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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Winners at 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards honored

Winners at 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards honored

Published Oct 2, 2025 09:43 pm
2025 Seoul International Drama Awards winners (clockwise from top left) IU, Ju JI-hoon, Filipino actor Daniel Padilla and Kim Minha (Photos: SDA, screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
2025 Seoul International Drama Awards winners (clockwise from top left) IU, Ju JI-hoon, Filipino actor Daniel Padilla and Kim Minha (Photos: SDA, screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)

Stars hit the red carpet and attended the awarding ceremony of the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) held at the KBS Hall in Seoul, South Korea on Oct. 2. 

The winners of the SDA in different categories were present to receive their awards at the ceremony hosted by Jang Doyeon and Ok Taecyeon. 

Attending the ceremony were winners IU, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Minha, Daniel Padilla from the Philippines, Kentaro Sakaguchi from Japan, Film Rachanun Mahawan from Thailand and Anna Jobling from Malaysia.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Moon-shin Bang of the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee said, “Launched in 2006 as the world’s first awards ceremony dedicated solely to drama, the Seoul International Drama Awards has grown into a global platform for drama exchange, with this year’s participation including 276 works from 50 countries and regions. It is all the more meaningful that Korean dramas stand at the very center of this achievement.”

Korean actress Yeom Hye-ran (left) hugs IU (Photo: SDA)
Korean actress Yeom Hye-ran (left) hugs IU (Photo: SDA)
The winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards (Photo: SDA)
The winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards (Photo: SDA)
K-Drama Competition best actress winner IU (Photo: SDA)
K-Drama Competition best actress winner IU (Photo: SDA)
K-Drama Competition best actor winner Ju Ji-hoon (Photo: SDA)
K-Drama Competition best actor winner Ju Ji-hoon (Photo: SDA)
Announcement of the Golden Bird Prize winner (Photo: SDA)
Announcement of the Golden Bird Prize winner (Photo: SDA)
International Competition best actress winner Kim Minha (Photo: SDA)
International Competition best actress winner Kim Minha (Photo: SDA)
Emcees Jang Doyeon and Ok Taecyeon (Photo: SDA)
Emcees Jang Doyeon and Ok Taecyeon (Photo: SDA)
Trot singer Young Tak (Photo: SDA)
Trot singer Young Tak (Photo: SDA)

K-Drama

In the K-Drama Competition Category, Korean actress Yeom Hye-ran presented the awards to IU and Ju Ji-hoon who won best actress and best actor, respectively. 

Ju Ji-hoon, who won the award for Outstanding Korean Actor for his role in “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” said, “I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the medical staff at real trauma centers who continue to save lives every day. I worked hard to bring action, wit, and sincerity to my role in the drama. I am also deeply grateful to Director Lee Do-yoon, who carried the project through to the very end despite many challenges.”

IU, who received the award for Outstanding Korean Actress for her role in “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” said, “I sincerely thank writer Lim Sang-choon, director Kim Won-seok, and all the staff for their dedication. It was an honor to work alongside such esteemed senior actors and colleagues as Kim Yong-rim, Na Moon-hee, and Yeom Hye-ran. The time I spent on ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ will remain a great source of pride and honor in my life.”

Golden Bird Prize

The Golden Bird Prize, the highest honor of the Seoul International Drama Awards, was presented to director and actor Ben Stiller. 

Accepting the award via a video message due to filming commitments, he said, “It is a great honor to be recognized in Korea, a country where so many works that have inspired me over the years have been created. I extend my respect to the creators who continue to craft humanistic and aesthetically refined stories.”

Outstanding Asian Star 

Padilla, Sakaguchi, Mahawan and Jobling attended the ceremony as winners of the Outstanding Asian Star award selected through global votes.  

“First and foremost, thank you, Lord. I'm truly honored to be here tonight to receive this award. Thank you so much Seoul International Drama Awards for this recognition,” said Padilla, star of “Incognito.” 

Outstanding Asian Star winners (Photo: SDA)
Outstanding Asian Star winners (Photo: SDA)
Filipino actor Daniel Padilla, winner of the Outstanding Asian Star (Philippines), at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
Filipino actor Daniel Padilla, winner of the Outstanding Asian Star (Philippines), at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
Outstanding Asian Star winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony: (from left) Film Rachanun Mahawan (Thailand), Daniel Padilla (Philippines), Anna Jobling (Malaysia) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Japan). (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
Outstanding Asian Star winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony: (from left) Film Rachanun Mahawan (Thailand), Daniel Padilla (Philippines), Anna Jobling (Malaysia) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Japan). (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
Film Rachanun Mahawan of Thailand at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Instagram/GMMTV)
Film Rachanun Mahawan of Thailand at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Instagram/GMMTV)
Outstanding Asian Star winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony: (from left) Film Rachanun Mahawan (Thailand), Daniel Padilla (Philippines), Anna Jobling (Malaysia) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Japan). (Screenshot from SDA video on YouTube)
Outstanding Asian Star winners at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony: (from left) Film Rachanun Mahawan (Thailand), Daniel Padilla (Philippines), Anna Jobling (Malaysia) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Japan). (Screenshot from SDA video on YouTube)
Filipino actor Daniel Padilla, winner of the Outstanding Asian Star (Philippines), at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)
Filipino actor Daniel Padilla, winner of the Outstanding Asian Star (Philippines), at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony in Seoul on Oct. 2 (Screenshot from The K-pop video on YouTube)

Among the presenters were Seohyun, Lee Yo-won, Chuu, Koo Sung-hwan, Moon Sung-hyun, and Cha Ni. 

The ceremony featured a deeply moving performance by renowned Korean vocalist Jang Sa-ik. Additional performances were by ILLIT, Urban Zakapa, and award-winner trot singer Young Tak. 

The 20th Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony  was hosted by the Korean Broadcasters Association and the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. 

Meanwhile, from Oct. 3 to 4, the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 “Drama Festa” will take place at Banpo Hangang Park and Seokchon Lake West (Songpa Naru Park).

The festival will feature a star-studded lineup, including an OST concert with Roy Kim, UV (Yoo Se-yoon, Muzie), and Jung-in & Harim, as well as talk concerts with “When Life Gives You Tangerines” actors Min-ae Oh and Kum-soon Kim, and Kim Ji-hoon from “The Haunted Palace” and “Butterfly.”

With a variety of programs, the festival aims to create meaningful interactions with audiences. “Drama Festa” is open to all and free of charge. 

Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 Winners

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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