The 20th Seoul International Drama Awards

Apple TV+'s <Severance: Season 2> Ben Stiller Wins ‘Golden Bird Prize’

· Netflix's <Adolescence> Takes Grand Prize

-IU and Ji-hoon Ju Win K-Drama Acting Prizes

-Cate Blanchett, Minha Kim, Owen Cooper and Hirokazu Kore-eda Lead a Star-Studded Winners’ Lineup

-Outstanding Asian Star Reveals Fan Favorites: BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Film Rachanun Mahawan Among Winners

  The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee (Chairman Moon-shin Bang) announced the winners of the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025, marking its 20th anniversary. Out of 276 submissions from 50 countries/regions and 409 individual nominees, the honors were presented to only seven titles and sixteen individuals across the International Competition, K-Drama Competition and International Invitation categories. The awards’ highest accolade, Golden Bird Prize, went to Ben Stiller, director of Apple TV+ <Severance S2>.

■ <Severance S2>, Wins Two Awards: Golden Bird Prize and Best Screenwriter

 Apple TV+’s original series <Severance: Season 2> portrays the dystopian realities of modern workplace life through the unique concept of “memory separation surgery” and drew significant attention with direction by acclaimed Hollywood actor Ben Stiller. This psychological thriller, which explores the duality of human identity through the split between the work self, “Innie,” and the personal self, “Outie,” earned global recognition for its excellence, sweeping eight awards including acting and technical categories at the 77th Emmy Awards.

 The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee stated that Ben Stiller’s creative and outstanding direction best reflects the Seoul Drama Awards’ mission of presenting works that deepen understanding of humanity and inspire reflection on the path toward harmony. Multiple titles from Apple TV+ were featured at this year’s Seoul International Drama Awards, a rare sight in Korean award shows, and won the Golden Bird Prize, sparking anticipation among Korean viewers.

■ <Adolescence>, Sweeps Three Awards Including Grand Prize

 Netflix’s <Adolescence> won the Grand Prize, Best Director, and Best Actor in the International Competition — a remarkable three-prize sweep. The series tackles pressing social issues affecting today’s you unflinching portrayal of adolescent rage and confusion, delivered with immersive one-take cinematography. Philip Barantini received Best Director, and Owen Cooper was named Best Actor, affirming the series' strength in direction, storytelling, and performance.

 Notably, Owen Cooper, who became the youngest-ever male winner at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 15, drew worldwide acclaim as a rising star. Despite being only 15 years old and appearing in his debut role in Netflix’s <Adolescence>, he showcased extraordinary acting talent, establishing himself as one of the most promising next-generation actors.

■ Netflix Sweeps K-Drama Competition Category: <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call>•Ji-hoon Ju, <When Life Gives You Tangerines>•IU

 Outstanding Korean Drama in the K-Drama Competition category went to Netflix’s <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call> and <When Life Gives You Tangerines>. Outstanding Korean Actor and Actress honors were claimed by Ji-hoon Ju and IU for their standout performances.

 <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call>, adapted from a webtoon, follows genius surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon) as he revives a struggling trauma team. Praised for its immersive storytelling, thrilling action, and emotional depth, the series topped Netflix Korea’s Top 10 and ranked first in the global non-English TV show category.

 <When Life Gives You Tangerines> similarly captivated audiences and critics, portraying the adventurous lives of a boy and a girl from Jeju Island across four seasons. The series highlights enduring parental love, marital affection, and neighborly kindness through changing times. The jury noted that the cinematography elegantly captured the inner worlds of Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Bo-gum Park), and IU delivered a performance that conveyed emotional depth beyond a simple romance.

 The Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T went to singer YOUNGTAK for his rendition of ‘Unpredictable Life’ in KBS 2TV’s weekend drama <For Eagle Brothers>, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes with his distinctive voice.

■ <Pachinko S2> Wins Two Awards: Best Miniseries & Best Actress

 <Pachinko S2> secured two major honors this year, taking home the Best Miniseries and Best Actress for Minha Kim. Based on the novel by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee, Apple TV+’s <Pachinko> traces the generational experiences of a family from the Japanese colonial period to the present, exploring their migration journeys. The series was praised for its delicate portrayal of personal stories within historical events, offering a balanced perspective on immigrant identity and universal human narratives.

 Minha Kim, who portrayed Sunja in <Pachinko>, received high praise from the jury, who stated, ‘She has a gift for conveying an entire rainbow of emotions with a single guileless look. Her performance demonstrates a remarkable blend of softness and strength, boldness and subtlety.’ Her performance earned her the first Best Actress Award of her career.

■ Story of a Son’s Revenge Against His Father, AY YAPIM’s <The Good & The Bad> Wins Best Series

 AY YAPIM’s <The Good & The Bad> follows the story of a genius mathematician struggling to confront his father’s dangerous schemes. Acclaimed actor Aras Bulut Iynemli and Uğur Polat starred in the series, generated significant buzz before its premiere. The show aired for eight months on Sunday prime-time and achieved high popularity across Turkiye. The jury praised the series, stating that ‘the interplay between past and present is handled with subtle precision, making the show feel not only well-made but also deeply engaging.’ They also highlighted the show’s exceptional ability to resolve conflicts despite a highly intricate narrative structure.

