Kim So-yeon wins “Best Actress” at 57th Baeksang Awards


The winners of the 57th Baeksang Awards were finally announced on 13th May 2021. Kim So-yeon, who starred in The Penthouse: War in Life, clinched the “Best Actress” award. 

The award ceremony was hosted by actress Bae Suzy and comedian Shin Dong-yup, and broadcasted live on JTBC, a Korean cable channel.

Here’s the complete list of winners for the TV and Film categories. 


Nominated for her role in The Penthouse: War in Life


57th Baeksang Awards Best Actress - Kim So-yeon
Image credit: SBS

Kim So-yeon was nominated for her role in The Penthouse: War in Life, a makjang drama about a group of wealthy folk living in Hera Palace, an ultra-exclusive luxury apartment building. It also involves murder and classical singing – every other woman in this drama is either a talented singer or someone who’s trying to push someone else to become a singer.

Kim So-yeon played Cheon Seo-jin, a beautiful soprano who’s also the director of Cheong-ah Arts School, a high school that’s attended by the rich kids living in Hera Palace. Underneath her elegant exterior, Seo-jin is a power-hungry schemer who will stop at nothing to achieve her ambitions.


Other nominees for “Best Actress” 


57th baeksang awards winners - best actress award 1

(L-R) Shin Hye-sun, Kim So-yeon, Uhm Ji-won, Kim So-hyun, and Seo Ye-ji.
Images adapted from: tvN, SBS, tvN, KBS, and tvN

Kim So-yeon faced strong competition for the “Best Actress” award. The nominees were as follows:

  • Shin Hye-sun in Mr. Queen
  • Kim So-yeon in The Penthouse: War in Life
  • Uhm Ji-won in Birthcare Center
  • Kim So-hyun in River Where the Moon Rises
  • Seo Ye-ji in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

57th Baeksang Awards Best Actress - Shin Hye-sun
Image credit: tvN

Shin Hye-sun was nominated for her role in Mr. Queen, which was based on the Chinese web drama Go Princess Go. She played Queen Cheorin, a Joseon Dynasty queen. Unbeknownst to the people around her, Queen Cheorin has the soul of a man in her body. That man is Jang Bong-hwan, a modern-day chef who was mysteriously transplanted into the queen’s body one day.

As such, Queen Cheorin often uses modern-day Korean slang, which puzzles the people around her, resulting in much hilarity.

57th Baeksang Awards Best Actress - Uhm Ji-won
Image credit: tvN

Uhm Ji-won was nominated for her role in Birthcare Center, a drama set in a postpartum care centre. Uhm Ji-won played Oh Hyun-jin, a high-flying executive who has just given birth. After experiencing a difficult childbirth and realising that she knows little to nothing about bringing up a child, she enters a postpartum care centre to learn more about childcare.

57th Baeksang Awards Best Actress - Kim So-hyun
Image credit: KBS

Kim So-hyun was nominated for her role in River Where the Moon Rises, a historical drama based on the 2010 novel Princess Pyeonggang. She played Princess Pyeonggang, also known as Yeon Ga-jin, who has been brought up to become a soldier for her country. 

She starts off as a young assassin with no memory of her past and knows nothing of her royal lineage. One day, she comes across the simple and cheerful On Dal, whom she comes to fall in love with.

57th Baeksang Awards Best Actress - Seo Ye-ji

Seo Ye-ji was nominated for her role in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. She played Go Moon-young, a beautiful and popular children’s book author who exhibits traits of antisocial personality disorder. With the help of Moon Gang-tae, a nurse in a psychiatric hospital, and his brother Moon Sang-tae, Moon-young makes peace with her traumatic childhood.


Kim So-yeon wins “Best Actress” award at 57th Baeksang Awards


Congratulations to Kim So-yeon, the winner of the “Best Actress” award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for her in the future, and what projects she’ll tackle next.

For more articles about K-dramas, check out:


Cover image adapted from: SBS

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