The Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 brought together television talent from across Asia and around the world, recognizing performers and productions across its International and K-Drama categories.
The 20th year of the awards featured a diverse group of winners, including seven Outstanding Asian Stars, two Outstanding Korean Dramas, and a selection of internationally recognized programs such as “Adolescence”, “Pachinko” season 2, and “The Good & The Bad.”
Here is the full list of winners from the Outstanding Asian Star, K-Drama Competition, and Program Awards categories.
Outstanding Asian Star Winners
Seven performers from across Asia were named Outstanding Asian Stars at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards. The category is part of the International Invitation section of the awards.
• Kim Seon-ho: The Tyrant
South Korean actor Kim Seon-ho received the Outstanding Asian Star award for his work in The Tyrant. The series is about rival forces who are hunting for a mysterious sample of a secret Korean government program designed to create a superhuman weapon.
• Jisoo: Newtopia
Jisoo was recognized as an Outstanding Asian Star for the South Korean series Newtopia, about a young couple separated during a zombie outbreak fights through a chaotic Seoul while trying to reunite.
• Kentaro Sakaguchi: Beyond Goodbye
Japan’s Kentaro Sakaguchi received the award for Beyond Goodbye, a Netflix production. The series tackles a grieving woman who forms an unexpected connection with the man who received her late fiance’s heart.
• Yu Bai: Bank on Me
Chinese actor Yu Bai was honored for Bank on Me, a financial drama following people whose careers, ambitions and personal relationships collide in the competitive banking world.
• Film Rachanun Mahawan: Pluto
Thailand was represented by Film Rachanun Mahawan, who received the Outstanding Asian Star award for Pluto, produced by GMMTV. The series talks about two university students who uncovered secrets surrounding a mysterious incident.
• Daniel Padilla: Incognito
The Philippines’ Daniel Padilla was among the seven recipients, earning the recognition for ABS-CBN’s Incognito: A team of highly skilled operatives who went undercover for a dangerous mission.
• Anna Jobling: Dear Love
Malaysia’s Anna Jobling completed the 2025 Outstanding Asian Star lineup with her recognition for romantic drama Dear Love.
The seven fan-favorite winners represented South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, giving the category a distinctly pan-Asian lineup.
K-Drama Competition Winners
Two Netflix productions shared the Outstanding Korean Drama honor in 2025: “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” and “When Life Gives You Tangerines”.
• Outstanding Korean Dramas
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call — Netflix
The medical drama received the Outstanding Korean Drama award. The series is about a genius surgeon who assembles a team to save lives while transforming a struggling hospital’s emergency unit.
When Life Gives You Tangerines — Netflix
The Netflix drama also received Outstanding Korean Drama, giving the category two winners in 2025. The drama is set on Jeju Island, following Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s story as their love, family and dreams unfold through the changing decades.
• Outstanding Korean Actor — Ju Ji-hoon
Ju Ji-hoon won Outstanding Korean Actor for his performance in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
• Outstanding Korean Actress — IU
IU received Outstanding Korean Actress for When Life Gives You Tangerines. She played two characters: Ae Sun and Geum Myeong.
• Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T — YOUNGTAK
The Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T award went to YOUNGTAK for “Unpredictable Life,” from the KBS drama For Eagle Brothers.
Program Awards
The Program Awards formed part of the International Competition, recognizing productions in several formats. The 2025 winners included productions from the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United States and Türkiye.
• Grand Prize — Adolescence
Netflix’s British drama Adolescence received the Grand Prize at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards.
The series also collected two individual International Competition awards. Philip Barantini won Best Director, while Owen Cooper won Best Actor, giving Adolescence three awards across the International Competition.
• TV Movie — The Son
The Son won the TV Movie award.
• Miniseries — Pachinko season 2
Apple TV+’s Pachinko season 2 received the Miniseries award. The drama also earned an individual acting honor, with Minha Kim winning Best Actress for her performance in the series.
• Series — The Good & The Bad
Türkiye’s The Good & The Bad, produced by AY YAPIM, won the Series award.
Golden Bird Prize
Hollywood actor and director Ben Stiller received the Golden Bird Prize, the highest honor of the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards, for his direction of Apple TV+’s Severance: Season 2.
Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 Winners at a Glance
Outstanding Asian Star| Kim Seon-ho| The Tyrant
Outstanding Asian Star| Jisoo| Newtopia
Outstanding Asian Star| Kentaro Sakaguchi| Beyond Goodbye
Outstanding Asian Star| Yu Bai| Bank on Me
Outstanding Asian Star| Film Rachanun Mahawan| Pluto
Outstanding Asian Star| Daniel Padilla| Incognito
Outstanding Asian Star| Anna Jobling| Dear Love
Outstanding Korean Drama| The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call| Netflix
Outstanding Korean Drama| When Life Gives You Tangerines| 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 O.S.T| YOUNGTAK — “Unpredictable Life”| For Eagle Brothers
Grand Prize| Adolescence| Netflix
TV Movie| The Son| CJ ENM
Miniseries| Pachinko S2| Apple TV+
Series| The Good & The Bad| AY YAPIM
Golden Bird Prize | Ben Stiller | Severance: Season 2
A Night Spanning Korean, Asian and International Drama
The 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards reflected the increasingly international nature of television drama. The Outstanding Asian Star category brought together performers from six Asian countries, while the K-Drama Competition highlighted Korean productions and performers.
The International Competition, meanwhile, recognized programs ranging from the British production Adolescence to South Korea’s The Son and Turkish production The Good & The Bad. The official SDA announcement said the 2025 competition received 276 entries from 50 countries and regions.
Leave a Reply