More Korean dramas have captivated millions worldwide with their rich stories, unforgettable characters, and outstanding actors. The main event of the 2025 Korea Drama Festival, the Korea Drama Awards, has announced its winners for its 16th edition. This ceremony honored outstanding dramas and actors, presenting the year’s best in Korean television. Explore the winners of the 16th Korea Drama Awards (KDA) 2025 and find your favorites.
16th Korea Drama Awards (KDA) 2025 Winners
On October 11, the curtains opened at Jinju’s Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center for the 16th Korea Drama Awards. The venue, with its grand performance halls and cultural significance, transformed into the heart of K-drama’s vibrant world. Actors Ryu Seung-soo and Kim Mi-ran co-hosted the show, which was filled with warmth, moving speeches, and lively performances.
Wide Nominee Selection and Fan-Powered Voting
This year, 92 dramas with diversity and energy of Korean storytelling entered the awards nominations. The dramas aired on various public broadcasters, cable channels, and OTT platforms.
Moreover, the final nominees and winners were selected by an expert jury and fan voting, which took place from late August to September 2025.
There are seven main categories celebrating excellence: Best Drama, Best New Actor (male and female), Excellence Actor (male and female), and Best Actor (male and female). In addition to the main awards, there are six popularity categories: Hot Star, Popular Couple, Global Star, Multi-Tainer, and Best OST.
This combination made the ceremony a complete celebration of the industry’s art and passion. The awards shone a spotlight on the best of Korean drama and its rising global influence.
Spotlight on the Winners: Stars Who Shone the Brightest
Ahn Jae-wook received this year’s Grand Prize (Daesang) for his moving and powerful performance on “For Eagle Brothers,” which captured hearts across Korea.
“Our Movie” won the Best Drama Award for its outstanding production quality and storytelling excellence. It beat strong contenders like “Resident Playbook” and “Good Boy.” Its win reflected its soft storytelling and emotional power.
Chung Su-bin won big this year for her outstanding performance in “Friendly Rivalry.” She took home three awards, which include the Best New Actress Award, the Hot Star Award, and the Best Couple Award (with Lee Hyeri). The Popular Couple Award: Celebrated romantic pairs from dramas such as Buried Hearts and Friendly Rivalry gained special fans’ attention.
Following Chung Su-bin, Byun Woo-seok, a fan favorite admired for his dynamic roles this year, earned the Global Star Award and the Hot Star Award.
Young Tak won Best OST for his soulful track “Unpredictable Life” from “For Eagle Brothers,” which stood out as a memorable soundtrack of 2025.
See the complete list of winners for the 16th Korean Drama Awards 2025 below.
List of Winners
Grand Prize (Daesang)
- Ahn Jae-wook (“For Eagle Brothers”)
Best Drama
- “Our Movie”
Top Excellence Award:
- Park Bo-young (“Our Unwritten Seoul”)
- Yook Sung-jae (“The Haunted Palace”)
Excellence Award
- Kim Ji-yeon (“The Haunted Palace”)
- Lee Hyun-wook (“Shark: The Storm”)
Scene Stealer Award
- Lee Ho-jung (“Good Boy”)
- Lee Hae-young (“Unmasked”, “Buried Hearts”)
Best New Actress and Actor
- Chung Su-bin (“Friendly Rivalry”)
- Hong Hwa-yeon (“Buried Hearts”, “Tastefully Yours”, “I Am a Running Mate”)
- Choo Young-woo (“The Tale of Lady Ok”, “Head Over Heels”)
- Heo Nam-jun (“When the Phone Rings”, “When the Stars Gossip”)
Hot Star Award
- Chung Su-bin
- Byeon Woo-seok
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Kim Yong-rim
Best Villain
- Oh Jung-se (“Good Boy”)
Global Star Award
- Byeon Woo-seok
Best Couple
- Lee Hyeri and Chung Su-bin (“Friendly Rivalry”)
Best Soundtrack
- Young Tak (“For Eagle Brothers”)
Multitainer Award
- Park Jae-chan
Did you find your favorite actor/actress on the list? Please share with us in the comments below.
If you missed the show or just want to relive the magic, watch it again on the YouTube channel of the Korea Drama Festival. Here’s your front-row pass to the show that celebrated the heart of Korean storytelling.
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