The 15th Korea Drama Awards awash the shining world of Korean Dramas on October 12, 2024 at Gyeongnam Culture & Art Center. This prestigious event celebrated the best in K-entertainment, commemorating superb performances and heart-racing storylines that lit up our screens over the last year.
The Grand Prize Goes To…
The night’s most prestigious award, the Daesang (Grand Prize), went to multi-talented Honey Lee for her performance last year in “Knight Jo”. Despite some struggles — stereotypes about tall women were especially prevalent in the industry, Lee recounted during a touching acceptance speech on Saturday night as this year’s honoree. All her hard work and training in voice acting is clearly paying off very very well for one of Korea’s leading actresses.
Best Picture & Fan Favorites
Queen of Tears won the most prestigious prize on that night, namely Best Picture. The rom-com drama also took the fan-voted categories by storm, with stars Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won respectively picking up the Global Star Award and Hot Star Award (Female). Their spectacular chemistry on screen was again awarded when they were given the Best Couple Award.
Across the Board Acting Excellence
Awards were given out in the following genres of music
- Im Siwan — Boyhood (streamer) BEST ACTOR
- Best Actress: Jung Ryeo Won (“The Midnight Romance in Hagwon”)
- Best Acting Awards: Lee Yi Kyung (Marry My Husband), Ji Seung Hyun (Korea-Khitan War) Kook Ki Bok, Go Min Si (Sweet Home 2)
The awards also honored up-and-comers — Best New Actor and Actress went to Baek Seo Hoo, Lee Si Woo as well as Kang Hye Won.
Beyond the Screen
Certainly, awards were handed out for more than just acting performances during the ceremony:
- Best OST: ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Tae Rae for “More Than Enough” from “Queen of Tears”
- Hot Icon Award: DKZ’s Jaechan
- Scene-Stealer Awards: Kim Hong Fa (“The Whirlwind”) and Jung Young Joo (“Lovely Runner,” “Miss Night and Day”)
An Example of K-Drama Worldwide Influence
The 15th Korea Drama Awards which honored not only what was just popular domestically but were also holding awards to show off the international appeal of Korean dramas. Award categories for the ceremony included the Global Star Award and performance awards in all genres, from cable dramas to OTT exclusive content as part of the recognition that Korean entertainment was making headway into wider platforms internationally.
As we remember another year of Mnet Global Choice storytelling and performances, this event will also serve as a testament to the skills and innovations that continue to fuel Korean drama. Winners of the 15th Korea Drama Awards span from endearing romances to tense thrillers, offering Korean television fans an intriguing tease of what stories they can anticipate in the coming years.
Congratulations to all winners and nominees for their great contributions in the K-drama world!
