind artisan father, Im Yeong-gyu (Kwon Hae-hyo). Blending pitch-black social commentary with heart-stopping suspense, the film has earned widespread critical acclaim for its precision storytelling, masterclass direction, and complex psychological depth.
Once We Were Us – Moon Ga-young for The Best Actress
Director: Kim Do-young
Cinematography: Shin Tae-ho
Starring: Koo Kyo-hwan, Moon Ga-young (The Best Actress), Shin Jung-keun, Lee Sang-yeob, Kang Mal-geum
Genre: Romance / Drama / Melodrama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 31, 2025 (South Korea)
Cinematography: Shin Tae-ho
Starring: Koo Kyo-hwan, Moon Ga-young (The Best Actress), Shin Jung-keun, Lee Sang-yeob, Kang Mal-geum
Genre: Romance / Drama / Melodrama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 31, 2025 (South Korea)
Summary:
Once We Were Us is a moving and atmospheric romantic melodrama that examines timing, personal transformation, and the emotional scars of youth. The story transitions between a vibrant past and a muted, black-and-white present, capturing the generational anxieties of young adults navigating major life choices under economic strain.
The narrative follows Lee Eun-ho (Koo Kyo-hwan) and Han Jeong-won (Moon Ga-young), two former lovers who unexpectedly cross paths on a flight to Korea after a long separation. Trapped side by side during a weather delay, their chance meeting forces them to confront lingering regrets and revisit their initial encounter on a bus in 2008. As the film flashes back to their early days chasing dreams amid the chaos of Seoul, it contrasts their past passion with the harsh realities that eventually pulled them apart, offering a mature reflection on how people grow together and apart.
Humint – Shin Se-kyung for The Best Supporting Actress
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Starring: Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon, Shin Se-kyung (The Best Supporting Actress)
Genre: Action / Espionage / Spy / Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 11, 2026 (South Korea)
Starring: Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon, Shin Se-kyung (The Best Supporting Actress)
Genre: Action / Espionage / Spy / Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 11, 2026 (South Korea)
Summary:
Humint is a high-octane espionage thriller that dives into the cutthroat world of international extraction, shifting loyalties, and survival on the edge of a geopolitical precipice. Set in the frozen borderlands of Vladivostok, Russia, the narrative chronicles the collision of hidden operations and human collateral as secret agents find themselves entangled in an unforgiving network of corruption.
The story unfolds when a South Korean intelligence section chief is deployed to trace a major border-crossing drug trafficking ring. This investigation rapidly triggers a deadly confrontation with a ruthless North Korean military operative sent to manage the same criminal elements. As both operatives deploy complex human intelligence networks to outmaneuver one another, their mutual suspicion shatters their tactical directives. They find themselves pulled into a web of deep institutional betrayal where a single compromise changes who they can trust.
Good News – Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-seong for The Best Screenplay
Director: Byun Sung-hyun
Screenplay: Byun Sung-hyun, Lee Jin-seong (The Best Screenplay)
Starring: Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, Ryoo Seung-bum, Takayuki Yamada, Shiro Sano, Kippei Shiina, Show Kasamatsu, Nairu Yamamoto, Eita Nagayama, Hinata Hiiragi
Genre: Action / Black Comedy / Mystery / Thriller
Runtime: 136 minutes
Language: Korean, Japanese
Release Date: September 5, 2025 (TIFF), October 17, 2025 (Netflix)
Screenplay: Byun Sung-hyun, Lee Jin-seong (The Best Screenplay)
Starring: Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, Ryoo Seung-bum, Takayuki Yamada, Shiro Sano, Kippei Shiina, Show Kasamatsu, Nairu Yamamoto, Eita Nagayama, Hinata Hiiragi
Genre: Action / Black Comedy / Mystery / Thriller
Runtime: 136 minutes
Language: Korean, Japanese
Release Date: September 5, 2025 (TIFF), October 17, 2025 (Netflix)
Summary:
Good News is a sharp, stylized black comedy thriller that dives into the absurdities of geopolitical crisis management, media manipulation, and absolute desperation under historical constraints. Set in the 1970s and heavily inspired by real-world aircraft hijackings, the narrative chronicles the chaotic collision of state apparatuses and psychological warfare as a covert team operates completely outside standard regulations to control an explosive international crisis.
