The 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards has announced its nominees, with top stars like Park Bo Gum, Lee Byung Hun, IU, and Hyeri in the running for major awards. The event celebrates the best in Korean dramas and variety shows produced for streaming platforms.
Leading the nominations is Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, which earned six nods, including Best Drama, Best Actor (Park Bo Gum), and Best Actress (IU). The show is a heartwarming slice-of-life series set in Jeju Island, following the lives of a family across different generations.
Full List of Nominees for the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards
Best Drama
- “Family Matters”
- “Way Back Love”
- “Karma”
- “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”
- “When Life Gives You Tangerines”
Best Actor
- Park Bo Gum (“When Life Gives You Tangerines”)
- Park Hae Soo (“Karma”)
- Lee Byung Hun (“Squid Game 2”)
- Lee Jun Hyuk (“Dongjae, The Good or the Bastard”)
- Ju Ji Hoon (“The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”)
Best Actress
- Park Eun Bin (“Hyper Knife”)
- Seo Hyun Jin (“The Trunk”)
- IU (“When Life Gives You Tangerines”)
- Hyeri (“Friendly Rivalry”)
- Cha Joo Young (“The Queen Who Crowns”)
Other Key Categories
- Best Supporting Actor: Park Byung Eun, Yoon Kyung Ho, Lee Kwang Soo, Lee Jun Young, Choi Dae Hoon
- Best Supporting Actress: Gong Seung Yeon, Kim Guk Hee, Claudia Kim, Yeom Hye Ran, Jung Eun Chae
- Best New Actor: Kang You Seok, Lomon, Bae Hyeon Seong, Choo Young Woo, Heo Nam Jun
- Best New Actress: Kim Min Ha, Lee Su Hyun, Lee Yi Dam, Chung Su Bin, Ha Young
- Best Variety Show: “Kian’s Bizarre B&B,” “The Devil’s Plan: Death Room,” “My Name is Gabriel,” “Bloody Game 3,” “Culinary Class Wars”
Strong Competition in Acting Categories
The Best Actor race is intense, with Park Bo Gum and Lee Byung Hun as frontrunners. Park Bo Gum plays a devoted husband in “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, while Lee Byung Hun returns as the chilling Front Man in “Squid Game 2”.
In the Best Actress category, IU is a strong contender for her emotional performance in “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, competing against Hyeri, who impressed in “Friendly Rivalry”.
Fan Reactions and Expectations
Fans are excited about the nominations, with many rooting for their favorites.
“Park Bo Gum!!!!!!” – Trang Folliot
“Interesting roster!!! Daming underrated na kasama sa nominees!” – Cris Antoniano
The awards ceremony will take place on July 18, 2025, at Paradise City in Incheon and will be broadcast live on KBS 2TV.
The Blue Dragon Series Awards is unique because it focuses only on content made for streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and TVING. With the rise of K-dramas globally, this event highlights the best of Korean digital entertainment.
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” has been compared to the beloved series “Reply 1988” for its nostalgic storytelling. It previously won four awards at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, making it a favorite this year.
Also Read: Jo Jung Suk Wins Best Actor at 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards for Pilot
The competition is fierce, and fans are eager to see who will take home the trophies. With top-tier nominees and high-quality shows, the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards promises to be a memorable night for Korean entertainment.
