BTS and Youn Yuh-jung Challenge First-Ever Record in the US on Same Day as 'Grammy' and 'Academy' Awards

BTS's hit song "Dynamite" has been nominated this year in the "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance" category at the Grammy Awards. Photo by BTS, "Dynamite" teaser image. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Nahana] The group BTS and actress Youn Yuh-jung will each challenge a first-ever record for Korean pop singers and Korean actors in the United States on the same day.

The nominations for the United States' most prestigious music awards, the Grammy Awards, and the film awards, the Academy Awards, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be announced simultaneously on the 15th. Although the local U.S. times differ?afternoon of the 14th and morning of the 15th respectively?in Korean time, both occur on the 15th, divided between morning and afternoon.

The 63rd Grammy Awards main ceremony, where BTS became the first Korean pop singer to be nominated, will begin at 9 a.m. Korean time on the 15th (5 p.m. local time in LA on the 14th) and will be held around the Los Angeles Convention Center and other locations in LA. However, the winner of the category in which they were nominated, 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance,' will be announced during the 'Premiere Ceremony' (pre-ceremony), which starts at 4 a.m. Korean time, prior to the main ceremony.

The 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance' category has been a battleground for top artists' collaborations and pop groups, and BTS's hit song "Dynamite" will compete for the trophy this year against songs by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and others. Although soprano Jo Sumi and recording engineer Hwang Byung-joon have previously won Grammys in classical categories, BTS is the first Korean pop singer to be nominated.

BTS member J-Hope said in an interview with USA Today, "I grew up watching the Grammy Awards and making music, so its prestige is deeply ingrained in my heart," adding, "If we receive it, it would be the greatest award for us."

Photo by Youn Yuh-jung, who played Soon-ja in the movie 'Minari' = Provided by Pansinema.

After that category concludes, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Korean time on the 15th), the nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards will be announced.

Korean-American director Lee Isaac Chung's American independent film "Minari," based on his autobiographical experiences, is expected to be nominated in major categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. According to predictions from major U.S. media outlets like Variety and Gold Derby, "Minari" is ranked within the top three for these major categories.

Last year, director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" made history in Korean cinema by receiving six nominations and winning four awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. However, "Minari" is increasing the possibility of a Korean actor being nominated for an acting award, something "Parasite" did not achieve.

"Minari," which tells the story of a Korean family who moved to a farm in Arkansas in the 1980s, resonates with the identity of the United States as a nation of immigrants and Puritans, and has won 90 trophies at American film festivals and award ceremonies to date.

In particular, Youn Yuh-jung, who plays Soon-ja, a woman who came from Korea to help her daughter's family who moved to Arkansas, is competing closely with Olivia Colman from "The Father" for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Korean actor to be nominated for an Academy Award in an acting category, raising expectations for a win. Steven Yeun and Han Ye-ri are also ranked around 4th to 5th place among Best Actor and Best Actress nominees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.