Choi Dae-hoon is a strong candidate for Best Supporting Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards with 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'... Presence that exceeds that of a supporting role

With the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony approaching tomorrow, interest is focused on the competition among the five 'reliable supporting actors' who have supported each work with their solid acting skills. In particular, whether actor Choi Dae-hoon, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' will win is a major point of interest.

In the Best Supporting Actor category for this Baeksang broadcast, actors ranging from Kim Joon-han (SBS 'Good Partner') to Noh Jae-won (Netflix 'Squid Game Season 2'), Yoon Kyung-ho (Netflix 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call'), Choi Dae-hoon (Netflix 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'), and Hyun Bong-sik (Tving 'Good or Bad Dong-jae') have made the list, leaving a deep impression through their diverse genres and characters.

In particular, Choi Dae-hoon received critical acclaim from viewers and critics alike for his passionate performance as Boo Sang-gil in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' a character that is unlikable yet magnetic, and constantly draws attention. The reaction suggests that while he might be considered a villain, his familiar face evokes the image of someone who could be a father, creating a 'living person' from the character.

A person who has lived through life with determination, with a bold mouth and actions devoid of proper manners, Boo Sang-gil was seen by people merely as 'an uncomfortable presence.' It is not an exaggeration to say that the reason many could not help but strangely dislike him was that Choi Dae-hoon portrayed him.

From his 30s to his 60s, Choi Dae-hoon fully embodied Boo Sang-gil's journey, showcasing a performance that literally wore life. From his youthful years of wildness to the settled age with hunched shoulders and shrunken strides, every glance and gesture contained 30 years of Boo Sang-gil, evoking admiration and emotion.

He created the so-called 'Hak-ssi!' craze and, through Boo Sang-gil, touched upon each viewer's 'memories,' as responses suggested it felt like 'seeing our fathers.'

Having shown stable acting skills as a supporting character for an extended period, he has proven his ability to portray a wide range of characters in various works including 'ILSEUNG,' 'Monster,' 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' 'The Stack, The Bewitched,' and 'Model Detective 2.' The nomination at this Baeksang Arts Awards is viewed as a potential turning point for him to take a leap forward as an actor, beyond just the question of whether he will win.

As all five candidates have played a key role in enhancing the overall quality of their works, predictions on the outcome of the awards are more challenging than ever. Nonetheless, expectations are gathering around Choi Dae-hoon’s chance to win because the Baeksang Arts Awards values not only acting ability but also contribution to the narrative within the work and character depth. Choi Dae-hoon’s character in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' convincingly conveyed the era and emotional lines, playing a crucial role in sustaining the drama's thematic resonance. Given the Baeksang's characteristic of comprehensively assessing acting ability, contribution to the work, and impact, he seems poised to be the winner of the trophy.

It remains to be seen whether Choi Dae-hoon can rise to the stage of the Baeksang with acting that transcends the supporting role and serves as 'the center of the narrative.' The results will be revealed at the awards ceremony held on the 5th at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul.

[Photo] Choi Dae-hoon, Netflix

[OSEN]