The story unfolds when a Japanese passenger flight is seized by radical hijackers demanding safe transit over the Korean Peninsula. This high-stakes incident rapidly triggers a clandestine, wildly unorthodox counter-operation orchestrated by a government section chief who aims to trick the captors into staging an involuntary landing on South Korean soil. As the operation deploys fake setups, artificial delays, and elaborate psychological ruses to manipulate both the hijackers and public perception, the extreme maneuvers blur the line between tactical success and absolute farce.
2026 Television Category of the Baeksang Arts Awards:
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim – Ryu Seung-ryong for The Grand Prize (Daesang) and Yoo Seung-mok for The Best Supporting Actor
Director: Jo Hyun-tak
Screenplay: Kim Hong-ki, Yoon Hae-sung
Starring: Ryu Seung-ryong (The Grand Prize), Myung Se-bin, Cha Kang-yoon, Yoo Seung-mok (The Best Supporting Actor), Lee Seo-hwan
Genre: Workplace Comedy / Slice-of-life / Drama
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 60–70 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: October 25, 2025 (JTBC / Netflix)
Screenplay: Kim Hong-ki, Yoon Hae-sung
Starring: Ryu Seung-ryong (The Grand Prize), Myung Se-bin, Cha Kang-yoon, Yoo Seung-mok (The Best Supporting Actor), Lee Seo-hwan
Genre: Workplace Comedy / Slice-of-life / Drama
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 60–70 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: October 25, 2025 (JTBC / Netflix)
Summary:
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim is a moving, sweet, and wholly realistic series that examines pride, suffering, and the redemptive power of human connection within a relentlessly soulless corporate treadmill. The narrative follows Kim Nak-su (Ryu Seung-ryong), a 50-something sales manager at a telecom giant who has checked off every milestone of middle-class success: a steady job, an apartment in Seoul, and a college-age son. Convinced that an impending executive promotion will finally solidify his dream life, Nak-su is instead confronted by ruthless office politics, petty corporate hierarchies, and favored younger colleagues.
When a sudden fall from grace upends the professional identity he heavily relied on, his meticulously curated life begins to crack under immense corporate pressure and domestic strain. Forced out of his comfortable environment, Nak-su must navigate a series of humbling challenges that challenge his outdated values and fragile pride. As the facade of his metric for success dissolves, his patient wife Park Ha-jin (Myung Se-bin) and independent son (Cha Kang-yoon) become vital anchors in his life. Ultimately, his forced transition evolves into an intimate journey of self-discovery, pushing him to dismantle his corporate persona to understand what truly brings him joy outside the office.
You and Everything Else – The Best Drama and Song Hye-jin for The Best Screenplay
Director: Jo Young-min (The Best Drama)
Screenplay: Song Hye-jin (The Best Screenplay)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Park Ji-hyun, Kim Gun-woo
Genre: Romance / Coming-of-Age / Drama / Melodrama
Runtime: 12 episodes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 12, 2025 (Netflix)
Screenplay: Song Hye-jin (The Best Screenplay)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Park Ji-hyun, Kim Gun-woo
Genre: Romance / Coming-of-Age / Drama / Melodrama
Runtime: 12 episodes
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 12, 2025 (Netflix)
Summary:
You and Everything Else is a moving and deeply understated melodrama that examines the fragile boundaries of lifelong friendship, toxic rivalries, and the weight of unspoken envy. Spanning several decades from their school days into their early forties, the narrative uncovers how two intertwined lives can simultaneously anchor and destroy one another under the pressure of shared history.
