Voting Chaos at the 61st Baeksang Awards

On April 23, 2025, the highly anticipated Baeksang Awards kicked off its voting period for the popular PRIZM Popularity Awards via the PRIZM app. With last year's event tallying over 11 million votes, fans were ready for a fierce showdown this year.

Controversy Surrounds Top Nominees

The 61st Baeksang Awards featured an impressive lineup of 70 nominees split evenly between 35 men and 35 women from various TV and film categories. The excitement grew as fans prepared to cast their daily votes—up to four per account, plus bonuses for sharing the voting page.

However, a storm of controversy erupted when allegations surfaced regarding automated voting programs manipulating results for three leading nominees: Hyeri from Girl’s Day, IU, and Kim Hye Yoon, each accumulating a staggering 2-3 million votes.

Outcry from Fans: Disqualification Demands Grow

As videos alleging mass voting manipulation went viral, fans took to social media, expressing their outrage and calling for disqualification of the three stars. Comments flooded in: "What’s the point of a popularity award if it’s rigged?" cried one frustrated voter. Others echoed the sentiment, insisting, "All three should be disqualified if they’re using macros!" The frustration was palpable, with fans declaring, "It’s disgraceful! Baeksang needs to clean this up!"

Baeksang's Silence Amid Backlash

Despite the growing uproar and calls for transparency, the Baeksang Awards organization has yet to address the swirling allegations of vote tampering. As fans continue to demand accountability, the integrity of the awards hangs in the balance.

The Fallout: What’s Next for the Baeksang Awards?

With the awards ceremony set for May 5, the stakes are higher than ever. Will the Baeksang Awards take action and uphold the true spirit of a popularity contest, or will this controversy mar the event? Only time will tell, but fans are ready to keep the pressure on.