APAN Star Awards
South Korea annual award for excellence in television
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The APAN Star Awards[note 1][note 2] is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea and contribution to Korean Wave, organized by the Korea Entertainment Management Association (CEMA).[3] Nominees for the awards are selected from Korean dramas that airs on the three major broadcasting networks (KBS, MBC and SBS) and cable channels (tvN, jtbc, OCN, MBN and TV Chosun) from October of the previous year to September of the current year.[4]
Awarded for
- Excellence in television
- Contribution to Korean Wave
CountrySouth Korea
Presented byKorea Entertainment Management Association
First awardDecember 8, 2012
| APAN Star Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current: 2025 APAN Star Awards | |
| Awarded for |
|
| Country | South Korea |
| Presented by | Korea Entertainment Management Association |
| First award | December 8, 2012 |
| Website | apanstarawards |
| APAN Star Awards | |
| Hangul | 에이판 스타 어워즈 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Eipan Seuta Eowojeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Eip'an Sŭt'a Ŏwŏchŭ |
Categories
- Grand Prize (대상) is given to the best actor/actress of the year.
- Top Excellence in Acting Award (최우수상)
- Excellence in Acting Award (우수상)
- Best Supporting Actor/Actress (조연상), previously known as Acting Award (연기상)
- Best New Actor/Actress (신인상), previously known as Rising Star Award (라이징스타상)
- Best Young Actor/Actress (아역상)
- Best Production Director (연출상)
- Best Writer (작가상)
- Best Original Soundtrack (베스트OST상)
- Best Entertainer (엔터테이너)
- Popular Star Award (인기스타상)
- Best Couple Award (베스트 커플상)
- Hallyu Star Award (한류 스타상)
- Best Dressed (베스트드레서상), previously known as Fashionista Award (패셔니스타상)
- Achievement Award (공로상)
- OTT award : This category was introduced in 2022 from 8th edition of awards.[5]
Grand Prize (Daesang)
Drama of the Year
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Descendants of the Sun |
| 2018 | Mr. Sunshine |
| 2020 | Itaewon Class |
| 2022 | The Red Sleeve |
| 2023 | Little Women |
| 2024 | Jeongnyeon:The Star Is Born |
| 2025 | When Life Gives You Tangerines |
Top Excellence in Acting Awards
Best Actor
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Song Joong-ki | The Innocent Man |
| 2013 | Lee Joon-gi | Two Weeks |
Best Actor in a Miniseries
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kim Soo-hyun | My Love from the Star |
| 2015 | Lee Sung-min | Misaeng: Incomplete Life |
| 2016 | Cho Jin-woong | Signal |
| 2018 | Park Seo-joon | What's Wrong with Secretary Kim |
| 2020 | Kang Ha-neul | When the Camellia Blooms |
| 2022 | Lee Jun-ho | The Red Sleeve |
| 2023 | Ryu Seung-ryong | Moving |
| 2024 | Ji Chang-wook | Welcome to Samdal-ri |
| 2025 | Lee Jun-ho | Typhoon Family |
Best Actor in a Serial Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Cho Jae-hyun | Jeong Do-jeon |
| 2015 | Kim Sang-joong | The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War |
| 2016 | Ahn Jae-wook | Five Enough |
| 2018 | Lee Sang-woo | Marry Me Now |
| 2020 | Lee Sang-yeob | Once Again |
| 2022 | Joo Sang-wook | The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won |
| 2023 | Go Soo | Missing: The Other Side 2 |
| 2024 | Ji Hyun-woo | Beauty and Mr. Romantic |
| 2025 | Son Chang-min | Good Luck! |
Best Actor in an OTT Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jung Hae-in | D.P. |
Best Actress
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kim Nam-joo | My Husband Got a Family |
| 2013 | Lee Bo-young | I Can Hear Your Voice, Seoyoung, My Daughter |
Best Actress in a Miniseries
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kim Hee-ae | Secret Affair |
| 2015 | Kim Hee-sun | Angry Mom |
| 2016 | Han Hyo-joo | W |
| 2018 | IU | My Mister |
| 2020 | Kim Hee-sun | Alice |
| 2022 | Shin Min-a | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Our Blues |
| 2023 | Uhm Jung-hwa | Doctor Cha |
| 2024 | Lee Hanee | Knight Flower |