■ Most Original and Impressive: CJ ENM <The Son> Wins Best TV Movie

 <The Son> is part of tvN’s TV Movie series, telling the story of a self-centered man who takes on the role of a father protecting his son in virtual reality. Through this journey, he confronts shocking truths and experiences the depths of paternal love and atonement. The work has also attracted attention at international film festivals such as WorldFest-Houston and BIFFF, leaving a fresh and powerful impression on the jury. The panel praised the series, stating, ‘Among all the entries in the TV Movie category, this was the most original and impressive. Combined with strong performances, it is an impressive work that resonates with the demands of contemporary society.’

■ Hirokazu Kore-eda and Cate Blanchett Unite for Drama in Seoul

 Hirokazu Kore-eda received the Best Director in the International Competition for <Asura>, sharing the honor with Philip Barantini for <Adolescence>. Kore-eda, a Palme d’Or and Cannes Jury Prize winner, has earned a devoted global following through films such as <Shoplifters> and <Like Father, Life Son>. <Asura> was praised for ‘subtly capturing complex family relationships and the tension of 1970s Japan, especially the restrictive roles expected of women, with exceptional artistry.’

 The Best Actress in the International Competition was jointly awarded to Minha Kim for <Pachinko S2> and Cate Blanchett for <Disclaimer>. Blanchett, renowned for films like <The Lord of the Rings> and <The Curious Case of Benjamin Button> in Korea, has won numerous awards and served as Cannes Jury President. The jury noted, ‘Only Cate Blanchett could deal with a script this abominable and her ability to command the screen with her profound emotional range is astounding.’

 Kore-eda and Blanchett first met when <Shoplifters> won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and audiences are eager to see if the two masters will reunite in Seoul this October.

■ ‘Outstanding Asian Star’ Selected by Global Fans

 Outstanding Asian Star, determined entirely by fan votes, concluded a fierce month-long competition, ultimately selecting seven winners representing six countries. In South Korea, Seonho Kim earned the honor for his remarkable performance in <The Tyrant>, where he showcased a new acting transformation as an elite agent, while Jisoo was recognized for her portrayal of ‘Young-joo,’ a character showing independent growth in <Newtopia>.

 Kentaro Sakaguchi, Best Lead Actor at last month’s Global OTT Awards for <What Comes After Love>, was once again honored by fans for his performance in <Beyond Goodbye>. This marks an impressive achievement, with two acclaimed roles in a single year. Film Rachanun Mahawan, who won wide acclaim alongside Namtan Tipnaree Weerawatnodom for <Pluto>, Daniel Padilla, who demonstrated a new side as an action actor in <Incognito>, Malaysia’s rising star Anna Jobling, who claimed the Outstanding Asian Star Prize for <Dear Love>, and Yu Bai from China, recognized for his highly skilled performance in <Bank on Me>, also took home the honors.

 Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 20th Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony will be held at KBS Hall at 5 PM on Thursday, October 2. A red carpet event featuring winners and presenters will take place just before the ceremony. The awards show will be broadcast worldwide at 6 PM on Friday, October 3 on official SDA YouTube channel and SBS TV(Korean terrestrial channel).

Here is the full list of winners of the Seoul International Drama Awards 2025.

▣ Golden Bird Prize

Ben Stiller(<Severance S2>) / Apple TV+ / U.S.A

▣ International Competition Category

▶ Grand Prize

Netflix <Adolescence> / U.K.

▶ Program Prize

Best TV Movie

CJ ENM <The Son> / South Korea

Best Miniseries

Apple TV+ <Pachinko S2> / U.K.

Series

AY YAPIM <The Good & The Bad> / Turkiye

▶ Individual Prize

Best Director

Hirokazu Kore-eda <Asura>

Philip Barantini <Adolescence>

Best Screenwriter

Dan Erickson <Severance S2>

Best Actor

Owen Cooper <Adolescence>

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett <Disclaimer>

Minha Kim <Pachinko S2>

▣ International Invitation

▶ Outstanding Asian Star

Seonho Kim <The Tyrant>, Jisoo <Newtopia> / South Korea

Kentaro Sakaguchi <Beyond Goodbye> / Japan

Yu Bai <Bank on Me> / China

Film Rachanun Mahawan <Pluto> / Thailand

Daniel Padilla <Incognito> / Philippines

Anna Jobling <Dear Love> / Malaysia

▣ K-Drama Competition Category

▶ Outstanding Korean Drama

Netflix <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call>

Netflix <When Life Gives You Tangerines>

▶ Individual Prize

Outstanding Korean Actor

Ji-hoon Ju <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call>

Outstanding Korean Actress

IU <When Life Gives You Tangerines>

Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T

YOUNGTAK <For Eagle Brothers> / ‘Unpredictable Life’

※Attachments 1. SDA 2025 Awards Winners List

   2. SDA 2025 Awards Winners Catalog

   3. SDA 2025 Jury Members List