SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS: 20th edition with 50 countries competing for 12 awards

The 20th Seoul Drama Awards feature 276 series from 50 countries competing for just 12 awards.

A total of 277 series from 50 countries (or regions) will compete in the 20th edition of the Seoul Drama Awards, aiming to win one of the 12 awards presented for works and individual performances.

The organizing committee of the Seoul Drama Awards (chaired by Bang Moon Shin) stated:

“To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the festival, a total of 276 representative works from 50 countries (or regions) have been submitted. Once again this year, productions from all continents have been entered, further enhancing the prestige of this international ceremony.“

According to the committee, major international OTT platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+, as well as major broadcasters and studios like ZDF Studios GmbH, STUDIOCANAL, and TBS, have presented some of their most prominent works. Some of these have been nominated or awarded at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmy Awards, indicating an even more intense competition than ever before.

Among the works in the international competition are:

Slow Horses 4 (Apple TV+), praised as a “flawless spy thriller” featuring Gary Oldman’s remarkable performance;
Severance Season 2 (Apple TV+), acclaimed for Ben Stiller’s original direction and its intense narrative, which has garnered a loyal audience even in Korea;
Adolescence (Netflix), addressing social issues like incels and social media-related crimes among youth, evoking strong empathy from viewers worldwide;
Asura (Netflix), a drama by renowned director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Like Father, Like Son);
Good Doctor (True CJ Creations, Thailand), a successful adaptation of the Korean drama of the same name.

These works will compete in the categories of TV Movie, Miniseries, and Series.

In the K-Drama category, several Korean series that have resonated internationally are also in the running, including:

When life gives you tangerines (Netflix);
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix);
Lighting Shop (Disney+);
The Tale of Lady Ok (JTBC);
Friendly Rivalry (LG U+);
The Judge from Hell (Studio S);
Doubt (MBC);
What Comes After Love (Coupang Play).

These series, diverse in their genres and narrative styles, demonstrate the breadth and quality of current K-Drama. The majority of these productions are also part of the international competition.

Highly Coveted Individual Awards

The competition is also fierce for individual acting awards in both the international and K-Drama categories, featuring Korean and international stars such as:

IU and Park Bo Gum (When life gives you tangerines);
Lim Ji Yeon (The Tale of Lady Ok);
Ju Ji Hoon (Lighting Shop, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call);
Lee Hyeri (Friendly Rivalry);
Sakaguchi Kentaro (What Comes After Love / Beyond Goodbye);
Greg Hsu (許光漢) (GG Precinct);
Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer);
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses 4);
Anna Torv (The Newsreader 3).

Also noteworthy is the anticipated face-off between renowned directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda (Asura’s Wrath) and Alfonso Cuarón (Disclaimer).

Azerbaijan’s First Participation

This year marks Azerbaijan’s first participation, confirming the festival’s international expansion. Its drama Citizen A, addressing major issues such as civic consciousness and women’s rights, has received praise for its popular appeal and may attract the attention of the international jury.

The 20th Seoul Drama Awards are organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the City of Seoul, as well as KBS, MBC, SBS, EBS, and CBS.

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 2, at KBS Hall (broadcast live on SBS TV and YouTube).

On October 3 and 4, public events will take place around Banpo Hangang Park and Songpa Naru parks, featuring: