Park Chan-wook wins Golden Bird Prize at Seoul Drama Awards

Director Park Chan-wook won the Golden Bird Prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2024, which honors works and individuals who made a significant mark on the drama industry.

Director Park Chan-wook [SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

Director Park Chan-wook won the Golden Bird Prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2024, which honors works and individuals who made a significant mark on the drama industry.

The SDA organizing committee announced the winners of its International Invitation, International Competition, K-Drama Competition, Special Prize and Outstanding Asia Stars on Monday based on 346 entries from 48 regions. This marks the highest participation in SDA history, according to the committee.

Park was given the award for his latest HBO series, “The Sympathizer,” which is a historical black comedy drama adapted from the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Vietnamese American author Viet Thanh Nguyen. It follows an anonymous narrator referred to as “the Captain,” a North Vietnamese mole in the South Vietnamese army who is forced to flee to the United States near the end of the Vietnam War.

“[The show] drew global attention with [Park’s] signature mise-en-scène and provoking messages,” the committee said in a press release.

The Grand Prize went to Brazil’s drama “Justice: Misconduct,” a series that revolves around the story of three suspects, who each committed a crime for different reasons, and one prisoner who was wrongfully arrested.

A poster of Brazil's TV series ″Justice: Misconduct″ [SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

“The judges praised the series as a ‘highly impactful work, offering an original and unique direction that deconstructs the chronological order of events,’” it said.

The winners for the International Competition category were also announced on the same day.

Netflix’s series “3 Body Problem” took home the Best Miniseries and Best Screenwriter Award for the International Competition category, while Czech Television’s series “The Saint” won the Best TV Movie Award. Additionally, 93-year-old actor Jiřina Bohdalová received the Best Actress Award.

For Korean TV dramas, “Bruised Like a Peach” (2023) won the Best TV Movie Award and KBS’s “Korea-Khitan War” (2023-24) took home the Best Series Award.

Disney+’s series “Moving” (2023) director Park In-je was announced the winner for Best Director and actor Song Kang-ho received the Best Actor Award for his latest performance in Disney+’s “Uncle Samsik.”

The Outstanding Korean Drama Award went to “Moving” and tvN’s hit drama “Queen of Tears.”

Winners of the 19th Seoul International Drama Awards. From left, posters of Netflix's ″3 Body Problem,″ Disney+'s ″Moving″ (2023), tvN's series ″Queen of Tears″ and boy band BSS [SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

Actors Yeom Hye-ran and Ahn Jae-hong were honored with the Best Actress and Best Actor Award for their roles in Netflix’s “Mask Girl” (2023).

Boy band Seventeen’s trio unit BSS, consisting of members Seungkwan, DK and Hoshi, received the Outstanding Korean Drama O.S.T Award for its song in tvN’s series “Queen of Tears.”

The Outstanding Asia Stars Awards, which is solely determined on fans' votes, went to actor Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon from tvN’s drama “Lovely Runner,” as well as Malaysian actor Siti Saleha, Singaporean actor Desmond Tan, Indonesian actor Ochi Rosdiana and Thai actor Metawin Opas-iamkajorn.

Japanese TV series “Eye Love You,” featuring Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop, received the award’s Special Prize.

Actors Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon [VARO ENTERTAINMENT, SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

The SDA, first launched in 2006, celebrates TV dramas and its creators from all around the world and is organized by the Korean Broadcasters Association. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Seoul Metropolitan Government; KBS; MBC; SBS; EBS; and CBS.

This year's 19th edition of the ceremony will be held on Sept. 25 at the Yeouido KBS Hall. It will air on SBS and livestream on YouTube.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]