The story follows Ryu Eun-jung (Kim Go-eun) and Cheon Sang-yeon (Park Ji-hyun), childhood best friends turned creative professionals—a screenwriter and a film director—who share a highly complicated, love-hate relationship. After years of bitter estrangement fueled by mutual jealousy, secrets, and academic competition, they unexpectedly reunite when Sang-yeon reveals a terminal illness. Facing a devastating final chapter, Sang-yeon makes a profound and shocking request for Eun-jung to accompany her through her final days, forcing both women to confront a lifetime of underlying trauma and navigate the painful road toward genuine reconciliation.
Our Unwritten Seoul – Park Shin-woo for The Best Director and Park Bo-young for The Best Actress
Director: Park Shin-woo (The Best Director)
Screenplay: Lee Kang
Starring: Park Bo-young (The Best Actress), Park Jin-young, Ryu Kyung-soo, Kim Sun-young, Jang Young-nam
Genre: Romance / Coming-of-Age / Drama / Family
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 70–80 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: May 24, 2025 (tvN / Netflix)
Screenplay: Lee Kang
Starring: Park Bo-young (The Best Actress), Park Jin-young, Ryu Kyung-soo, Kim Sun-young, Jang Young-nam
Genre: Romance / Coming-of-Age / Drama / Family
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 70–80 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: May 24, 2025 (tvN / Netflix)
Summary:
Our Unwritten Seoul is a grounded and emotionally resonant slice-of-life drama that explores identity, personal burnout, and the enduring bonds of family across contrasting social landscapes. The story follows identical twin sisters, Yu Mi-ji and Yu Mi-rae, who share the exact same face but lead entirely opposite adult lives. Mi-ji is a freewheeling former track-and-field star whose promising athletic career was cut short by injury, leaving her drifting through random part-time jobs. Conversely, Mi-rae is a rigorous corporate perfectionist climbing the ladder at a high-pressure public enterprise in Seoul while quietly drowning in extreme depression and emotional exhaustion.
When their paths cross after years of estrangement, Mi-ji recognizes her sister’s desperation and proposes an audacious plan to temporarily swap identities, revisiting a game they played as children. As Mi-ji navigates the rigid mechanics of corporate life and Mi-rae seeks peace away from the city’s frantic pace, their web of deception becomes deeply entangled with those around them, including a hard-working lawyer with his own complex past. Forced out of their comfort zones, both women must confront their deepest vulnerabilities and unexpressed regrets to rewrite their futures.
Made in Korea – Hyun Bin for The Best Actor
Director: Woo Min-ho
Screenplay: Park Eun-gyo, Park Joon-suk
Starring: Hyun Bin (The Best Actor), Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan, Won Ji-an, Seo Eun-soo, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jung Sung-il
Genre: Period / Political / Crime Thriller / Drama
Runtime: 6 episodes (Season 1)
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 24, 2025 (Hulu / Disney+)
Screenplay: Park Eun-gyo, Park Joon-suk
Starring: Hyun Bin (The Best Actor), Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan, Won Ji-an, Seo Eun-soo, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jung Sung-il
Genre: Period / Political / Crime Thriller / Drama
Runtime: 6 episodes (Season 1)
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 24, 2025 (Hulu / Disney+)
Summary:
Made in Korea is a slick, cinematic period political thriller that explores the murky intersection of institutional power, blind ambition, and judicial corruption. Set against the volatile, authoritarian landscape of 1970s South Korea, the narrative chronicles the chaotic collision of shifting allegiances and state apparatuses as major historical incidents trigger a desperate struggle for control.
The story follows Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin), a deeply ambitious and power-hungry man navigating the criminal underworld, whose path directly collides with Jang Geon-yeong (Jung Woo-sung), a fiercely determined prosecutor seeking institutional justice. As Ki-tae orchestrates massive, covert operations across a changing landscape, Geon-yeong deploys rigid legal strategy to halt his escalating rise. Their fierce tactical confrontation quickly pulls both men into a dark web of executive manipulation and deep institutional betrayal, where the line between national security and personal greed completely dissolves.
