Joking Or Beefing? “No Other Choice” Director And Cast’s “Salty” Baeksang Comments Continue To Fuel Drama

Humint actress Shin Se Kyung’s latest award win has unexpectedly become one of the most talked-about moments from the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards.

On May 8, 2026 (KST), Shin Se Kyung won “Best Supporting Actress” in the film category for her role in Humint. The actress was nominated alongside several highly praised performers, including Shin Hyun Bin for The Ugly, Yeom Hye Ran for No Other Choice, Jang Hye Jin for The World of Love, and Jeon Mi Do for The King’s Warden.

Almost immediately after the win, however, Korean netizens began debating the result. Some questioned whether Shin Se Kyung’s performance in Humint stood out enough against the other nominees, especially since the film was not considered an overwhelming box-office success. Others felt the criticism was unfairly directed at Shin Se Kyung, who simply accepted the award she was given.

Drama Erupts Over Shin Se Kyung’s “Supporting Actress” Win At The 62nd Baeksang Awards

The situation became even more talked-about after several comments made on stage seemed to repeatedly bring attention back to Yeom Hye Ran, who had been nominated for No Other Choice.

During his acceptance speech for “Best Supporting Actor,” No Other Choice co-star Lee Sung Min mentioned Yeom Hye Ran’s nomination and said he had been nervous because she was also up for an award. He then joked that he had “cursed to himself” because she did not win.

When they were announcing the winners for the category which Hye Ran was nominated, I was so nervous. I even cursed because she lost. And then it became my turn… Thank you. Since filming last year, then through the release and promotions, I had many new experiences while working with Director Park Chan Wook. I’m so grateful to him.

— Lee Sung Min

Later, Yeom Hye Ran herself returned to the stage as a presenter and jokingly introduced herself as “Yeom Hye Ran, who just lost.”

Then, when director Park Chan Wook accepted his “Best Film” award for No Other Choice, he thanked the judges and said the results made him feel confident that the judging had been fair. He added, “Yeom Hye Ran may not agree, but please understand. Shin Se Kyung did well, too.”

While the comments appeared to be made jokingly, not everyone found them harmless. Some netizens felt that repeatedly mentioning Yeom Hye Ran’s loss in front of the audience indirectly placed Shin Se Kyung in an awkward position. Others argued that it was inappropriate to keep bringing up another nominee’s loss after the winner had already been announced.

Comments included reactions such as, “Did they really need to say that publicly?” and “Shin Se Kyung must have felt so awkward.”

• “The fact that they’re talking about ‘fair judging’ is what makes it twisted. They’re obviously being salty. LOL.”
• “It’s not a joke if you’re making someone feel uncomfortable.”
• “What, did they think Yeom Hye Ran was a guaranteed win? Why would they even discuss that on stage…? And No Other Choice wasn’t all that good TBH.”
• “During the awards ceremony, the No Other Choice team’s comments felt unpleasant and uncomfortable. I was disappointed in Lee Sung Min too. It’s honestly giving bullies???? Like they were drunk on Park Chan Wook’s fame and acting like such snobs…”
• “No, I get that Park Chan Wook’s intention was probably to joke around, but why would he publicly mention a specific actress who had nothing to do with the work and make that joke there? And it wasn’t just one person. The whole team acted like that, so at that point, it’s no longer a joke. It’s ridicule…”
• “How is this a joke…? The person sitting right in front of them is getting hurt, but it’s okay as long as they’re the ones having fun?”
• “Why is the whole team acting like that…? Acting all tough when they’re obviously so butthurt. How snobbish…”

However, others defended the remarks, saying that the actors and director were clearly joking and that viewers were reading too much into the moment. Some also felt Park Chan Wook’s comment was simply an attempt to ease the tension while still acknowledging Shin Se Kyung’s win.

Here Are All The Winners From The 62nd “Baeksang Arts Awards”

As a result, the discussion has split into two separate debates: whether Shin Se Kyung’s win was deserved, and whether the repeated on-stage references to Yum Hye Ran’s loss were funny, awkward, or unnecessary. Either way, Shin Se Kyung’s Baeksang win has now become one of the ceremony’s biggest post-show controversies.

Read more about the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards here:

K-Pop Idol Wins First-Ever Baeksang And Immediately Sparks Debate With His Acceptance Speech