The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards delivered glamour, celebration, and shocking wins — but the most unforgettable moment of the night came when the entire venue fell silent in tears during a deeply emotional memorial stage honoring some of Korea’s most beloved cultural legends.
As the familiar voice of the late Ahn Sung-ki echoed through COEX Hall D in Seoul, emotions inside the venue instantly overflowed.
“You haven’t forgotten my face, have you?”
The heartbreaking line, played using archival audio from the legendary actor during his lifetime, immediately shook the audience. Cameras captured actors, directors, and industry veterans visibly wiping away tears as the tribute stage unfolded.
The special memorial segment took place near the end of the second part of the ceremony and became one of the most emotionally devastating moments in recent Baeksang history.
Before the tribute began, host Bae Suzy delivered a calm but powerful introduction that left the atmosphere inside the venue heavy with emotion.
“On Parents’ Day, there were also the parents of popular culture,” she said softly. “The people who quietly pushed us forward from behind. Because they existed, we were able to take our first steps into the difficult path of art with a little less fear.”
Her words alone already moved many attendees to tears, but the emotional weight only deepened as she continued.
“Last year, we had to send off the fading scenery of a beautiful era with aching hearts,” Suzy said. “But the art they left behind has not ended.”
She added that Baeksang wanted to loudly declare that the paths these artists carved into Korean culture would continue to live on through future generations.
As the memorial stage officially began, director Lee Byung-woo performed the OST from My Lovely Week, while actor Yoo Yeon-seok delivered a live vocal performance that amplified the sorrowful atmosphere throughout the hall.
Then came the voices.
The tribute honored not only Ahn Sung-ki, often called the eternal star of Chungmuro, but also legendary actor Lee Soon-jae and comedy icon Jeon Yoo-seong.
One by one, deeply moving lines from their lives and careers filled the venue.
“No star shines on its own. It only reflects the light it has received.”
“I suddenly wanted to hear your voice. You’ll get used to it. That’s life.”
“Thank you for everything. Thanks to you, I lived well and am leaving now.”
Each quote landed like an emotional wave across the audience. Younger actors and longtime colleagues could be seen lowering their heads, crying openly, and clutching tissues as the memorial videos played on the massive screen.
Viewers watching from home were equally devastated, with social media rapidly filling with emotional reactions. Many described the segment as “impossible to watch without crying,” while others called it one of the most meaningful tribute stages ever presented at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
For many fans, the memorial served as a painful reminder of how much these legendary figures shaped Korean entertainment across generations. Their influence extended far beyond television and film — they represented the foundation of modern Korean culture itself.
This year’s ceremony carried additional historical significance as well. Hosted once again by Shin Dong-yup, Bae Suzy, and Park Bo-gum, the 62nd Baeksang celebrated not only achievements in television and cinema but also expanded into musicals for the first time, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korean musicals.
Yet despite the glamorous stars, historic milestones, and major award wins, the night ultimately belonged to the voices of those no longer there.
And as the venue stood in silence, drenched in tears and memories, one thing became painfully clear: legends may leave the stage, but the art and love they leave behind never truly disappear.
