The Winner of Baeksang’s Best Actor Revealed: Park Bo-gum, Byun Woo-seok, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Joon-hyuk, Han Suk-kyu in Fierce Race
The race for Best Actor in Television at the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. With Park Bo-gum, Byun Woo-seok, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Joon-hyuk, and Han Suk-kyu nominated, this year’s category has been dubbed a “clash of acting gods.”
Park Bo-gum – A Warm, Devoted Soul in When Life Gives You Tangerines
Park Bo-gum delivers a multifaceted performance as Yang Gwan-sik in Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines. A stubborn yet loving character, he devotes his life to his childhood love, Oh Ae-soon (played by IU), portraying Gwan-sik from his teenage years to his 30s with remarkable sincerity.
Park masterfully balances toughness and tenderness, captivating viewers with a portrayal that feels both nostalgic and timeless.
Byun Woo-seok – Breakout Lead in Lovely Runner
tvN’s Lovely Runner catapulted Byun Woo-seok into superstardom. As Ryu Sun-jae, he embodies youthful vulnerability and first love with a heart-wrenching depth.
His nuanced performance has sparked a major fan following, and many consider this his most career-defining role to date. With public affection and critical acclaim on his side, Byun may be poised to win his first Best Actor award.
Lee Joon-hyuk – Intense Complexity in Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard
In Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard, a spin-off of the Stranger series on TVING, Lee Joon-hyuk reprises his role as prosecutor Seo Dong-jae. His portrayal is both sharp and emotionally layered, reflecting Dong-jae’s moral conflict and desperate desire for redemption.
Lee’s ability to humanize a complicated character has earned widespread praise, making him a formidable contender.
Joo Ji-hoon – Quiet Strength in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Netflix’s The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call features Joo Ji-hoon as a trauma surgeon who battles life-or-death scenarios daily. With restrained emotion and resolute presence, he portrays the emotional toll of emergency medicine.
His grounded and intense performance has viewers and critics alike declaring, “No one else could have played this role.”
Han Suk-kyu – Masterclass in Doubt
Veteran actor Han Suk-kyu delivers yet another acting tour de force in MBC’s Doubt. As profiler Jang Tae-soo, he radiates intellectual authority while subtly conveying inner turmoil. His performance is a quiet powerhouse proof that his reputation as a “master actor” remains unshakable.
And the Winner Is…
This year’s nominees span genres and generations from romantic youth dramas to psychological thrillers and medical procedurals. With each actor bringing top-tier performances, the Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Best Actor winner remains impossible to predict.
And the winner is Joo Ji-hoon! Actor Joo Ji-hoon took home the Best Actor in TV award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, held on the evening of May 5, 2025, at COEX Hall in Gangnam, Seoul.
In his acceptance speech, he humbly acknowledged the collaborative nature of his work:
“This isn’t something one person can do alone — I truly felt that. It feels like everyone’s telling me, ‘Go accept this on our behalf.’ I hope to greet you again through another project that allows fun and meaningful communication.”
Joo Ji-hoon’s win not only marks a personal triumph but also underscores the collective power of storytelling in Korean drama. As anticipation builds for his next project, Joo’s Baeksang victory cements his status as one of Korea’s most compelling leading men.
