Where East Meets West—On Screen
This year’s Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2025 has unveiled its winners, and the spotlight is brighter (and more global) than ever. Held annually in Korea, the SDA crowns the crème de la crème of international and Korean drama—with this year boasting entries from 50 countries, a whopping 276 submitted works, and 409 participants.
Ben Stiller Nabs Top Prize for ‘Severance’ Season 2
Believe it. Ben Stiller, known more for laughter than psychological suspense, took home the festival’s top honor—the coveted Golden Bird Prize—for his direction in Severance Season 2 (Apple TV+). The drama, which imagines a world where memories are surgically divided between work and personal life, also won Best Screenplay.
“He captured the inner humanity with breathtaking creativity and precision,” the SDA committee praised, adding that the show represented the award’s mission: fostering a deeper understanding of the human condition.
‘Adolescence’ Sweeps with a Social Punch
Netflix’s Adolescence made waves in the International Competition category, grabbing three major awards: Grand Prize, Best Direction, and Best Actor for Owen Cooper. Directed by Philip Barantini, it tackles teen crime, gender conflicts, and online bullying head-on—with critics applauding its one-take shooting style and raw emotional gravity.
K-dramas Take the Crown at Home
In the K-Drama category, two Netflix hits stole hearts:
- Trauma Code: A gripping medical drama starring Ju Ji-hoon as a genius surgeon reviving a failing trauma team. Ju’s intense performance won him Best Actor. The show topped Netflix Korea and conquered global non-English rankings.
- Goodbye Earth (Korean title: Otsukaresama): A warm, multi-generational tale set in Jeju Island, earning IU Best Actress for her nuanced portrayal of Esun. Cinematography was praised as “like watercolor.”
Pachinko, Cate Blanchett, and Other International Favorites
Pachinko Season 2, Apple TV+’s Korean-American epic, earned Mini-Series Best Drama and a Best Actress nod for Kim Min-ha. Sharing the acting spotlight was none other than Cate Blanchett for Disclaimer: The Silence of Summer.
“Her ability to take over the screen with pure emotion is unmatched,” said the judges of Blanchett. For Kim Min-ha, the praise was poetic: “A rare talent who embodies vulnerability and strength in a glance.”
Katakana to Hangul: Asia Star Honors
The Asia Star Awards—chosen by global fans via IDOL CHAMP—celebrated a diverse set of actors from seven countries. The Korean winners? Kim Seon-ho for Tyrant and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo for her role in Newtopia.
Also honored: Japanese heartthrob Kento Sakaguchi, Chinese actor Bai Yu, Thai breakout Film Rachanun, Filipino fan-favorite Daniel Padilla, and Malaysia’s rising star Anna Jobling.
And the Music Played On…
Don’t forget the OST! Trot singer Youngtak took home Best Original Song for “I Don’t Understand Life,” featured in the lively weekend drama Please Take Care of My Brothers.
Mark Your Calendar
The big night? October 2 at KBS Hall in Seoul—red carpet glam included. The ceremony airs globally on October 3 via SBS and the official YouTube channel. Dress code: emotional resilience. Because let’s face it, some of these dramas hit hard.
One Stage, Countless Stories
The Seoul Drama Awards 2025 wasn’t just a list of winners—it was a celebration of storytelling that transcends borders, languages, and streaming platforms. As K-drama continues to level up in prestige and global reach, one question lingers:
Which show will you be bingeing next?