Low Life – Im Soo-jung for The Best Supporting Actress
Director: Kang Yun-sung
Screenplay: Kang Yun-sung, Ahn Seung-hwan
Starring: Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung (The Best Supporting Actress), Kim Eui-sung, Lee Dong-hwi, Jung Yun-ho
Genre: Crime / Period Drama
Runtime: 11 episodes (Approx. 50–60 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: July 16, 2025 (Disney+ / Hulu)
Screenplay: Kang Yun-sung, Ahn Seung-hwan
Starring: Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung (The Best Supporting Actress), Kim Eui-sung, Lee Dong-hwi, Jung Yun-ho
Genre: Crime / Period Drama
Runtime: 11 episodes (Approx. 50–60 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: July 16, 2025 (Disney+ / Hulu)
Summary:
Low Life is a gritty, fast-paced crime period drama that examines shameless greed, desperate opportunism, and systemic corruption during a unique moment in modern history. Set in the 1970s and inspired by real-world events, the narrative chronicles the chaotic intersection of eccentric degenerates and criminal factions after a fisherman accidentally uncovers an ancient, long-lost treasure ship off the coast of Shinan.
The story unfolds when Oh Gwan-seok (Ryu Seung-ryong), a cunning, money-obsessed chancer who operates completely outside legal frameworks, receives a lucrative request to covertly salvage the sunken 14th-century Chinese artifacts. Enlisting his loyal nephew Oh Hee-dong (Yang Se-jong)—whom he raised within the criminal underworld—Gwan-seok tries to orchestrate a massive, quiet get-rich-quick operation. However, as rumors of the immense bounty rapidly spread, a volatile mix of ruthless gangsters, local bumpkins, and slick swindlers descend upon the coastal town. This high-stakes influx forces the uncle-nephew duo into a deadly race against shifting alliances, where the lines of trust completely dissolve in a desperate scramble for the ultimate fortune.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty – Lee Chae-min for The Best New Actor
Director: Jang Tae-yoo
Screenplay: fGRD, Park Kuk-jae
Starring: Lim Yoon-a, Lee Chae-min (The Best New Actor), Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, Seo Yi-sook
Genre: Fantasy / Romantic Comedy / Historical Drama
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 70–80 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: August 23, 2025 (tvN / Netflix)
Screenplay: fGRD, Park Kuk-jae
Starring: Lim Yoon-a, Lee Chae-min (The Best New Actor), Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, Seo Yi-sook
Genre: Fantasy / Romantic Comedy / Historical Drama
Runtime: 12 episodes (Approx. 70–80 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: August 23, 2025 (tvN / Netflix)
Summary:
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a sumptuous and whimsical time-slip romantic comedy that blends high-stakes palace intrigue with culinary artistry across vastly different eras. The story centers on Yeon Ji-young (Lim Yoon-a), a fiercely independent and exceptionally talented 21st-century French cuisine chef at the absolute peak of her culinary career. After winning a prestigious cooking competition, she discovers an ancient, mysterious cookbook that unexpectedly hurls her 500 years into the past, landing her directly in the heart of the Joseon Dynasty.
Upon her sudden arrival, Ji-young immediately clashes with King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), a temperamental young monarch feared as a ruthless tyrant but secretly possessing a god-tier, highly sensitive palate. Narrowly escaping execution by dazzling the king with an inventive fusion dish, she is assigned to the deadliest role in the palace: chief royal cook. Trapped in an unfamiliar era, Ji-young must use her modern culinary precision, from sous vide tactics to gimbap revisions, to satisfy the king’s impossible taste buds. As dangerous court rivalries and jealous concubines plot her downfall, her fierce determination to survive begins to melt the frozen heart of the lonely king, turning the royal kitchen into a battlefield for both her survival and her heart.
