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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Korean actor Seo Kang-joon wins first grand prize at 2025 MBC Drama Awards

Korean actor Seo Kang-joon wins first grand prize at 2025 MBC Drama Awards

Published Dec 31, 2025 03:52 pm
Seo Kang-joon accepting his award (right) (MBC)
Seo Kang-joon accepting his award (right) (MBC)

Korean actor Seo Kang-joon won his first ever grand prize (“daesang”) in his career at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards on Dec. 30 in Seoul. 

The MBC Drama Awards honored works and actors in dramas that aired on Korean channel MBC in 2025. 

The 32-year-old actor bagged the grand prize for his 12-episode series “Undercover High School,” which achieved its highest rating of 8.3 percent. 

"If I had to say, I'm more embarrassed than happy. I'm so surprised. This drama was my first time filming after serving in the military. I really missed this set. I've been acting for over 10 years, so I thought I should be grateful, but honestly, I've even forgotten that. I've spent countless years in the military, and I've truly missed this place. So, receiving this heavy award for 'Undercover High School' is both surprising and embarrassing,” he said. 

He added, “I often thought I could be replaced at any time. I think I put a lot of thought into acting, but when I look around, there are so many people who work harder than me, so many talented people. I wonder why I'm here, why I'm holding this award, why I'm even on set. I can only think of it as luck. No one knows how long I'll be able to do this job, but until the day I finish, I don't want to be replaced. That's why I'll continue to study and think more earnestly while acting."

All the winners at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards (MBC)
All the winners at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards (MBC)
Seo Kang-joon (MBC)
Seo Kang-joon (MBC)

'”Undercover High School” also won the Drama of the Year award. In addition, Jin Ki-joo won Top Excellence Award in a Miniseries (Actress) while Kim Shin-rok won Best Supporting Actress for the drama. 

The late Lee Soon-jae, who passed away last month, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to 38 MBC productions. 

Here are the winners at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards: 

Grand Prize (Daesang) - Seo Kang-joon, “Undercover High School”

Drama of the Year - “Undercover High School”

Top Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actor) - Kang Tae-oh, 

Top Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actress) - Jin Ki-oo, “Undercover High School”; Kim Se-jeong, “Moon River”

Top Excellence Award, Short or Daily Drama (Actor) - Song Chang-eui, “Desperate Mrs. Seon Ju”

Top Excellence Award, Short or Daily Drama (Actress) - Jang Shin-young, “The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun”

Best Actor - Jung Kyung-ho, “Oh My Ghost Clients”

Best Actress - Lee Se Young, “Motel California”

Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actor) - Na In-woo, “Motel California”

Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actress) - Lee Sun-bin, “To the Moon”

Excellence Award, Short or Daily Drama (Actor) - Oh Chang-suk, “The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun”)

Excellence Award, Short or Daily Drama (Actress)  - Yoon Ah-jung, “The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun”

Best Supporting Actor - Kim Nam-hee, “Moon River”

Best Supporting Actress - Kim Shin-rok, “Undercover High School”

Best New Actor - Lee Chae-min, “Crushology 101”; Lee Sin-young, “Moon River”

Best New Actress - Jo Aram, “To the Moon”; Hong Su Zu, “Moon River”

Lifetime Achievement Award - Lee Soon-jae

Best Couple - Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong, “Moon River”

Best Character Award - Jin Goo, “Moon River”

Lee Shin-young (MBC)
Lee Shin-young (MBC)
Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong (MBC)
Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong (MBC)
Kim Shin-rok (MBC)
Kim Shin-rok (MBC)
Kim Se-jeong (MBC)
Kim Se-jeong (MBC)
Jang Shin-young (MBC)
Jang Shin-young (MBC)
Yoon Ah-jung (MBC)
Yoon Ah-jung (MBC)
Hong Su-zu (MBC)
Hong Su-zu (MBC)
Lee Sun-bin (MBC)
Lee Sun-bin (MBC)
Lee Chae-min (MBC)
Lee Chae-min (MBC)
Na In-woo (MBC)
Na In-woo (MBC)
Kim Nam-hee (MBC)
Kim Nam-hee (MBC)
Jung Kyung-ho (MBC)
Jung Kyung-ho (MBC)
Kang Tae-oh (MBC)
Kang Tae-oh (MBC)
Oh Chang-suk (MBC)
Oh Chang-suk (MBC)
Song Chang-eui (MBC)
Song Chang-eui (MBC)
Jo Aram (MBC)
Jo Aram (MBC)
Jin Goo (MBC)
Jin Goo (MBC)
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