K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines sweeps Blue Dragon awards, with IU winning Best Actress
SEOUL - Netflix's hit K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025) dominated this year's Blue Dragon Series Awards, taking home four trophies, including the top honour, the Grand Prize.
Now in its fourth year, the annual ceremony is a spin-off of the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards, created to recognise excellence in South Korean streaming series. This year's event was held on July 18 at Paradise City in Incheon.
The period romance emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing awards for Grand Prize, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Popular Star Award.
Stealing the spotlight was singer IU, who claimed her first Best Actress award for her dual performance in the 16-episode show. She portrayed both the young version of Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong, delivering a powerful portrayal that resonated with global audiences and brought depth to the emotional arcs of both characters.
'This show will remain the greatest pride of my life,' IU, 32, said onstage as she accepted the award. 'I offer my deepest respect and gratitude to all the Ae-suns who lived boldly and clearly in a world that demanded they remain unseen, and to all the Geum-myeongs who firmly planted their desires and nurtured them into reality.'
Veteran actress Yeom Hye-ran, 48, won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gwang-rye, Ae-sun's mother. 'I've never received so many cheers and compliments in my life. I may not deserve them, but I'm deeply honoured,' she said, thanking the series' production team for their support.
IU, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, also received the Popular Star Award alongside actor Park Bo-gum, 32, who portrayed the younger version of Ae-sun's husband Gwan-sik. Actors Lee Hye-ri and Lee Jun-hyuk also received the award.
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The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call (2025), another Netflix title, also bagged several awards, including the Top Excellence Award, the second biggest honour of the ceremony. Cast members Ju Ji-hoon and Choo Young-woo nabbed Best Male Actor and Best New Male Actor respectively.
Best Supporting Actor went to Lee Kwang-soo for his role in the Netflix crime thriller Karma (2025), while Best New Actress was awarded to Kim Min-ha - better known globally as Pachinko - for her performance in Tving's romance drama Way Back Love (2025). THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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