The 2025 festival honoring drama stars who illuminated MBC concluded grandly.
On the 30th, the '2025 MBC acting awards' looked back on MBC drama in 2025, which delivered rich entertainment across diverse genres from fantasy historicals to relatable black comedies, and held a meaningful time welcoming 2026.
The prestigious grand prize winner was Seo Kang-jun of Undercover High School. Playing NIS agent Jung Hae-seong, Seo Kang-jun, who showed a range of charms from intense action to sweet romance, expressed his sincerity about acting, saying, "I don't want to be replaced until the day it ends. I will become an actor who studies, thinks and acts more earnestly," creating a warm feeling. In addition, with Jin Ki-joo winning the best acting award in the miniseries category, Undercover High School swept three crowns: the grand prize, the best acting award and drama of the year.
Also, Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong of Moon River both received the best acting award in the miniseries category, marking a double celebration. Moon River, which swept the best couple award and best character award chosen by viewers, as well as supporting actor and rookie awards, won an astonishing seven awards, making its popularity palpable.
Also, a posthumous merit award was presented to the late actor Lee Soon-jae, a great elder and true teacher in the entertainment industry. The narration by Park Haemee, who had worked with him as an in-law pair in the sitcom No Hesitation High Kick, accompanied the unfolding of Lee Soon-jae's footsteps, touching everyone's hearts. In particular, the confession "Teacher, we love you," shouted together by junior actors who respect Lee Soon-jae, left a poignant aftertaste.
With solid acting that captured viewers' hearts, Jung Kyungho of Oh My Ghost Clients and Lee Seyoung of Motel California seized the best actor awards.
Thus, the '2025 MBC acting awards' became a grand gathering where the drama stars who gifted viewers with fresh entertainment throughout 2025 came together in unity. In particular, a special企划 unique to the '2025 MBC acting awards' that spanned the timeline of MBC dramas drew interest, and among them, images of Jung Kyungho, Jang Shin-young, Seo Kang-jun and Choi Jung-yoon in their fresh past, introduced through MBC dramas and who attended the '2025 MBC acting awards', accompanied by Jaurim's Twenty Five Twenty One, offered deep emotion.
Moreover, the lineup of presenters at the '2025 MBC acting awards' also caught attention. Winners of the '2024 MBC acting awards' and the leading figures who will shoulder MBC drama in 2026 — Lee Sung-kyoung, Chae Jong Hyeop, IU, Byeon Wooseok, Shin Ha Kyun and Heo Sung-tae — appeared as presenters, adding to the welcome.
In addition, befitting the reputation as a drama powerhouse, teaser videos for 2026 MBC dramas were revealed, drawing attention. Among them are the retribution fantasy drama about judge Lee Han-young's realization of justice, 'Judge Lee Han-young'; the unpredictable romance 'In your brilliant season', which awakens frozen time when two people meet as if by fate; '21st century great lady of the royal family', a destiny-shaping, class-breaking romance set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea; and the straight-up professionals' salty action comedy 'Fifty Percent', all set to meet viewers in 2026.
Concluding 2025 and opening the door for 2026 dramas, the '2025 MBC acting awards' completed special memories as a festival of drama stars responsible for MBC drama's past, present and future.
[Photo] Provided by MBC
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