The APAN Star Awards is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea and contribution to Korean Wave, organized by the Korea Entertainment Management Association (CEMA). 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.
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.
Grand Prize (Daesang) # Year Winner Drama 1 2012 Son Hyun-joo The Chaser 2 2013 Song Hye-kyo That Winter, the Wind Blows 3 2014 Zo In-sung It's Okay, That's Love 4 2015 Kim Soo-hyun The Producers 5 2016 Song Joong-ki Descendants of the Sun 6 2018 Lee Byung-hun Mr. Sunshine 7 2020 Hyun Bin Crash Landing on You 8 2022 Song Joong-ki Vincenzo 9 2023 Lee Jun-ho King the Land 10 2024 Kim Tae-ri Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born 11 2025 IU When Life Gives You Tangerines
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 Sleeve2023Ryu Seung-ryongMoving2024Ji Chang-wookWelcome to Samdal-ri2025Lee Jun-hoTyphoon 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-won2023Go SooMissing: The Other Side 22024Ji Hyun-wooBeauty and Mr. Romantic2025Son Chang-minGood 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 Blues2023Uhm Jung-hwaDoctor Cha2024Lee HaneeKnight Flower2025Cha Joo-youngThe 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 Life2020 Lee Min-jung Once Again 2022 Park Jin-hee The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won2023Lee Sung-kyungDr. Romantic 32024Im Soo-hyangBeauty and Mr. Romantic2025Park Ha-naMy 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 Drama2012 Kim Soo-hyun Moon Embracing the Sun Yoo Jun-sang My Husband Got a Family 2013 Lee Jong-suk I Can Hear Your Voice2023Lee Dong-hwiBig BetJung Seok-yongD.P. 22025Ko Kyu-pilGenie, Make a Wish and Twelve
Best Actor in a Miniseries Year Winner Drama 2014 Jung Woo Reply 1994 2015 Yim Si-wan Misaeng: Incomplete Life 2016 Namkoong Min Remember 2018 Jung Hae-in Something in the Rain 2020 Park Hae-joon The World of the Married 2022 Jin Seon-kyu Through the Darkness2023Park Hae-sooNarco-SaintsJo Han-chulReborn Rich & Stealer: The Treasure Keeper2024Lee Yi-kyungMarry My Husband2025Lee Jun-youngWhen Life Gives You Tangerines & Pump Up the Healthy Love
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 Wife2023Son Ho-junThe First Responders 22024Kim Dong-junKorea-Khitan War2025Kim Dong-wanFor 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 Mom2025Park Sung-woongA Head Coach's Turnover
Best Actor in an OTT Drama Year Winner Drama 2022 Ahn Bo-hyun Yumi's Cells, My Name2023Choo Young-wooOnce Upon a Small Town
Best Actress Year Winner Drama 2012 Han Ji-min Padam Padam 2013 Kim So-yeon Two Weeks2023Shin Ye-eunRevenge of Others & The Secret Romantic GuesthouseYeom Hye-ranThe Glory, The Uncanny Counter 2 & Mask Girl2025 Oh Na-raVillains 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 Eve2023Kim Seo-hyungPale MoonUhm Ji-wonLittle Women2024Jung Eun-chaeJeongnyeon: The Star Is Born and Your Honor2025Shin Ye-eunThe 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 Shoes2023Kim Ok-vinArthdal Chronicles 22024Oh Hyun-kyungSuji & Uri2025Park Eun-hyeMarie 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 Hotel2025 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 Now2023YeriBitch X Rich
Supporting Awards
