Seoul Drama Awards 2026: 30 Works Advance to Final Round for Best Drama Among 352 Entries

The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee (Chairperson Ahn Hyung-jun) announced on August 27 that among 352 entries submitted from 46 countries and regions, 30 works for Best Drama and 34 individuals (or teams) for individual awards have advanced to the final judging round of the international competition category. The number of entries this year is a record high.

30 Works Compete Across 4 Categories

A total of 30 works were selected as Best Drama nominees across four categories: 12 mini-series, 6 one-act dramas, 7 feature-length works, and 5 short-form works. In the mini-series category, four domestic works were named, including 'We Are All Trying Here' starring Koo Kyo Hwan and Go Youn Jung, 'My Royal Nemesis' starring Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' starring Ryu Seung Ryong, and 'You and Everything Else' starring Kim Go-eun and Park Ji-hyun.

Among overseas works, Lee Seong-jin's 'Angry People Season 2', Vince Gilligan's 'Fluribus: Age of Happiness', and the fifth season of 'Slow Hoses' have advanced to the final round. The Organizing Committee stated that 'Angry People Season 2' and 'Fluribus: Age of Happiness' were nominated for 16 and 18 categories, respectively, at this year's Emmy Awards. The short-form category, which was revived after five years, includes Lee Byung-hun's 'Dad is a Male Friend' and the Chinese work 'Hidden Eyedi: Sky High Tips'.

Nominees for Directing, Writing, and Acting Awards Revealed

For the Best Directing award, Lee Seong-jin and Jake Schreier ('Angry People Season 2'), and Vince Gilligan and Gordon Smith ('Fluribus: Age of Happiness') have been nominated. For the Best Writing award, Park Hae-young ('We Are All Trying Here') and Lee Byung-hun ('Dad is a Male Friend') were named as domestic nominees.

For the Best Actor award, Kim Seon-ho, Koo Kyo Hwan, Ryu Seung Ryong, and Jung Il-woo will compete alongside Gary Oldman ('Slow Hoses Season 5') and Charles Melton ('Angry People Season 2'). For the Best Actress award, Kim Go-eun, Jung In Sun, and Go Youn Jung will compete against Carey Mulligan ('Angry People Season 2') and Rei Sehon ('Fluribus: Age of Happiness'). Go Youn Jung has been nominated for two works simultaneously: 'Can This Love Be Translated?' and 'We Are All Trying Here'.

Final Winners to be Announced in September, Ceremony on October 8

The final winners and works of the Seoul Drama Awards 2026 will be announced in September. The awards ceremony will be held on October 8 starting at 4:55 PM at the KBS Hall in Yeouido and will be broadcast through MBC and the official Seoul Drama Awards YouTube channel.

On October 6, an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of Korean dramas will be held, and on the 9th and 10th, a Drama Festa including drama talk concerts and OST concerts will take place around Banpo Hangang Park and Songpa Naru Park. This event is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Seoul Metropolitan Government, KBS, MBC, SBS, EBS, and CBS.

Source: Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee Press Release (Newswire)

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