Aema – Bang Hyo-rim for The Best New Actress
Director: Lee Hae-young
Screenplay: Park Eun-kyung, Lee Hae-young
Starring: Lee Hanee, Bang Hyo-rin(The Best New Actress), Jin Sun-kyu, Cho Hyun-chul, Lee Joo-young, Ji Hyun-woo
Genre: Historical / Comedy / Drama / Satire
Runtime: 6 episodes (Approx. 50–60 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: August 22, 2025 (Netflix)
Screenplay: Park Eun-kyung, Lee Hae-young
Starring: Lee Hanee, Bang Hyo-rin(The Best New Actress), Jin Sun-kyu, Cho Hyun-chul, Lee Joo-young, Ji Hyun-woo
Genre: Historical / Comedy / Drama / Satire
Runtime: 6 episodes (Approx. 50–60 minutes per episode)
Language: Korean
Release Date: August 22, 2025 (Netflix)
Summary:
Aema is a bold, stylized historical comedy-drama that dives into the chaotic backstage politics, deep-seated censorship, and fierce ambitions driving the 1980s South Korean film industry. Set along Chungmuro, the historic heart of Seoul’s cinematic landscape, the narrative offers a satirical reimagining of the real-world production behind the provocative 1982 classic, Madame Aema.
The story follows Jeong Hui-ran (Lee Hanee), a fiercely independent and short-tempered superstar who completely dominates the industry but refuses to stay quiet when she senses corruption. Her uncompromising attitude quickly alienates the calculating and sleazy production CEO, Gu Jung-ho (Jin Sun-kyu), who abruptly fires her from the lead role in his high-stakes erotica project. To replace his headstrong star, Jung-ho holds an open audition and casts Shin Joo-ae (Bang Hyo-rin), an aspiring actress currently working as a nightclub dancer. As a bitter rivalry erupts between the furious veteran and the ambitious newcomer, a timid rookie director named Kwak In-woo (Cho Hyun-chul) is caught in the crossfire. Forced to navigate extreme studio executive manipulation, changing societal rules, and his own creative limits, the cast and crew must fight to finish the production without completely destroying each other.
Here are all the winners of the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards (2026):
Films
- The Grand Prize (Daesang): Yoo Hae-jin – The King’s Warden
- The Best Film: No Other Choice
- The Best Director: Yoon Ga-eun – The World of Love
- The Best New Director: Park Joon-ho – 3670
- The Best Actor: Park Jung-min – The Ugly
- The Best Actress: Moon Ga-young – Once We Were Us
- The Best Supporting Actor: Lee Sung-min – No Other Choice
- The Best Supporting Actress: Shin Se-kyung – Humint
- The Best New Actor: Park Ji-hoon – The King’s Warden
- The Best New Actress: Seo Soo-bin – The World of Love
- The Best Screenplay: Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-seong – Good News
- The Best Technical Achievement: Minhwi Lee (Music) – Pavane
- Gucci Impact Award: The King’s Warden
TV/Drama
- The Grand Prize (Daesang): Ryu Seung-ryong – The Dream Life of Mr. Kim
- The Best Drama: You and Everything Else
- The Best Entertainment Show: The Wonder Coach
- The Best Educational Show: Our Shining Days
- The Best Director: Park Shin-woo – Our Unwritten Seoul
- The Best Screenplay: Song Hye-jin – You and Everything Else
- The Best Technical Achievement: Kang Seung-won (Music) – The Seasons
- The Best Actor: Hyun Bin – Made in Korea
- The Best Actress: Park Bo-young – Our Unwritten Seoul
- The Best Supporting Actor: Yoo Seung-mok – The Dream Life of Mr. Kim
- The Best Supporting Actress: Im Soo-jung – Low Life
- The Best New Actor: Lee Chae-min – Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
- The Best New Actress: Bang Hyo-rim – Aema
- The Best Male Variety Performer – Kian84
- The Best Female Variety Performer – Lee Soo-ji
Special Awards
- Naver Popularity Award (Female): Lim Yoona – Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
- Naver Popularity Award (Male): Park Ji-hoon – The King’s Warden