| 2025 | Cha Joo-young | The Queen Who Crowns |
Best Actress in a Serial Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kim Hee-sun | Wonderful Days |
| 2015 | Kim Hyun-joo | I Have a Lover |
| 2016 | Kim So-yeon | Happy Home |
| 2018 | Shin Hye-sun | My Golden Life |
| 2020 | Lee Min-jung | Once Again |
| 2022 | Park Jin-hee | The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won |
| 2023 | Lee Sung-kyung | Dr. Romantic 3 |
| 2024 | Im Soo-hyang | Beauty and Mr. Romantic |
| 2025 | Park Ha-na | My Merry Marriage |
Best Actress in an OTT Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kim Sung-ryung | Political Fever |
Excellence in Acting Awards
Best Actor
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kim Soo-hyun | Moon Embracing the Sun |
| Yoo Jun-sang | My Husband Got a Family | |
| 2013 | Lee Jong-suk | I Can Hear Your Voice |
| 2023 | Lee Dong-hwi | Big Bet |
| Jung Seok-yong | D.P. 2 | |
| 2025 | Ko Kyu-pil | Genie, Make a Wish and Twelve |
Best Actor in a Miniseries
Best Actor in a Serial Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kim Ji-hoon | Jang Bo-ri Is Here! |
| 2015 | Lee Joon | Heard It Through the Grapevine |
| 2016 | Lee Pil-mo | Happy Home |
| 2018 | Jang Seung-jo | Money Flower |
| 2020 | Lee Sang-yi | Once Again |
| 2022 | Han Sang-jin | The All-Round Wife |
| 2023 | Son Ho-jun | The First Responders 2 |
| 2024 | Kim Dong-jun | Korea-Khitan War |
| 2025 | Kim Dong-wan | For Eagle Brothers |
Best Actor in a Short Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Joo Jong-hyuk | Do You Know Ashtanga |
| 2024 | Lee Sang-woon | O'PENing: My Trouble-Maker Mom |
| 2025 | Park Sung-woong | A Head Coach's Turnover |
Best Actor in an OTT Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ahn Bo-hyun | Yumi's Cells, My Name |
| 2023 | Choo Young-woo | Once Upon a Small Town |
Best Actress
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Han Ji-min | Padam Padam |
| 2013 | Kim So-yeon | Two Weeks |
| 2023 | Shin Ye-eun | Revenge of Others & The Secret Romantic Guesthouse |
| Yeom Hye-ran | The Glory, The Uncanny Counter 2 & Mask Girl | |
| 2025 | Oh Na-ra | Villains Everywhere and The Nice Guy |
Best Actress in a Miniseries
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Park Shin-hye | The Heirs |
| 2015 | Park Bo-young | Oh My Ghost |
| 2016 | Seo Hyun-jin | Another Miss Oh |
| 2018 | Go Ah-sung | Life on Mars |
| 2020 | Seo Yea-ji | It's Okay to Not Be Okay |
| 2022 | Yoo Sun | Eve |
| 2023 | Kim Seo-hyung | Pale Moon |
| Uhm Ji-won | Little Women | |
| 2024 | Jung Eun-chae | Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born and Your Honor |
| 2025 | Shin Ye-eun | The Murky Stream and A Hundred Memories |
Best Actress in a Serial Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kim Ok-vin | Steal Heart |
| 2015 | Kim Min-jung | The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 |
| 2016 | Jeong Yu-mi | Six Flying Dragons |
| 2018 | Jo Bo-ah | Goodbye to Goodbye |
| 2020 | Shim Yi-young | My Wonderful Life |
| 2022 | So Yi-hyun | Red Shoes |
| 2023 | Kim Ok-vin | Arthdal Chronicles 2 |
| 2024 | Oh Hyun-kyung | Suji & Uri |
| 2025 | Park Eun-hye | Marie and Her Three Daddies |
Best Actress in a Short Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Shin Eun-soo | Nineteen Sea Otters |
| 2024 | Jung In-sun | Grand Shining Hotel |
| 2025 | Park Ha-sun | A Love That's Completely Useless and Psychopath Yeo Soon-jeong |
Best Actress in an OTT Drama
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Han Sun-hwa | Work Later, Drink Now |
| 2023 | Yeri | Bitch X Rich |
Supporting Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Newcomer Awards
Best New Actor
Best New Actress
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kim Yoo-ri | Cheongdam-dong Alice, Master's Sun |
| Lee Yu-bi | Gu Family Book | |
| 2014 | Nam Bo-ra | Only Love |
| Kim Seul-gi | Discovery of Love | |
| 2015 | Chae Soo-bin | House of Bluebird |
| Lim Ji-yeon | High Society | |
| 2016 | Kim You-jung | Love in the Moonlight |
