Baeksang Arts Awards Judge Faces Fan Backlash for Praising Kim Soo Hyun’s Queen of Tears Nomination While Ignoring Kim Ji Won’s Snub, Reviving A Year Old Debate
The 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards stirred up a storm among K-drama fans when Kim Soo Hyun earned a Best Actor nomination for his role in Queen of Tears, but his co-star Kim Ji Won was left out of the Best Actress category. A year later, a judge’s explanation has reignited the debate, leaving fans frustrated and questioning the fairness of the process. Here’s a detailed look at what happened, why it sparked backlash, and how fans are reacting.
What Sparked the Controversy?
Queen of Tears, a blockbuster K-drama that aired on tvN from March 9 to April 28, 2024, broke records with a peak viewership of 24.9%, making it one of the most-watched dramas on Netflix that year. The story follows Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun), a lawyer, and Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won), a chaebol heiress, as they navigate a crumbling marriage, personal struggles, and emotional reconnection. Both actors delivered powerful performances, earning widespread praise.
When the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards nominees were announced on April 8, 2024, fans were shocked to see Kim Soo Hyun nominated for Best Actor but Kim Ji Won missing from the Best Actress list. The drama itself also failed to secure nods for Best Drama or Best Screenplay, despite its massive popularity. This snub became a hot topic, with fans flooding social media to express their disbelief, especially since the show had just crossed the 20% viewership mark—a rare feat for modern K-dramas.
“Why was Kim Ji Won excluded from the Baeksang Awards? I’m at a loss for words.” — Netizen comment
“Wow, why isn’t Kim Ji Won nominated?” — Netizen comment
The contrast between Kim Soo Hyun’s nomination and Kim Ji Won’s exclusion fueled accusations of unfairness, with many pointing to a possible bias against actresses in the industry.
The Judge’s Explanation
On March 29, 2025, Jeong Deok Hyeon, a pop culture critic and one of the seven judges for the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards TV category, addressed the controversy during an appearance on 蘑菇食堂Mogu. His comments aimed to clarify why Kim Ji Won was overlooked, but they ended up stirring more debate.
“In Queen of Tears, people were saying, ‘Huh? Kim Ji Won didn’t even get nominated?’ … Do you know why that happened? When the first round of judging started, it starts pretty early. Queen of Tears hadn’t even begun airing yet. So there was a lot of debate over whether to include it or not. Since it barely made the cutoff, there’s actually an original standard. If a certain percentage has aired, then it becomes eligible. But it was difficult for us to judge it properly without having seen the full content. At the point we were watching it, Kim Soo hyun’s performance stood out clearly, but Kim Jiwon hadn’t really shined yet on the video. That’s why she didn’t make it into the nominations and actually, we explained all this to Kim Jiwon’s agency and the actress also heard it and accepted it all. The public doesn’t know, though, so they just criticize us. ‘How could they do that?!’ … But awards like this, honestly, there’s a bit of luck involved.” — Jeong Deok Hyeon
Jeong explained that Queen of Tears barely met the eligibility criteria, which requires at least one-third of a series’ episodes to have aired by March 31, 2024. At the time of judging, only the first few episodes were available, and the judges felt Kim Soo Hyun’s performance stood out more prominently in those early moments. He noted that Kim Ji Won’s agency was informed, and the actress accepted the decision.
Why Fans Are Upset
Rather than settling the issue, Jeong Deok Hyeon’s remarks added fuel to the fire. Fans and netizens raised several concerns about his explanation:
“The nominees are really good but I don’t get why she’s missing from the nominee’s list.”
“Why is she not on the list? I don’t understand.”
“She’s the most popular actress right now?” — Netizen comments
Many argued that if the drama wasn’t fully eligible due to its airing schedule, Kim Soo Hyun shouldn’t have been nominated either. The fact that only he was recognized seemed inconsistent to fans, who felt both actors contributed equally to the drama’s success.
Others pointed to a broader issue of bias in the industry. Some netizens criticized what they see as a pattern of overlooking female talent, noting that Kim Ji Won’s nuanced portrayal of Hong Hae In—a complex, emotionally layered character—was widely praised but still ignored by the awards panel.
“Baeksang really had the audacity to use Kim Jiwon, Queen of Tears & Soowon’s fame for clout while simultaneously not nominating KJW in their award show. We & Kim Soohyun will be not forgetting this anytime soon.” — Social media post
Fans also felt that Jeong’s mention of “luck” downplayed the seriousness of the decision, making the judging process seem arbitrary rather than merit-based.
Despite the snub, Kim Ji Won’s work in Queen of Tears has been celebrated by fans and critics alike. As Hong Hae In, she portrayed a strong yet vulnerable CEO facing a terminal illness, family betrayals, and a strained marriage. Her ability to balance cold authority with raw emotion won hearts globally, with many calling it the best performance of her career.
“Kim Ji Won has acted stupendously in Queen of Tears… it’s a rare talent to bring out the character of Hae In so beautifully & convincingly.” — Netizen comment
The drama’s success wasn’t just about numbers—it resonated emotionally with audiences. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun’s chemistry was a driving force, making their characters’ journey from a broken marriage to rediscovered love unforgettable. Fans argue that overlooking Kim Ji Won ignored half of what made the drama iconic.
The Bigger Picture
The Baeksang Arts Awards are among South Korea’s most prestigious honors, celebrating excellence in TV, film, and theater. The 2024 ceremony, held on May 7 at COEX in Seoul, saw fierce competition. The Best Actress nominees included:
Ra Mi Ran (The Good Bad Mother, JTBC)
Ahn Eun Jin (My Dearest, MBC)
Uhm Jung Hwa (Doctor Cha, JTBC)
Honey Lee (Knight Flower, MBC)
Lim Ji Yeon (Lies Hidden in My Garden, Genie TV)
Namgoong Min won Best Actor for My Dearest, beating Kim Soo Hyun and others. While Kim Soo Hyun didn’t take home the main prize, he won the fan-voted PRIZM Popularity Award with 5.6 million votes, showing his massive support base.
The controversy highlights the challenges of award shows, especially when dramas air close to eligibility deadlines. Queen of Tears had only aired six episodes by the March 31 cutoff, meaning judges saw less than half the series. Fans argue this limited view shouldn’t have favored one actor over another, especially when both were integral to the story.
How Fans Are Supporting Kim Ji Won
Despite the Baeksang oversight, Kim Ji Won has received plenty of love elsewhere. At the 2024 Korea Drama Awards on October 12, she won the Hot Star Award (Female), and Kim Soo Hyun also took home honors. At the 2024 Asia Artist Awards in Bangkok, Kim Soo Hyun won the Artist of the Year (Daesang) and dedicated part of his speech to Kim Ji Won.
“And to Kim Ji Won, who brilliantly portrayed the world’s best Hong Hae In, I want to dedicate this honor to you as well.” — Kim Soo Hyun
Fans have rallied around Kim Ji Won online, sharing clips of her scenes and praising her talent. Many believe her performance will remain iconic, awards or not.
“Regardless of awards or nominations, Kim Ji Won’s performance on Queen of Tears will always be remembered as one of the best of the best.” — Fan comment
Looking Ahead
The backlash has sparked discussions about transparency in award shows and how eligibility rules affect outcomes. Some fans hope Kim Ji Won will get her due recognition in future cycles, like the Seoul International Drama Awards, where she was nominated for Outstanding Asian Star in 2024.
For now, the Queen of Tears fandom remains vocal, ensuring Kim Ji Won’s work isn’t forgotten. The debate has also shed light on the need for fairer judging processes, especially for actresses who shine just as brightly as their male co-stars.
