Baeksang 2025 Best Actress Controversy: Kim Tae-ri’s Win Sparks Debate Over Jang Na-ra’s Performance

According to Sohu, the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards held on the evening of May 5 drew attention from millions of viewers. One of the most unexpected outcomes was Kim Tae-ri winning Best Actress in the Broadcasting category for her role in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born.

However, over 10 million Chinese viewers believed that the one who truly deserved the award was Jang Na-ra for her performance in the divorce-themed drama Good Partner. The hashtag “Jang Na-ra was nominated but didn’t win” quickly gained traction online, with many expressing regret on behalf of the actress.

One highly upvoted comment read, “Why didn’t Jang Na-ra win? When the drama was still airing, everyone thought she would get the Daesang, let alone Best Actress. Considering her acting, the drama’s quality, its popularity, influence and ratings, Jang Na-ra deserved it more than anyone. She may be in the mid-career stage now, but her talent keeps shining. Many thought her sweet appearance would limit her roles, but her versatility proves otherwise. Her professionalism, self-discipline, constant efforts to improve her acting, and wise script choices are all outstanding. She only moves forward, never backward.”

Some Chinese netizens even admitted that while they were still upset over past comments made by Jang Na-ra, they could not deny her acting talent and agreed she should have won. One viewer speculated, “Maybe because she’s already won before, she lost this time in an unfortunate way.”

Good Partner was SBS’s highest-rated drama of 2024, with a viewership rating of 17.7%. The drama earned high praise for its gripping script, quickly resolved complex storylines, and refreshing take on marriage and divorce.

In the series, Jang Na-ra plays Cha Eun-kyung, a top-tier divorce lawyer with 17 years of experience who mentors rookie lawyer Han Yu-ri (played by Nam Ji-hyun). Cha Eun-kyung is sharp and seasoned, while Han Yu-ri—top scorer on the bar exam—is smart and flexible but inexperienced and emotionally driven. The two contrasting personalities gradually form a dynamic duo, handling legal battles together.

Prior to Good Partner, Jang Na-ra often portrayed women hurt by toxic husbands, as seen in The Last Empress, VIP and My Happy Ending. But in Good Partner, she underwent a complete transformation, playing a smart, successful and strong woman with a cold, commanding presence—a stark contrast to her usual gentle and sweet roles. Both viewers and the media praised her remarkable performance in the drama.