The Best Actor Nominees at 58th Baeksang Arts Awards
This nomination is a first for Korean heartthrobs Lee Junho, Jung Hae-in, and Im Si-wan
It's that time of the year again! The nominees for the film and TV categories at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards have just been announced, and we can't wait to see the awards ceremony unfold on May 6.
As with other awards ceremonies, the nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress are always much-anticipated. And for this edition especially, we were very much looking forward to the choices for the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards, one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in Korea.
There were many great K-dramas and films last year until early this year. The candidates were handpicked from dramas, shows, and films that were aired or released between April 12, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
60 entertainment industry experts, which is 20 more than last year, were in charge of the selection process.
Many K-drama fans, however, were expecting nominations for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (released on August 28, 2021), One Ordinary Day (released on November 27, 2021), and Snowdrop (released on December 18, 2021), as its lead stars truly shone in these shows.
Although some may have been disappointed, the lineup of nominees still proves to be an exciting one, especially for the TV category, as this Best Actor (TV) nomination is a first for actors Lee Junho, Jung Hae-in, and Im Si-wan.
Best Actor (Film and TV) Nominees
Best Actor (Film and TV) Nominees
Kim Nam-Gil – “Through the Darkness” (SBS)
In this crime thriller, Kim Nam-gil's Song Ha-young is a profiler of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's (SMPA) Scientific Investigation division. His character is in charge of determining the behavioral patterns of serial killers. This is Kim Nam-gil's fourth Baeksang Arts Awards acting nomination or recognition. He won Best New Actor (TV) for "Queen Seondeok" in 2010 and was also nominated for Most Popular Actor (film) for "Pandora" and Best Actor (TV) for "The Fiery Priest"
Photo Credit: SBS
Lee Jung-Jae – “Squid Game” (Netflix) (TV)
Lee Jung-jae stars as Seong Gi-hun in this award-winning survival thriller drama. The character is a divorced chauffeur and gambling addict, who joins the mysterious game because he's struggling financially. He has won six Baeksang Arts Awards so far. Should he win again, this will be his sixth acting award for his role in "Squid Game."
Photo Credit: Netflix
Lee Junho – “The Red Sleeve” (MBC ) (TV)
Lee Junho started out as a K-Pop idol as a member of boy band 2PM, so this nomination serves as a milestone for him as an actor. While he has won acting awards and earned acting nominations from other award-giving bodies for K-dramas like “Good Manager” and “Wok of Love,” this is Lee Junho’s first nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards. And it’s for a Best Actor - Television award, at that! Here, he’s being recognized for his role as King Jeongjo, the King of Joseon, in the high-rated series “The Red Sleeve.” His character is in love with a court lady (played by Lee Se-young).
Photo Credit: MBC
Im Si-Wan - “Tracer” (Wavve) (TV)
Im Si-wan is best known for his roles in K-drama “Misaeng: Incomplete Life” and film “The Attorney,” both of which earned him several acting awards and nominations. With his latest starring role in the series “Tracer,” he got his first-ever Best Actor - Television nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards. The award-giving body previously gave him the Best Fashionista Award (2014) and Best New Actor - Television award for “Misaeng: Incomplete Life” (2015). In thriller-action drama “Tracer,” Im Si-wan plays the role of a former accountant-turned-head of the National Tax Service's Central Branch Tax Bureau.
Photo Credit: Wavve
Jung Hae-In - “D.P.” (Netflix) (TV)
Jung Hae-in starred in two 2021 K-dramas: military drama “D.P.” and melodrama “Snowdrop.” For this 58th Baeksang Arts Awards nomination, his portrayal of a Korean military police officer whose task is to catch deserters. He previously earned a Best Actor in a Series nomination for the same series at the Director’s Cut Awards. At Baeksang Arts Awards, should he win, this would be his second award from them, as he was also named Most Popular Actor in 2018 for “Prison Playbook.” In 2020, BAA named him as one of the nominees for the Best New Actor - Film category for the movie “Tune in for Love.”
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kim Yun-Seok - “Escape from Mogadishu” (Film)
In this action drama film, Kim Yun-seok’s Han Sin-seong is the South Korean Ambassador to Somalia during a time when Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, is torn by civil war. This is Kim Yun-seok’s third Best Actor nomination for this role. He previously won Best Actor at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards for the political thriller film “1987: When the Day Comes.” He also has three Best Actor nominations under his belt from this award-giving body.
Photo Credit: Lotte Entertainment
Sol Kyung-Gyu - “Kingmaker” (Film)
In this political drama film, Sol Kyung-gyu is a politician whose dream is to become a president. He has four acting awards from Baeksang Arts Awards so far, including a Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film award for the movie “Public Enemy.” As for acting nominations from Baeksang, Sol Kyung-gyu so far has seven under his belt.
Photo Credit: Megabox Plus M via The Korea Times
Lee Sun-Kyun - “Kingmaker” (Film)
As Seo Chang-dae, Lee Sun-kyun took on the role of a political strategist in this political drama. He’s vying for the Best Actor (Film) award alongside his “Kingmaker” co-star Sol Kyung-gyu. Should he win, this won’t be the first time this actor would get an acting award from Baeksang. He was previously named Best Actor (Film) for “A Hard Day.” He was also nominated as Best New Actor (TV) for “White Tower” and Best Actor (TV) for “My Mister.”
Photo Credit: Megabox JoongAng PlusM
Jeong Woo - “Hot Blooded” (Film)
In the crime film “Hot Blooded,” Jeong Woo is a gang member, who also works as a hotel manager. His character, Park Hee-soo, wants to leave his gangster life behind and get married, but then he gets into a gang war. Jeong Woo already has a Best New Actor (TV) award and Most Popular Actor (TV) nomination from Baeksang Arts Awards for his role in “Reply 1994.” He was also previously nominated for the Most Popular Actor (Film) for “New Trial.”
Photo Credit: HanCinema
Choi Min-Sik - “Mathematician in Wonderland” (Film)
Choi Min-sik is nominated for his role in this drama film that’s also known as “In Our Prime.” His character, Lee Hak-sung works as a school security guard who’s actually a math genius who defected from North Korea. Hak-sung ends up teaching math to an outcast student from a prestigious private high school. This veteran actor has three awards from Baeksang so far, including a Grand Prize (Daesang) - Film award for “The Admiral: Roaring Currents,” as well as three nominations.
Photo Credit: Showbox
Check out the complete list of nominees at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards below:
Who do you think will win Best Actor for TV and Film at the upcoming 58th Baeksang Arts Awards?
Lead photos from Netflix and MBC
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