The nominations for the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards are officially out, and fans of Lovely Runner are buzzing with excitement. tvN’s 2024 surprise hit has scored big, landing nominations in five major categories, including Best Actor and Best Actress for leads Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon.
The Baeksangs are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in Korean film and television, and for Lovely Runner fans, this moment is pure validation. With little to no promotional push or corporate backing, the drama’s success has been fuelled almost entirely by word of mouth and a passionate fanbase.
It’s a big moment for fans of Lovely Runner—the beloved tvN drama has officially scored five major nominations at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards. The show is up for Best Drama, while its stars Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon have been recognised with nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.
Writer Lee Si Eun earned a nod for Best Screenplay, and rising star Song Geon Hee was nominated for Best New Actor, adding even more excitement to the mix.
With its heartfelt story, standout performances, and organic buzz, Lovely Runner has clearly struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, becoming tvN's one of the biggest hits of all time.
Fans of the drama have now taken to X to celebrate this joyous occasion, with one writing, "No promos, no sponsors, no big streaming platform, yet somehow it surpassed all expectations to become one of the biggest K-drama hits ever and is now nominated in 5 Baeksang categories!! lovely runner, you will always be special."
Another fan noted, "Lovely Runner continues to prove everyone who underestimated them wrong even a year later from almost being cancelled, director changes, reshootings, and minimal promo during airing; good writing and acting overpowered. romcom of the century, IKTR!"!
"My lovely runner, you will never be the cringy, overrated high school drama they painted you to be. You were more than that; you were everything to me," a third fan wrote.
"If anything, i’m glad lovely runner got nominated. it’s great to see that a romantic comedy can earn critical acclaim and i’m happy the show is being seen and appreciated beyond just its lighthearted genre," another mentioned.
Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok) is a top star loved by the public, but behind the spotlight, he’s burned out by the pressures of fame. Lim Sol (Kim Hye Yoon), a devoted fan who once gave up on her own dreams after a life-changing accident, found healing through his music. But her world shatters when she hears the heartbreaking news that Sun Jae has taken his own life. In an unexpected twist, Sol finds a miraculous watch that takes her 15 years into the past, face-to-face with a teenage Sun Jae. Given a second chance, she sets out to rewrite his fate and maybe find her own in the process.
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