The 'Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2025,' one of the world’s largest global drama festivals, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year by recognizing outstanding achievements in television drama from across the globe. Organized by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee (Chairman Bang Moon Shin), the winners were officially announced on September 16.
This year’s awards drew remarkable international attention, with 276 submissions from 50 countries and 409 participants competing in three categories: International Competition, K-Drama Competition, and International Invitation. After weeks of evaluation, the honors were awarded to seven works and 16 individuals, reflecting the diversity and creativity of drama production worldwide.
The highest distinction, the Golden Bird Prize, went to Ben Stiller for his direction of 'Severance Season 2' (Apple TV+, U.S.A.), while the Grand Prize was awarded to 'Adolescence' (Netflix, U.K.), a drama praised for its storytelling and emotional depth.
The '20th Seoul International Drama Awards Ceremony' was held on October 2 at the KBS Hall in Seoul, beginning with a red-carpet event featuring both domestic and international honorees. The event was broadcast worldwide on October 3 via SBS TV and the official YouTube channel, reaching audiences across different continents.
🏆 Top Honors
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Golden Bird Prize: Ben Stiller – 'Severance Season 2' (Apple TV+, U.S.A)
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Grand Prize: 'Adolescence' (Netflix, U.K.)
📍 International Competition Category
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Best TV Movie: The Son (CJ ENM)
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Best Miniseries: 'Pachinko Season 2' (Apple TV+)
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Best Series: 'The Good & The Bad' (AY YAPIM)
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Best Director:
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Hirokazu Koreeda ('Asura')
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Philip Barantini ('Adolescence')
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Best Screenwriter: Dan Erickson ('Severance Season 2')
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Best Actor: Owen Cooper ('Adolescence')
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Best Actress:
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Cate Blanchett ('Disclaimer')
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Kim Min Ha ('Pachinko Season 2')
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📍 K-Drama Competition Category
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Outstanding Korean Drama:
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'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call'
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'When Life Gives You Tangerines'
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Outstanding Korean Actor: Ju Ji Hoon ('The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call')
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Outstanding Korean Actress: IU ('When Life Gives You Tangerines')
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Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T: Young Tak – 'For Eagle Brothers' “Unpredictable Life”
📍 Outstanding Asian Star
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Kim Seon Ho ('The Tyrant')
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Jisoo ('Newtopia')
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Kentaro Sakaguchi ('Beyond Goodbye')
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Yu Bai ('Bank on Me')
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Rachanun Mahawan ('Pluto')
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Daniel Padilla ('Incognito')
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Anna Jobling ('Dear Love')
Marking two decades of honoring excellence in drama, the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 underscored its reputation as a prestigious platform that bridges cultures through storytelling. With winners spanning from Hollywood to Asia, the awards showcased the global appeal of television drama and its power to connect audiences across languages and borders.
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