The 2025 Seoulcon APAN Star Awards successfully concluded.
On the 29th, the ‘2025 SEOULCON APAN STAR AWARDS with KS Autoplan’ took place at Art Hall 1, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. The event was hosted by the Korea Entertainment Management Association and the Seoul Business Agency, and organized by Modern Village Co., Ltd. and Guardians Company Co., Ltd. Actor Kim Seung-woo and broadcaster Park Sun-young hosted the ceremony.
The awards ceremony was energized by performances from CLASS:y member Chaewon and actress Jung Young-joo. Actors and industry figures who illuminated K-Dramas throughout the year participated as awardees and presenters, transforming the event into a comprehensive festival of the 2025 drama industry.
This year, the awards considered all domestic drama content aired from November 2024 to October 2025, spanning terrestrial, comprehensive, cable, OTT, and web dramas. Nominees were judged to select the awardees. With fierce competition, many works that garnered global success and buzz were nominated.
The Grand Prize at the 11th APAN Star Awards was awarded to IU. IU began her acceptance speech, stating, “‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ is a proud and precious work that remains like an honor just for participating.”
She continued, “Our work is about people living each day faithfully. I sincerely hope that a brilliant reward, like the rapeseed flower field Ae-soon and Gwan-sik walked through, awaits in the lives of viewers who supported, understood, and empathized with those lives. May you be truly blessed throughout 2025.”
Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ received the Best Work Award, sweeping the most accolades at the ceremony, including the Grand Prize, Directing Award, Outstanding Male Performance in a Mid-Length Drama, New Artist Award, and Teen Actor Award.
Actors delivered outstanding performances in both long- and mid-length drama categories. The awards for Best Male and Female Performance in a Mid-Length Drama went to Lee Jun-ho (tvN’s ‘Typhoon Company’) and Cha Joo-young (TVING’s ‘Queen Wonkyung’). For long-length dramas, Ahn Jae-wook (KBS2’s ‘Please Take Care of the Five Eagles’) and Eom Ji-won (KBS2’s ‘Please Take Care of the Five Eagles’) were honored.
Excellent Performance Awards were also presented to noteworthy actors. In the mid-length drama category, Lee Jun-Young (Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, KBS2’s ’24 Hour Health Club’) and Shin Ye-eun (Disney+’s ‘Turbulence’, JTBC’s ‘A Hundred Memories’) took home the awards. For long-length dramas, Seo Ha-jun (MBC’s ‘The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun’) and Park Eun-hye (KBS1’s ‘Mary and the Weird Dads’) were winners.
Additionally, Male Acting Awards were presented to Go Kyoo-pil (Netflix’s ‘All Will Come True’, KBS2’s ‘Twelve’) and Yoon Kyung-ho (Netflix’s ‘Severe Trauma Center’), while Female Acting Awards went to Kim Shin-rok (MBC’s ‘Undercover High School’, ENA’s ‘Your Taste’) and Oh Na-ra (KBS2’s ‘Nation of Villains’, JTBC’s ‘The Good Guy’).
The Short Drama Acting Award was claimed by Jung Gun-joo (KBS2’s ‘KBS Drama Special 2024 – When You Turn the Corner’). Web Drama Acting Awards were given to Kim Ki-hyun (Pulse-Pick’s ‘No MZ for Old People’) and Park Ha-sun (Pulse-Pick’s ‘Useless Love’, Pulse-Pick’s ‘Psychopath Yeo Soon-jeong’).
The meaningful Male Rookie Awards, bestowed only once, honored Kang Yoo-seok (tvN’s ‘Someday Wise Resident Life’, Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’) and Lee Chae-min (tvN’s ‘Tyrant’s Chef’, MBC’s ‘Bunny and Her Bros’). Female Rookie Awards went to Ha Young (Netflix’s ‘Severe Trauma Center’, KBS2’s ‘Face Me’) and Hong Hwa-yeon (SBS’s ‘Treasure Island’, ENA’s ‘Your Taste’, TVING’s ‘Running Mate’).
Promising Youth Actor Awards were presented to Kim Tae-yeon (Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’) and Lee Cheon-moo (Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’). Additionally, Jang Hyun (tvN’s ‘Typhoon Company’) received the Writer Award, and Kim Won-seok earned the Directing Award for Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, recognizing their contributions to the work’s completeness.
Winners in six Idol Champ categories, determined by fan voting, were also announced. Lee Jun-ho and Kim Hye-yoon won Popularity Awards for Male and Female Actors, respectively. Lee Jun-ho also received the Global Star Award. The Best Couple Award went to Lee Hye-ri and Jung Soo-bin (‘Friendly Competition’), the Best OST Award to Lim Young-woong (‘More Beautiful Than Heaven’), and the Best Entertainer Award to Cha Eun-woo, all showcasing their immense global appeal.
Furthermore, Jin-young and Jung Soo-bin were presented with the KS Autoplan Asia Star Award, and Han Ji-eun received the KS Autoplan Icon Award, recognizing their achievements throughout the year. The Global Influencer Award, honoring influencers who elevated global content, was given to Dda-dda and Hui-hui in the overseas category, and to Kim Pro, Yu Baek-hap, and Park Il-seo in the domestic category.
Image source: 2025 Seoulcon APAN Star Awards Organizing Committee
