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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Winners at Seoul Int'l Drama Awards 2025 announced: Ben Stiller, 'Adolescence,' Ju Ji-hoon, IU, Kim Seon-ho, Jisoo

Winners at Seoul Int'l Drama Awards 2025 announced: Ben Stiller, 'Adolescence,' Ju Ji-hoon, IU, Kim Seon-ho, Jisoo

Published Sep 16, 2025 08:23 am
The winners at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 (Instagram / SDA Committee)
The winners at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 (Instagram / SDA Committee)

The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee announced the winners of the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025, marking its 20th anniversary. 

Out of 276 entries from 50 countries/regions and 409 individual nominees, the honors were presented to seven titles and sixteen individuals in the International Competition, K-Drama Competition and International Invitation categories. 

The awards’ highest accolade, Golden Bird Prize, went to Ben Stiller, director of Apple TV+’s “Severance” season 2, which also won best screenwriter. “Severance” won eight awards at the 77th Emmy Awards.

The committee said Stiller’s creative and outstanding direction best reflected the Seoul Drama Awards’ mission of presenting works that deepen understanding of humanity and inspire reflection on the path toward harmony. 

Netflix’s “Adolescence” won the grand prize, best director, and best actor in the International Competition. 

Philip Barantini won best director, and Owen Cooper bagged the best actor award. At 15, Cooper became the youngest male winner at the Emmy Awards. 

(Clockwise from top left) Ju Ji-hoon, IU, Cate Blanchett, Kim Minha Kim, Jisoo, Kim Seon-ho, Hirokazu Kore-eda and Kentaro Sakaguchi (SDA Commitee)
(Clockwise from top left) Ju Ji-hoon, IU, Cate Blanchett, Kim Minha Kim, Jisoo, Kim Seon-ho, Hirokazu Kore-eda and Kentaro Sakaguchi (SDA Commitee)
The winners at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 (SDA Committee)
The winners at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 (SDA Committee)
Ben Stiller (Screenshot from Instagram / The Late Show with Stephen Colbert / Ben Stiller)
Ben Stiller (Screenshot from Instagram / The Late Show with Stephen Colbert / Ben Stiller)

The winners of the Outstanding Korean Drama in the K-Drama Competition category are Netflix’s “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” (starring Ju Ji-hoon) and “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (starring Park Bogum and IU).

Ju Ji-hoon is the winner of Outstanding Korean Actor for “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” while IU is the Outstanding Korean Actress for “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” 

The Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T went to “Unpredictable Life” sung by trot singer Young Tak for “Eagle Brothers.” 

The awards ceremony will be held on Oct. 2, 5 p.m. KST, at the KBS Hall in Seoul and will be broadcast on SBS and the official YouTube channel. 

Here are the winners at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025:

Golden Bird Prize - Ben Stiller - Severance Season 2 / Apple TV+

International Competition Category

Grand Prize - Adolescence - Netflix (UK)

Best TV Movie - The Son - CJ ENM (South Korea)

Best Miniseries - Pachinko Season 2 - Apple TV+ (US)

Best Series - The Good & The Bad - AY YAPIM (Turkiye)

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE 

Best Director

Hirokazu Kore-eda - Asura (Japan)

Philip Barantini - Adolescence (UK)

Best Screenwriter - Dan Erickson - Severance Season 2 - (US) 

Best Actor - Owen Cooper - Adolescence (UK)

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett - Disclaimer (UK).

Kim Minha - Pachinko Season 2 (US) 

K-DRAMA COMPETITION CATEGORY

Outstanding Korean Drama 

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call - Netflix

When Life Gives You Tangerines - Netflix

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE

Outstanding Korean - Actor Ju Ji-hoon - The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

Outstanding Korean Actress - IU - When Life Gives You Tangerines

Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T. - Unpredictable Life - Young Tak for “Eagle Brothers”

INTERNATIONAL INVITATION

Outstanding Asian Star

South Korea (Actor) - Kim Seon-ho - The Tyrant - The Walt Disney Company Korea

South Korea (Actress) - Jisoo - Newtopia - Coupang Play

Japan - Kentaro Sakaguchi - Beyond Goodbye - Netflix

China - Yu Bai - Bank on Me - China Huace Film & TV Co. Ltd

Thailand - Film Rachanun Mahawan - Pluto - GMMTV Co. Ltd.

Philippines - Daniel Padilla - Incognito - ABS-CBN Studios

Malaysia - Anna Jobling - Dear Love - Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3)

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