INCHEON, South Korea – The 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards celebrated the best of Korean streaming content on Tuesday, with actress Kim Go-eun taking home the night’s highest honor—the Grand Prize—for her performance in “You and Everything Else.” In a tearful acceptance speech, Kim urged continued support for her evolving career.
Held at Paradise City in Incheon, the ceremony recognized outstanding achievements in Korean television and streaming platform productions. Kim, visibly emotional before even reaching the stage, acknowledged that each acting opportunity is not guaranteed. “I will work with a sense of responsibility, push myself toward new challenges, and continue to give my best,” she said. “Please keep supporting me and expect more.”
Shin Min-a, who presented the Grand Prize, delivered a lighthearted moment that delighted the audience. When she appeared on stage, the camera immediately cut to her husband, actor Kim Woo-bin (“Wish Upon a Star”), seated in the front row. Their mutual friend Lee Kwang-soo cheered loudly, prompting both Shin and Kim Woo-bin to shyly cover their faces, drawing laughter from the crowd.
In the acting categories, Park Hae-soo scored a surprise upset, winning Best Actor for his role in the drama “The Scarecrow.” Shin Hye-sun took home the Best Actress trophy as the leading candidate for “The True Life of Sarah.”
The night’s biggest winner, however, was the military comedy “Super Rookie Chef,” which captured a leading three awards: Best Drama Series, Best Supporting Actor, and the OST Popularity Award.
Key Takeaways from the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards:
- Grand Prize (Daesang): Kim Go-eun, “You and Everything Else”
- Best Actor: Park Hae-soo, “The Scarecrow”
- Best Actress: Shin Hye-sun, “The True Life of Sarah”
- Best Drama Series: “Super Rookie Chef”
- Most Awards: “Super Rookie Chef” (3 wins)
Looking Ahead: The Blue Dragon Series Awards continue to shine a spotlight on the rapidly expanding landscape of streaming-exclusive content in South Korea. As platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and local services invest heavily in original productions, these honors are increasingly seen as a bellwether for both critical acclaim and audience demand. The 2025 ceremony underscores a growing appetite for genre-spanning narratives, from tear-jerking dramas to irreverent comedies, as global viewers deepen their appetite for Korean storytelling.
