The Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 revealed its winners on September 16, ahead of the ceremony scheduled for October 2 at KBS Hall. The event recognized outstanding achievements in global television, with winners selected from 276 entries across 50 countries. South Korean stars IU and Ju Ji Hoon won top acting awards in the K-Drama category, while international hits like “Adolescence” and “Severance” also claimed major prizes. Fans worldwide can watch the ceremony on October 2 via SBS TV or the official SDA YouTube channel.
Full List of Winners
The awards covered three main categories: International Competition, K-Drama Competition, and International Invitation. Here is the complete list of winners:
Golden Bird Prize
- Ben Stiller for “Severance Season 2” (Apple TV+), recognized for his creative direction that explores themes of workplace identity and humanity.
International Competition Category
- Grand Prize: “Adolescence” (United Kingdom, Netflix)
- Best TV Movie: “The Son” (South Korea, CJ ENM)
- Best Miniseries: “Pachinko Season 2” (United States, Apple TV+)
- Best Series: “The Good & The Bad” (Turkiye)
- Best Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda (“Asura”) and Philip Barantini (“Adolescence”)
- Best Screenwriter: Dan Erickson (“Severance Season 2”)
- Best Actor: Owen Cooper (“Adolescence”)
- Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (“Disclaimer”) and Kim Min Ha (“Pachinko Season 2”)
International Invitation Category
- Outstanding Asian Star:
- Kim Seon Ho (“The Tyrant”) and Jisoo (“Newtopia”) – South Korea
- Bai Yu (“Bank on Me”) – China
- Film Rachanun Mahawan (“Pluto”) – Thailand
- Daniel Padilla (“Incognito”) – Philippines
- Anna Jobling (“Dear Love”) – Malaysia
K-Drama Competition Category
- Outstanding Korean Drama: “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” and “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (both Netflix)
- Outstanding Korean Actor: Ju Ji Hoon (“The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”)
- Outstanding Korean Actress: IU (“When Life Gives You Tangerines”)
- Outstanding Korean Drama OST: Young Tak – “Unpredictable Life” (“For Eagle Brothers”)
Key Highlights of the Winners
IU won Outstanding Korean Actress for her role in “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” a drama set on Jeju Island that explores themes of family love and personal growth. The jury praised her ability to convey deep emotions beyond a simple romance storyline. Similarly, Ju Ji Hoon won Outstanding Korean Actor for “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” where he played a genius surgeon reviving a trauma team. The series topped Netflix’s global non-English TV show rankings.
International winners included Owen Cooper, the 15-year-old star of “Adolescence,” who became the youngest male winner in Emmy history just days before this award. The series also won the Grand Prize and Best Director for Philip Barantini. Meanwhile, Ben Stiller‘s “Severance Season 2” earned the Golden Bird Prize for its impact on the drama industry, with Dan Erickson winning Best Screenwriter.
Cate Blanchett and Kim Min Ha shared the Best Actress award for their roles in “Disclaimer” and “Pachinko Season 2,” respectively. Kim Min Ha received special recognition for her portrayal of Sunja, a character spanning generations in a Korean family’s migration story.
How to Watch the Awards Ceremony
The 20th Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony will take place on October 2 at 5 PM KST at KBS Hall in Seoul. A red carpet event will feature winners and presenters before the main show. For global viewers, the ceremony will be broadcast on SBS TV at 6 PM KST on October 3 and streamed live on the official SDA YouTube channel. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Background on the Awards
The Seoul International Drama Awards, now in its 20th year, celebrates excellence in television dramas from around the world. This year’s entries included 409 individual submissions, with winners chosen by a jury of industry professionals. The awards aim to highlight works that deepen understanding of humanity and inspire reflection on societal issues.
