Absent actors and actresses, Daejong on a two-way path

The Daejong Film Awards, which has existed for half a century, is in a crisis.

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A day before the day of the Daejong Awards, 9 actors and actresses called in to say they won't make it. It is a rare case for a whole list of candidates to be absent from such an event.

This was the result of a great coincidence. The candidates for Best Actor and Actress are the top stars of the country. They are greatly active at the moment, so they must be busy with work here and there. Jun Ji-hyun is pregnant.

They were told a week before the Daejong to participate. For a star to attend an event like the Daejong, it requires many people to move. If they have to adjust a schedule to attend the movie awards, theirs and other people's whole schedule would come falling down like dominoes. They also need a long time to prepare to look their best and it's no wonder they call in to say they're not coming.

This fact was acknowledged by the Daejong. It claimed there was a delay in short-listing the names and although disappointed, the committee understands.

There might be those who understand but the netizens are not so happy. Some of them cheered for even those who weren't at the event but some say the Daejong got what it deserved.

The Daejong has struggled with fairness and loyalty over the years. The event was accused of taking sides and it even once eliminated an artist for the reason that he or she wasn't there at the awards to pick up the prize. Nullity suits followed for not agreeing with the awards and the nominees and there was even talk that a management bribed the officials of the event as well. The Daejong was even taken to court regarding its rights to host.

It was another crisis this year as the event claimed it wouldn't give out the award to those who didn't participate. It seemed strange when an artist on the list of candidates was suddenly removed. The application for netizens to vote was also not free. To make it worse, the Daejong mistakenly revealed a candidate's picture online, losing its authority.

Being the oldest film festival in Korea and once known as the representing film award of Korea, the Daejong is walking down the aisle of decline. Positive or negative, it's been with the film industry for more than 50 years, but its authority is gone. It's in need of a special arrangement.