Grand Bell Awards

The Grand Bell Awards ceremony has been hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Information since its inception in 1962. The awards were suspended for a few years starting in 1969 but were revived in 1972 following the establishment of the Korea Motion Picture Promotion Association, aiming to revitalize the then-stagnant South Korean film industry. Over time, however, the Korean Film Industry Association, which managed the awards, became plagued by extravagant spending and frequent internal conflicts. This turmoil led to a decline in the ceremony’s credibility and authority. The situation culminated during the 52nd ceremony in 2015, when all nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress publicly announced they would boycott the event. In December 2023, the Federation of Korean Filmmakers (), which hosted the Awards, was declared bankrupt by the Seoul Bankruptcy Court. As a result, the 60th ceremony was canceled. In November 2024, the trademark rights to the Daejong Film Festival were put up for sale, creating uncertainty about the future of the awards. Subsequently, in 2025, the trademark and operational rights of the Grand Bell Awards were officially transferred to the Korea Film Planning Producers Association, marking a new phase for the event. == Awards ==