The winners of the Seoul International Drama Awards were announced on Sept. 4 at a ceremony in the National Theater of Korea. Although the awards are an international competition, attracting entries from dozens of countries, a few notable Korean programs, actors and composers were honored this year.
"My Love From Another Star," which stars Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun, won three prizes. The drama about a 400-year-old alien who falls in love with a conceited Hallyu star won prizes for Excellent Korean Drama, Outstanding Korean Actor and Outstanding Korean Drama Soundtrack (OST).
Kim Soo Hyun won the Best Actor Award for his performance as the conflicted extraterrestrial professor Do Min Joon. Singer Lyn won the best drama soundtrack award for her performance of the song "My Destiny" on the drama's soundtrack.
"The Heirs," starring Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye and Kim Woo Bin," won "Outstanding Korean Drama" after "You Who Came From Another Star."
The winner of the mini-series competition, which covered any series of 3 to 24 episodes, was Norway's "Mammon." That series won the Golden Bird prize. The second place or Silver Bird prize went to the KBS medical drama "Good Doctor," which starred Joo Won and Moon Chae Won. That series about a genius doctor with Asperger's syndrome is currently being adapted for American television.
In the category of Serial Drama, which is a drama with more than 25 episodes, MBCs "Empress Ki" won the Golden Bird prize, while Turkey's "Medcezir" won the Silver Bird prize. The 51-episode drama starred Ha Ji Won, Joo Jin Mo and Ji Chang Wook in a story roughly based on the real-life saga of a Korean concubine who became an empress in the Yuan dynasty.
The Best Actress award went to Kim Hee Ae for her portrayal of the arts administrator in love with a much younger man in the melodrama "A Secret Affair." Her co-star and love interest in the series was Yoo Ah In.
Online voting took place from July 14 to Aug. 3. Soo-hyun Kim from "You Who Came From Another Star," Ge Hu from China's "Life Revelation," and Yuanchang Zheng from Taiwan's "Love Actually" won the People's Choice vote.
The Seoul International Drama Awards celebrated its ninth anniversary this year. An organizing committee selected the final winners from 209 entries from 50 countries. Shin Sung Rok and Jin Se Yeon served as the hosts for the event. Sistar, Lyn, Block B and B1A4 performed throughout the ceremony.