Best Supporting Actor Year Winner Drama 2012 Lee Sung-min Golden Time 2013 Jung Woong-in I Can Hear Your Voice 2014 Ryu Seung-soo Wonderful Days 2015 Lee Geung-young Misaeng: Incomplete Life 2016 Jin Goo Descendants of the Sun Kim Eui-sung W2018 Park Ho-san My Mister Yoo Jae-myung Life2020 Oh Jung-se Hot Stove League, It's Okay to Not Be Okay Kim Young-min Crash Landing on You, The World of the Married 2022 Yoon Byung-hee Vincenzo, Our Blues Heo Sung-tae Insider, Squid Game
Best Supporting Actress Year Winner Drama 2012 Kim Jung-nan A Gentleman's Dignity 2013 Kim Sung-ryung King of Ambition 2014 Kim Hye-eun Secret Affair2015 Chae Jung-an Yong-pal Gil Hae-yeon Heard It Through the Grapevine2016 Kim Ji-won Descendants of the Sun Ye Ji-won Another Miss Oh2018 Kim Min-jung Mr. Sunshine Jang So-yeon Something in the Rain 2020 Kim Sun-young Crash Landing on You, Backstreet Rookie 2022 Kim Shin-rokHellbound Baek Ji-won Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Anna
Newcomer Awards Best New Actor Year Winner Drama2013 Choi Jin-hyuk Gu Family Book Kim Woo-bin School 20132014 Do Kyung-soo It's Okay, That's Love Son Ho-jun Reply 19942015 Byun Yo-han Misaeng: Incomplete Life Nam Joo-hyuk Who Are You: School 2015 2016 Park Bo-gum Reply 1988 Yoon Kyun-sang Doctors2018 Yang Se-jong Temperature of Love Jang Ki-yong My Mister2020 Jang Dong-yoon The Tale of Nokdu Lee Do-hyun 18 Again 2022 Yoon Chan-young All of Us Are Dead Tang Jun-sang Move to Heaven & Racket Boys 2023Kim Dong-hwiMissing: The Other Side 2 & The DealMoon Sang-minUnder the Queen's Umbrella2024Roh Jae-won Doubt and Daily Dose of Sunshine Kim Jung-jinBoyhood2025Kang You-seokResident Playbook and When Life Gives You TangerinesLee Chae-minBon Appétit, Your Majesty and Crushology 101
Best New Actress Year Winner Drama2013 Kim Yoo-ri Cheongdam-dong Alice, Master's Sun Lee Yu-bi Gu Family Book2014 Nam Bo-ra Only Love Kim Seul-gi Discovery of Love2015 Chae Soo-bin House of Bluebird Lim Ji-yeon High Society2016 Kim You-jung Love in the Moonlight Lee Hye-ri Reply 19882018 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 GirlJo Ah-ramDoctor Cha 2024Kang Mi-na Welcome to Samdal-riChae Won-bin Doubt2025Ha YoungThe Trauma Code: Heroes on Call and Face Me
Rising Star Award Year Winner Drama2012 Jung Eun-ji Reply 1997 Kang Min-hyuk My Husband Got a Family Kim Hyung-jun Glowing She, Late Blossom Oh Yeon-seo My Husband Got a Family Seo In-guk Reply 1997 Yoo In-na Queen and I Yoon Jin-yi A Gentleman's Dignity2016 Hwang Chi-yeul Darren Wang
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 Classroom2014 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 Mobster2025 Lee Cheon-mu When Life Gives You Tangerines
Best Young Actress Year Winner Drama2012 Kim So-hyun Missing You, Ma Boy, Moon Embracing the Sun Kim You-jung May Queen, Moon Embracing the Sun 2013 Kim Hyang-gi The Queen's Classroom2014 Kim Hyun-soo My Love from the Star Kim Ji-young Jang Bo-ri is Here! 2015 Kal So-won My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol
Best Child Actress Year Winner Drama 2023 Jeon Yu-na The Kidnapping Day 2024 Park So-yi The Atypical Family 2025 Kim Tae-yeonWhen 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 Sleeve2023Park In-jeMoving2024Lee MyoungwooBoyhood2025Kim Won-seokWhen 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 Woo2023Kang Yoon-sungBig Bet2024Choi Yu-na Good Partner2025Jang Hyun-sookTyphoon 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 Runner2025 "More Beautiful than heaven" - Lim Young-woong Heavenly Ever After
Best Entertainer Year Winner 2024 Kang Daniel2025 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