| Lee Hye-ri | Reply 1988 | |
| 2018 | Kim Tae-ri | Mr. Sunshine |
| Won Jin-ah | Rain or Shine | |
| 2020 | Jeon Mi-do | Hospital Playlist |
| 2022 | Park Ji-hu | All of Us Are Dead |
| 2023 | Lee Han-byeol | Mask Girl |
| Jo Ah-ram | Doctor Cha | |
| 2024 | Kang Mi-na | Welcome to Samdal-ri |
| Chae Won-bin | Doubt | |
| 2025 | Ha Young | The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call and Face Me |
Rising Star Award
Youth Awards
Best Young Actor
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Park Gun-tae | May Queen, The King 2 Hearts |
| 2013 | Chun Bo-geun | The Queen's Classroom |
| 2014 | Choi Kwon-soo | Wonderful Days |
| Yoon Chan-young | Mama | |
| 2015 | Nam Da-reum | Pinocchio |
Best Child Actor
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jung Hyeon-jun | Twinkling Watermelon & See You in My 19th Life |
| 2024 | Lee Joo-won | Queen of Tears and My Sweet Mobster |
| 2025 | Lee Cheon-mu | When Life Gives You Tangerines |
Best Young Actress
Best Child Actress
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jeon Yu-na | The Kidnapping Day |
| 2024 | Park So-yi | The Atypical Family |
| 2025 | Kim Tae-yeon | When Life Gives You Tangerines |
Best Production Director
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jo Nam-kook | The Chaser |
| 2013 | Kim Byung-soo | Nine: Nine Time Travels |
| 2014 | Jang Tae-yoo | My Love from the Star |
| 2015 | Jo Soo-won | Pinocchio |
| 2016 | Shin Won-ho | Reply 1988 |
| 2018 | Kim Won-seok | My Mister |
| 2020 | Cha Yeong-hoon | When the Camellia Blooms |
| 2022 | Jung Ji-in and Song Yeon-hwa | The Red Sleeve |
| 2023 | Park In-je | Moving |
| 2024 | Lee Myoungwoo | Boyhood |
| 2025 | Kim Won-seok | When Life Gives You Tangerines |
Best Writer
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Park Ji-eun | My Husband Got a Family |
| 2013 | So Hyun-kyung | Seoyoung, My Daughter, Two Weeks |
| 2014 | Jung Sung-joo | Secret Love Affair |
| 2015 | Park Kyung-soo | Punch |
| 2016 | Kim Eun-hee | Signal |
| 2018 | Lee Soo-yeon | Life |
| 2020 | Lee Shin-hwa | Hot Stove League |
| 2022 | Moon Ji-won | Extraordinary Attorney Woo |
| 2023 | Kang Yoon-sung | Big Bet |
| 2024 | Choi Yu-na | Good Partner |
| 2025 | Jang Hyun-sook | Typhoon Family |
Best Original Soundtrack
| Year | Song | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "All for You" – Seo In-guk and Jung Eun-ji | Reply 1997 |
| 2013 | "Winter Love" – The One | That Winter, the Wind Blows |
| 2014 | "Goodbye My Love" – Ailee | Fated to Love You |
| 2015 | "Pinocchio" – Roy Kim | Pinocchio |
| 2020 | "Sweet Night" – V (BTS) | Itaewon Class |
| 2022 | "Love Always Runs Away" — Lim Young-woong | Young Lady and Gentleman |
| 2023 | "Go Your Own Way" — Young Tak | Live Your Own Life |
| 2024 | "Sudden Shower" — Eclipse | Lovely Runner |
| 2025 | "More Beautiful than heaven" - Lim Young-woong | Heavenly Ever After |
Best Entertainer
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Kang Daniel |
| 2025 | Cha Eun-woo |
Popularity Awards
Popular Star Award, Actor
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Yoo Jun-sang | My Husband Got a Family |
| 2013 | Ju Ji-hoon | Five Fingers |
| 2014 | Lee Kwang-soo | It's Okay, That's Love |
| 2015 | Son Ho-jun | Mrs. Cop |
| 2018 | Jung Hae-in | Something in the Rain |
| 2020 | Kim Soo-hyun | It's Okay to Not Be Okay |
| 2022 | Park Jae-chan | Semantic Error |
| 2023 | Lee Jun-ho | King the Land |
| 2024 | Byeon Woo-seok | Lovely Runner |
| 2025 | Lee Jun-ho | Typhoon Family |
Popular Star Award, Actress
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Oh Yeon-seo | Here Comes Mr. Oh |
| 2014 | Jin Se-yeon | Doctor Stranger |
| 2015 | Yoo In-young | Mask |
| 2018 | Park Min-young | What's Wrong with Secretary Kim |
| 2020 | Seo Yea-ji | It's Okay to Not Be Okay |
| Son Ye-jin[note 3] | Crash Landing on You | |
| 2022 | Park Eun-bin | Extraordinary Attorney Woo |
| 2023 | Im Yoon-ah | King the Land |
| 2024 | Kim Hye-yoon | Lovely Runner |
| 2025 |
Hallyu Star Award
