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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Survey names IU best drama actor of the year, Lee Byung-hun best movie actor

Survey names IU best drama actor of the year, Lee Byung-hun best movie actor

Published Nov 8, 2025 06:20 pm
(Clockwise from top left) Yoona, IU, Yeom Hye-ran, Jo Jung-suk, Lee Byung-hun and Park Jung-min (Instagram, Netflix, tvN)
(Clockwise from top left) Yoona, IU, Yeom Hye-ran, Jo Jung-suk, Lee Byung-hun and Park Jung-min (Instagram, Netflix, tvN)

Singer and actress IU, star of the hit series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” has been named the best Korean drama actor of the year in a survey. 

To celebrate its 21st anniversary, Korean media outlet Joy News 24, an entertainment and business newspaper, conducted a survey from Oct. 13 to 19, asking respondents what dramas, variety shows, movies, actors, and singers that shined in 2025. 

The survey was conducted among 110 industry professionals, including entertainment and broadcasting company employees, film and broadcast content producers, and entertainment reporters. 

IU topped the survey for best drama actor of the year with 23 votes. The same survey named “When Life Gives You Tangerines” as the best Korean drama of the year. 

“IU received rave reviews for her portrayal of everything from a young teenager who couldn't even utter a single word to a young woman struggling to survive after giving birth to three children, to the heartbreaking love of a mother weeping over the loss of her child,” Joy News 24 wrote. 

She won best actress at this year's Blue Dragon Series Awards and in the K-drama category at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

IU and Yeom Hye-ran in
IU and Yeom Hye-ran in "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (Netflix)
Yoona (tvN)
Yoona (tvN)
Yeom Hye-ran (Instagram)
Yeom Hye-ran (Instagram)
IU (Netflix)
IU (Netflix)
IU (Netflix)
IU (Netflix)
Park Bo-young (Instagram)
Park Bo-young (Instagram)

Yeom Hye-ran, who played the role of IU’s mother in “When Life Gives You Tangerines” garnered 19 votes to place second. 

“Yeom Hye-ran appeared briefly but brought viewers to tears with her powerful performance. She literally stole the show,” the media outlet stated. 

Yeom Hye-ran won best supporting actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Series Awards, and Global OTT Awards.

Yoona, star of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,” garnered third place with 11 votes. 

“Yoona is now practically a guaranteed hit on the small screen. She's the primary contributor to three consecutive box office hits, from ‘Big Mouth’ to ‘King the Land, and finally, ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,’” reported Joy News 24. 

Park Bo-young, star of “Our Unwritten Seoul” came in fourth with nine votes, followed by actor Han Suk-kyu of “Shin's Project” with six votes. 

Ju Ji-hoon and Choo Young-woo of “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” Lee Chae-min of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” and Park Bogum of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” also entered the survey. 

Best movie actor of the year 

Lee Byung-hun, star of “No Other Choice”  was named by the survey respondents as the best Korean movie actor of the year, garnering 38 votes. 

Jo Jung-suk, who starred in “My Daughter is a Zombie,” garnered second place in the survey with 14 votes. “My Daughter is a Zombie” has sold 5.63 million tickets in South Korea.  

Actor Park Jung-min ranked third in the survey with seven votes, followed by actress Yeom Hye-ran and Kim Go-eun who received six votes each to place fourth. 

Kang Ha-neul received four votes while Lee Sung-min got two votes. 

Also entering the survey were Park Ji-hwan, Shin Ye-eun, Song Hye-kyo, Park Ji-hyun, Jo Yeo-jeong, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Jung-eun, Yoona, Kim Sung-chul, Lee Hye-young, Song Kang-ho, Kim Hye-soo, Park Gyu-young, Ma Dong-seok, Lee Jae-in, Jo Woo-jin, Song Joong-ki, Jeon Do-yeon, and Noh Yoon-seo. 

, Jo Jung-suk (Instagram)
, Jo Jung-suk (Instagram)
Kim Go-eun (Instagram)
Kim Go-eun (Instagram)
Kang Ha-neul (Instagram)
Kang Ha-neul (Instagram)
Lee Byung-hun (Instagram)
Lee Byung-hun (Instagram)
Park Jung-min (Instagram)
Park Jung-min (Instagram)
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