Categories: Awards

Kang Ha Neul Vaults to A-list Level with Baeksang Best Actor Win for When the Camellia Blooms

What I loved the most when the photo array was shown for the 5 Best Actor nominees for the 2020 Baeksang Drama Best Actor award was how 4 of them were in serious actor mode and 1 was in “I’m so happy to be here” puppy mode. That 1 being Kang Ha Neul who then won for his performance in When the Camellia Blooms over strong competition in Namgong Min, Hyun Bin, Park Seo Joon, and Joo Ji Hoon. Most Korean entertainment awards are pre-notified to the winner so the Baeksangs remain one of the lone bastions of surprise and true competition, so Kang Ha Neul looked just as floored to have won.

Any of the 5 nominees winning would be deserving in my mind but Kang Ha Neul was actually supporting Gong Hyo Jin in the drama and yet he blew her out of the water with his performance and was honestly the best part of the drama for me. If she was the Camellia flower then he was the roots, the soil, the water, the sunlight, the nutrition to make the flower bloom. To think that prior to his military enlistment he was playing second leads in Misaeng and Moon Lovers and even like the 6th male lead in Heirs. He’s now in the same league as similar age Baeksang Drama Actor winners Kim Soo Hyun and Yoo Ah In and he did it also with his first post-military project. Smart role selection and impressive return performance. He reminds me so much of Jo Jung Seok as well so not a bad similar vibe to cultivate.

ockoala

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  • He was already with his movie with park seo joon which was a big hit.
    I think kbs awarded gong grand prize bcoz of her seniority. She is amazing but he overshadowed her.
    Though i was hoping either hyun bin or park seo joon to win but congrats to this guy who has earned his place slowly by slowly. Wasn't served on platters like idol actors .

  • Im neutral even tho i thought HB or PSJ would win. Well, im a hardcore Hospital playlist and Dr. Kim's fan so i hoped for them to be nominated but then they werent so i watched this without expectation but then looking at KHN, he was super duper adorable and humble. I might be not a fan, but i do like his attitude and his acting skill. Im glad he's the winner. Look, he was the only one who didnt wear bow tie lmao. Chukae KHN. You deserved it.

  • I'm so happy for him he totally deserves this! I started watching WTCB because I'm a fan of gong hyojin but his performance was so perfect that by the end I was rooting for him to catch the bad guy and be happy with the girl of his dreams.

  • For me, it wasn't NGM, HB or PSJ's best role. They were good but they did better in other roles, more precisely I think they had roles that were more demanding for them. So I was really happy that KNH won, he's really humble but worked hard during all these years.

    • That's right, HB slayed more in Memories of the Alhambra. Like him better in it than CLOY.
      KHN is really my bet, tho subconsciously hehe. I couldn't voice it out.

  • LOVE him! I thought PSJ will win for Itaewon Class but still, happy that KHN won! And yes, he has the same vibe as Jo Jung Seok, love him too!!!

  • He is adorable. *squeezes*
    I dont watch WTCB becuase I dont like the camellia. Wk wk wk

  • I love Kang Ha Neul even in the heirs. It’s a surprise but sweet victory for him. Well deserved and congratulations ?

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