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jung Yong-hwa | |
| 2014 | Jun Ji-hyun | My Love from the Star |
| Kim Soo-hyun | ||
| 2015 | Lee Dong-gun | |
| Hong Soo-ah | ||
| 2016 | Lee Byung-hun | |
| 2018 | Park Hae-jin | |
| 2023 | Lee Jun-ho | King the Land |
| 2024 | Byeon Woo-seok | Lovely Runner |
Best Couple Award
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Seo In-guk and Jung Eun-ji | Reply 1997 |
| 2013 | Lee Jong-suk and Lee Bo-young | I Can Hear Your Voice |
| 2016 | Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo | Descendants of the Sun |
| 2022 | Park Seo-ham and Park Jae-chan | Semantic Error |
| 2023 | Lee Jun-ho and Im Yoon-ah | King the Land |
| 2024 | Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon | Lovely Runner |
| 2025 | Lee Hye-ri and Chung Su-bin | Friendly Rivalry |
Best Dressed
| Year | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Go Se-won | The Moon and Stars for You |
| Jeon Hye-bin | Queen Insoo | |
| 2013 | Yeon Jung-hoon | Pots of Gold |
| Yoo In-young | Wonderful Mama | |
| 2014 | Ji Hyun-woo | |
| Kim Yoo-ri | ||
| 2015 | Oh Min-suk | All About My Mom |
| Choi Yeo-jin | The Lover | |
Best Manager
| Year | Winner | Talent Agency |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kim Jong-do | Namoo Actors |
| 2013 | Kim Dong-eop | Will Entertainment |
| 2014 | Lee Jin-sung | King Kong Entertainment |
| 2015 | Shim Jung-woon | Sim Entertainment |
| 2016 | Kim Jeong-yong | Blossom Entertainment |
| 2018 | Bae Sung | HM Entertainment |
| 2020 | Kang Geon-taek | VAST Entertainment |
| 2022 | Son Seok-woo[6] | BH Entertainment |
| 2023 | CEO Baek Chang-ju | C-JeS Studios |
Achievement Award
| Year | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Lee Soon-jae | High Kick Through the Roof, Good Morning President |
| 2013 | Choo Ja-hyun | |
| Jung Doo-hong | The Berlin File | |
| 2014 | Choi Jin-sil | |
| 2015 | Chief Inspector | |
| 2023 | Byun Hee-bong | |
| 2024 | Kim Young-ok |
Other Awards
| Year | Category | Winner | Drama |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Best Villain | Yoon Yong-hyun | History of a Salaryman |
| Best Comic Acting | Ahn Suk-hwan | Shut Up Family | |
| Best Action Stunts | N/a | Bridal Mask | |
| 2013 | Best Performance | Jung Eun-ji | That Winter, the Wind Blows |
| Best Action | N/a | Gu Family Book | |
| 2014 | Best SNS Web Drama | N/a | A Hungry Woman |
| 2015 | Award for SNS Web Drama | Xiumin | Falling for Challenge |
| 2016 | Special Actor of the Year | Jun Kunimura | N/a |
| Best APAN Star Award | Kim Hee-sun | N/a | |
| Jessy Mendiola | N/a | ||
| Hiroki Narimiya | N/a | ||
| Song Joong-ki | N/a | ||
| Joe Taslim | N/a | ||
| Thanayong Wongtrakul | N/a | ||
| Special APAN Award | Gökhan Alkan and Zeynep Çamcı | N/a | |
| 2018 | OST Award | Song Dong-woon | N/a |
| 2020 | Web Drama Award | N/a |
Best Mistake |
| Short-Form Drama Award | N/a |
Live Like That | |
| 2022 | Web Drama Award | N/a |
Be My Boyfriend |
| Short-Form Drama Award | N/a |
Deok-gu Is Back | |
| 2023 | Best Character Award | Lee Jun-ho | King the Land |
| Seoul League Actors Award | Lee Sung-kyung | Dr. Romantic 3 | |
| Global Creator of the Year Award | Anushka Sen | N/a | |
| Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao | N/a | ||
| Karimova Elina | N/a | ||
| Cassandra Bankson | N/a | ||
| Kristel Fulgar | N/a | ||
| Kika Kim | N/a | ||
| 2025 | Best Asia Star | Chung Su-bin | Friendly Rivalry |
| Jinyoung | Ms. Incognito |
Ceremonies
| Edition | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st K-Drama Star Awards | December 8, 2012 |
| 2nd APAN Star Awards | November 16, 2013 |
| 3rd APAN Star Awards | November 15, 2014 |
| 4th APAN Star Awards | November 28, 2015 |
| 5th APAN Star Awards | October 2, 2016 |
| 6th APAN Star Awards | October 13, 2018 |
| 7th APAN Star Awards | January 23, 2021 |
| 8th APAN Star Awards | September 29, 2022 |
| 9th APAN Star Awards | December 30, 2023 |
| 10th APAN Star Awards | December 28, 2024 |
| 11th Apan Star Awards | December 29, 2025 |