Fans Cry Foul as Park Shin Hye Misses 61st Baeksang Best Actress Nomination Despite Delivering a Standout, Career-Defining Performance as Kang Bit Na in The Judge from Hell
Park Shin-hye has long been a beloved name in K-dramas, but her latest work in The Judge from Hell was supposed to be her big moment—a career-defining performance that fans say should have landed her a spot among the Best Actress nominees at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards. Instead, her name is missing from the list released on April 7, 2025, and fans are not holding back their frustration. They’re calling it a robbery, and it’s easy to see why after her jaw-dropping return to the screen.
After taking time off for pregnancy and motherhood, Park Shin-hye roared back in 2024 with The Judge from Hell, an SBS drama that blends dark fantasy with thrilling action. The buzz around her performance has been loud, with viewers and critics alike praising her for bringing something fresh and fierce to the table. So, what happened? Let’s break it down.
Fans can’t stop talking about this snub, and they’re lighting up X with their reactions. The outrage is real, and it’s clear they believe Park Shin-hye was overlooked for a role that showcased her at her absolute best.
Park Shin-hye didn’t just play a judge in The Judge from Hell—she became Kang Bit Na, a character who’s equal parts sharp-witted and supernatural. On the surface, she’s a no-nonsense judge with a fierce sense of justice. But underneath? She’s a demon on a mission to punish the guilty—those who cause death and feel no remorse. It’s a role that demanded everything from her: emotional depth, physical stunts, and a commanding presence.
She delivered it all. Park Shin-hye handled her own action scenes, swinging into combat with a confidence that left viewers stunned. Her dialogue hit hard, cutting through the screen with intensity. Switching between the human judge and the devilish Justitia, she kept audiences hooked, balancing a cold edge with moments of raw vulnerability. Fans say it’s one of the most powerful female characters they’ve seen in a K-drama, and they’re not wrong—Kang Bit Na stands out as unforgettable.
This wasn’t just a comeback; it was a transformation. After a career filled with softer roles in hits like The Heirs and Doctors, Park Shin-hye took a bold step into darker, grittier territory. The drama itself was a hit, pulling in strong ratings—6.8% for the first episode and 9.3% for the second, according to Nielsen Korea. It aired on SBS from September 2024, perfectly within the Baeksang eligibility window of April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. So why didn’t it make the cut?
Fans Cry Foul: A Snub That Stings
The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards dropped its nominee list, and Park Shin-hye wasn’t on it. Neither was The Judge from Hell recognized in any category—not Best Drama, not Best Screenplay, nothing. Fans flooded X with their disappointment, and their posts paint a picture of shock and anger.
One fan posted:
“The industry failing to acknowledge Park Shin Hye’s exceptional performance as KANG BIT NA once again.”
“Park Shin Hye deserved a nomination for best actress! She showed an outstanding performance and the best character ever done, as it was completely portrayed in all her veteran acting range. And also, #TheJudgeFromHell deserved a nomination for best drama and best screenplay.”
“The absence of ‘The Judge from Hell’ and Park Shin Hye from the 61st Baeksang nominations is unexpected. Despite the series’ impressive performance, they didn’t give a single nomination! We’re robbed!”
These reactions show how deeply fans connected with Park Shin-hye’s work. They’re not just upset about her missing out—they’re questioning the awards’ judgment. After all, she’s been a K-drama star for over 20 years, with hits like You’re Beautiful and Pinocchio under her belt. This felt like her moment to shine, and Baeksang passed it by.
Who Made the Best Actress List?
The Baeksang Arts Awards didn’t leave the Best Actress category empty. Here’s who got the nod for television:
Go Min Si for The Frog
Kim Tae Ri for Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
Kim Hye Yoon for Lovely Runner
IU (Lee Ji Eun) for When Life Gives You Tangerines
Jang Na Ra for Good Partner
These are big names with strong performances, no doubt. Kim Tae Ri brought depth to a theater star in Jeongnyeon, while Kim Hye Yoon won hearts in the time-slip romance Lovely Runner. IU tackled a heartfelt role in When Life Gives You Tangerines, and Jang Na Ra shone as a lawyer in Good Partner. Go Min Si rounded out the list with her work in the thriller The Frog.
The ceremony’s set for May 5, 2025, at COEX D Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, and it’ll air live on JTBC. These actresses earned their spots, but fans argue Park Shin-hye belonged there too. Her role was just as impactful—maybe more so, given the physical and emotional range it demanded.
Why the Snub? What Went Wrong?
So why did Park Shin-hye and The Judge from Hell get left out? The Baeksang Arts Awards pick nominees from TV, OTT, and films released between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The process involves 60 industry evaluators and expert judges, who screen everything carefully. The Judge from Hell fits the timeline—it premiered in September 2024 and wrapped up later that year. Ratings were solid, and the fan response was huge. So what gives?
Some fans think it’s a pattern. They’ve pointed out that Park Shin-hye has been overlooked by Baeksang before, despite her long career and consistent quality. Her only Baeksang win was for Most Popular Actress in 2010’s Cyrano Agency—not a main acting award. Could it be bias against her usual rom-com image, even though The Judge from Hell broke that mold? Or maybe the dark fantasy genre didn’t click with the judges, who might lean toward more grounded dramas?
The competition was tough, too. The nominated actresses all starred in buzzworthy projects, some with massive global hype like Lovely Runner. Still, The Judge from Hell had its own following, and Park Shin-hye’s performance stood out for its boldness. Fans wonder if the judges missed the mark on this one.
A Career High That Deserves More
Park Shin-hye didn’t need Baeksang to prove her worth—her work in The Judge from Hell already did that. She took a risk with Kang Bit Na, stepping into a role that was darker and more physical than anything she’d done before. She nailed it, earning praise from viewers worldwide and even snagging the Director’s Award and Best Couple Award with Kim Jae Young at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards. That’s proof her effort paid off, even if Baeksang didn’t see it.
Her career’s been a journey, from child roles in Stairway to Heaven to leading lady status in Miracle in Cell No. 7. At 35, she’s still growing, and The Judge from Hell showed she’s got more to give. Fans know it, and they’re not letting this snub slide quietly.
To know the latest developments about Park Shin-hye and The Judge from Hell, keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to get instant updates on your device.
