Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok have claimed the top spots in the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards Prism Popularity Award, earning massive fan support. However, allegations of vote manipulation have sparked debates about the fairness of the results.
Voting Results and Achievements
The 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards Prism Popularity Award voting began on April 23 and ended on May 2. Fans voted through the Prism app, with each user allowed up to four votes daily and two extra votes for sharing voting certificates. A total of 70 nominees, 35 male and 35 female, from TV and film categories competed.
Kim Hye-yoon won the female category with an unprecedented 7,873,877 votes, setting a record for the highest vote count in Baeksang history. Hyeri followed with 6,923,153 votes, and IU secured third place with 3,474,101 votes. Haewon and Kim Tae-ri rounded out the top five with 40,209 and 33,424 votes, respectively.
Byeon Woo-seok led the male category with 2,404,031 votes, far ahead of Park Bo-gum with 605,823 votes. Jung Hae-in, Lee Jun-hyuk, and Dex followed with 180,165, 105,072, and 87,384 votes, respectively. The gap between the male and female vote totals raised eyebrows, with female nominees receiving significantly higher counts.
Both stars gained fame through their roles in Lovely Runner, a time-slip romance drama that earned six nominations at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, including Best Drama and acting nods for Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok. Their on-screen chemistry and the drama’s popularity fueled their strong fan support.
Allegations of Macro Manipulation
The voting process faced serious accusations of macro manipulation, particularly in the female category. Videos and screenshots surfaced online, allegedly showing automated tools used to inflate vote counts for Kim Hye-yoon, Hyeri, and IU. These claims led to widespread criticism and demands for the actresses’ disqualification.
“Judging by the vote counts, looks like all three are using macros… Baeksang needs to exclude them.”
“Wow, they’re even running macros for this… I’m voting diligently though…”
“Why go that far? LOL. I now know that the fandoms for Hyeri, IU, and Kim Hye Yoon are intense.”
“Baeksang, you idiots, count out the macros, seriously.”
“It seems like all three are using macros, but the real problem is Baeksang’s inability to filter those votes out.”
The controversy intensified when Hyeri, who led the female category for most of the voting period, was overtaken by Kim Hye-yoon in the final moments. Fans expressed frustration, with some sarcastically calling it the “Baeksang Macro Popularity Award.” Others noted that the actresses might feel embarrassed by the tainted victory.
“Congratulations on the Baeksang Macro Popularity Award!”
“Hyeri was in first place all along but got overtaken at the last minute, haha. It must’ve been embarrassing for all three of them to receive the award.”
“It’s surprising that the female category got more heated.”
“The actresses are being mocked so much, and the fandoms are the real losers here.”
“Receiving an award like that must be embarrassing for the actors too, haha.”
The Baeksang Awards committee has not publicly addressed the allegations. Reports suggest they strengthened security measures to monitor suspicious activity, but no official statement has confirmed actions to filter out manipulated votes. Past award shows, like the 2022 Asia Artist Awards and Mnet MAMA Awards, faced similar scandals, leading to stricter vote verification processes.
Top 5 in Male and Female Category
Female Category:
- Kim Hye-yoon – 7,873,877 votes
- Hyeri – 6,923,153 votes
- IU – 3,474,101 votes
- Haewon – 40,209 votes
- Kim Tae-ri – 33,424 votes
Male Category:
- Byeon Woo-seok – 2,404,031 votes
- Park Bo-gum – 605,823 votes
- Jung Hae-in – 180,165 votes
- Lee Jun-hyuk – 105,072 votes
- Dex – 87,384 votes
Background on the Nominees and Dramas
Kim Hye-yoon rose to fame with Lovely Runner, where she played a devoted fan who travels back in time to save her idol, portrayed by Byeon Woo-seok. The drama’s engaging plot and emotional depth earned it critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Kim Hye-yoon previously won the Best New Actress award at the 55th Baeksang Awards for her role in SKY Castle. She was also nominated for Best Actress in 2025 for Lovely Runner.
Byeon Woo-seok became a household name through Lovely Runner, earning a Best Actor nomination. His charm and heartfelt performance resonated with viewers, boosting his popularity. The duo’s chemistry was a highlight, with fans hoping for a reunion at the awards ceremony on May 5 at COEX D Hall in Seoul.
Hyeri starred in Friendly Rivalry, a mystery-thriller set in a competitive high school. Her role as Yoo Jae Yi, a top student involved in a same-sex kiss scene, drew significant attention and international praise for its bold storytelling. The drama’s unique narrative and Hyeri’s performance helped her maintain a strong lead in votes until the final day.
IU starred in When Life Gives You Tangerines, which received eight nominations, including Best Drama and Best Actress for IU. The drama’s cultural significance and stellar cast, including Park Bo-gum, made it a fan favorite. IU’s dedicated fanbase contributed to her high vote count, though she fell behind Kim Hye-yoon and Hyeri.
Impact on the Baeksang Awards
The Baeksang Arts Awards, one of South Korea’s most prestigious ceremonies, recognizes excellence in film, television, and theater. The 61st edition, hosted by Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum, will air live on JTBC, JTBC2, and JTBC4 at 8 p.m. KST on May 5. The Prism Popularity Award, determined solely by fan votes, contrasts with other categories judged by industry experts.
The manipulation allegations have raised concerns about the award’s credibility. Fans argue that genuine support is being overshadowed by automated voting, undermining the efforts of dedicated voters. Some called for Haewon, who ranked fourth with a “clean” voting record, to receive the award instead.
The controversy has also sparked discussions about the voting system’s fairness. The Prism app’s structure, allowing multiple daily votes, may enable manipulation. Fans have urged the committee to implement stricter controls, such as limiting votes per user or verifying vote authenticity.
Mixed Netizen and Fan Reactions
The scandal has drawn mixed reactions. Some fans celebrated Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok’s wins, attributing their success to Lovely Runner’s popularity. Others criticized the voting process, feeling it disrespected the nominees’ hard work.
“If you really wanted the baeksang awards to be just korean votes based..y’all should’ve just done that from the beginning….the nominated ones who have a bigger intel fanbase aren’t able to vote is ridiculous. This is plain manipulation and sabotaging.”
“Someone said before all these started that Baeksang really use to get messy every year and they didn’t lie. What the hell is this chaos really? also, Prizm fix your damn s**t tgt ffs.”“Receiving an award like that must be embarrassing for the actors too, haha.“
“The actresses are being mocked so much, and the fandoms are the real losers here.”
“Hyeri was in first place all along but got overtaken at the last minute, haha. It must’ve been embarrassing for all three of them to receive the award.”
Industry insiders have echoed fans’ concerns, noting that repeated controversies could harm the Baeksang Awards’ reputation. The lack of an official response from the committee has fueled speculation and dissatisfaction.
As of May 2, 2025, Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok are confirmed winners of the 2025 Prism Popularity Award. They are expected to attend the ceremony on May 5, where fans anticipate a possible Lovely Runner reunion. The Baeksang committee has not announced measures to address the manipulation allegations, leaving the controversy unresolved.
The focus now shifts to the awards night, where When Life Gives You Tangerines and Lovely Runner are strong contenders in multiple categories. Fans await the committee’s handling of the scandal and hope for a fair celebration of Korean entertainment.
CREDITS: Theqoo
