Actor Hong Su-ju showed potential for growth in her first historical drama role and won the female newcomer award at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards.
On the 30th at the MBC Media Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Hong Su-ju won the female newcomer award at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards and was named one of the most dazzling newcomers at the broadcaster this year.
Hong Su-ju's challenge and charm stood out in Moon River, a romantic fantasy historical drama about a crown prince (Kang Tae-oh) who has lost his laughter and a chief royal minister (Kim Se-jeong) who has lost her memory undergoing a soul-swap empathy (易地四肢). In the drama, Hong Su-ju played Kim Woo-hee, the only daughter of absolute powerholder Left State Councilor Kim Han-cheol (Jin Goo) and the most beautiful and wise woman in Joseon, leaving a strong impact with deep-eyed storytelling in each episode.
Her character was drawn in detail as someone who does not settle for the era or reality and instead harbors the ambition to carve out her own destiny. The temperament of bold woman Kim Woo-hee, who carries a "straightforward romance" that breaks convention to make the person she chooses and loves the national consort rather than the family's glory, was delicately brought to life by Hong Su-ju's deep gaze and flexible expressiveness, and her character's activity varied the work's tension. Above all, even in her first historical drama challenge, she demonstrated impressive character expression that captured attention.
When her name was called for the newcomer award, Hong Su-ju said, "I thank the director, writer, fellow actors and all the staff who worked together on the drama Moon River, and I thank the viewers," adding, "I want to tell my parents and my younger sibling that I love them."
Later, through her agency she said, "The shooting period was very long, but I was so happy to film I really lost track of time," and added, "Kim Woo-hee meant a great deal to me and was a character that left a lot of lingering feelings. I will repay you by showing greater growth in the future."
Previously appearing in Drama Special 2021-Between, Netflix's Sweet Home season 2, Disney+ The Impossible Heir and now Moon River, Hong Su-ju, who has been building a solid filmography, received renewed attention as a rising newcomer the public and viewers expect after winning this newcomer award.
[photo] broadcast screen capture
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