Netizens React to IU and Park Bo-gum’s Baeksang 2025 Loss: “They Deserved More”
At the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards on May 5, held at COEX Hall D in Gangnam, fans expected a triumphant night for IU and Park Bo-gum, stars of the critically acclaimed When Life Gives You Tangerines.
But when both actors walked away without individual wins, social media lit up with disappointment, frustration — and unwavering admiration.
IU and Park Bo-gum Left Baeksang 2025 Empty-Handed
Following the announcement that IU did not win Best Actress in Television, social media exploded. Phrases like “IU went home with just applause” and “How could both IU and Park Bo-gum walk away without a trophy?” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with over 4,500 posts reacting to the surprise outcome.
she was snubbed massively…need some time to process this cuz if they can’t give her an award for playing such complex dual roles when will they ever award her? that was her best shot a role like aesun/geum myeong comes once in a career…
— aesun’s hairpin🌸🎬 (@serenefiIms) May 5, 2025
Despite delivering one of the most moving performances of her career — including fluent Jeju dialect, multigenerational emotional arcs, and subtle growth as Ae-soon — IU’s name wasn’t called. Meanwhile, Park Bo-gum’s portrayal of Gwan-sik, a gentle yet quietly resilient male lead, was also left unrecognized.
A Bittersweet Night for When Life Gives You Tangerines
While IU and Park Bo-gum missed out on individual recognition, When Life Gives You Tangerines still claimed four major awards:
- Best Supporting Actress: Yum Hye-ran
- Best Supporting Actor: Choi Dae-hoon
- Best Screenplay: Im Sang-chun
- Best Drama
Director Kim Won-seok reflected on the series’ deeper meaning, saying:
“In this age of hatred, we hoped to encourage people to stop hating and try living well together.”
Bigger Picture: High Expectations, Unshaken Legacy
The emotional reaction from fans wasn’t just about awards — it was about how deeply IU and Park Bo-gum’s performances touched them. Despite losing out to Kim Tae-ri (Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born) and Joo Ji-hoon (Trauma Center), many believe the duo’s acting will endure longer than any accolade.
With When Life Gives You Tangerines topping Netflix Korea’s Top 10 for four weeks, and ranking in the Top 10 across 39 countries, the show — and its stars — have already left a cultural imprint.
At Baeksang 2025, IU and Park Bo-gum may have left without trophies, but to fans, their impact remains untouchable. As one trending post put it, “They didn’t win, but they didn’t lose either. They just reminded us how powerful storytelling can be.”