A year after actress Kim Ji Won was noticeably excluded from the Best Actress shortlist at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, a judge's recent remarks have reignited controversy surrounding the snub.

Jeong Deok Hyeon, a pop culture critic and one of the seven judges on the 2024 Baeksang panel for television, explained the reasoning behind Kim Ji Won's omission despite the massive popularity of Queen of Tears, which aired early last year.

"In Queen of Tears, people were saying, 'Huh? Kim Ji Won didn't even get nominated?' ... Do you know why that happened?"

Jeong said during an interview posted to social media on March 29.

"When the first round of judging started, it starts pretty early. Queen of Tears hadn't even begun airing yet. So there was a lot of debate over whether to include it or not."

Jeong claimed the drama barely made the eligibility cutoff and said judges had limited footage to review during early evaluations.

"At the point we were watching it, Kim Soo Hyun's performance stood out clearly, but Kim Ji Won hadn't really shined yet on the video," Jeong said.

"That's why she didn't make it into the nominations and actually, we explained all this to Kim Ji Won's agency and the actress also heard it and accepted it all."

Jeong added, "The public doesn't know, though, so they just criticize us. 'How could they do that?!' ... But awards like this, honestly, there's a bit of luck involved."

The remarks sparked backlash online, with fans accusing the Baeksang committee of inconsistency and gender bias.

Critics pointed out that if Queen of Tears was not fully eligible due to limited episodes aired at the time, Kim Soo Hyun, who played the male lead, should not have been nominated either.

"Shouldn't have nominated the actor then," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This is just an excuse for the misogynistic industry that favors men."

Another fan wrote, "Misogyny at its finest. When it comes to women, they said it's all about luck."

The 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards took place during the airing of Queen of Tears, which went on to achieve record-breaking viewership, surpassing a 20 percent rating — a feat rarely seen in recent years.

Despite the show's success and Kim Ji Won's widely praised performance, the actress did not receive a nomination for her role.

Some social media users referenced a broader trend of female talent being overlooked during award seasons, citing other perceived snubs in past years, including actresses Han Hyo Joo, Kim Tae Ri and Shin Hye Sun.

As the debate continues, fans continue to celebrate Kim Ji Won's performance in Queen of Tears, calling it one of the most memorable portrayals in recent K-drama history — regardless of awards recognition.

The Baeksang Arts Awards has not yet issued an official response to the renewed criticism.