18th
Seoul International Drama Awards,
Opening
its festival with 44 countries
344 TV dramas
from 44 countries have been submitted
Mega hit of the first quarter, Netflix <The Glory> and the outstanding entries
which are recognized from world-renowned awards like Emmy Awards are submitted
[Press Release : 2023-05-17]
Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee (Chairman: KBS
President Kim Eui-chul) announced the results of this year's entry submission,
signaling the start of the Seoul International Drama Awards 2023.
The organizing committee confirmed that 344 series
from 44 countries(regions) were submitted this year, which is the largest
number of entries ever participating. While struggling for recovering from the
earthquake, Turkiye submitted 15 dramas, and Greece submitted its first entry
to the Seoul International Drama Awards.
This year, Netflix Korea/Japan/India and China's
Tencent, Wavve, Coupang Play, TVING, and Watcha submitted their representative
works such as <The Glory>, <Bargain> and <Anna>. While fierce
competition is expected among these works, the organizing committee will
announce the nomination in mid-July after preliminary and final judging are
done.
Among the International Competition entries, some
series starred by famous celebrities in Korea is attracting the attention.
Nichkhun, a member of 2PM which is one of the successful K-pop group that has
huge global fan, stars in the Thailand drama <Finding the Rainbow>. In
<War of Trap> from Japan, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi who is familiar with the name
of ‘Chonangan’ to Korean audience is submitted. <Accused> from Sony
Pictures is also on the entry list. Moreover, Netflix Japan's original
<First Love, Hatsukoi>, which became a hot topic by dramatizing the song
"First Love" by Japanese singer Hikaru Utada, were also listed on the
entry list.
Variety of European series recognized from the world-renowned
awards, including the Canneseries and Series Mania in France, BAFTA and the
U.S. Emmy Awards are submitted in SDA 2023.
Another interesting point is that director Lee
Byung-hun, who directed Korean film <Extreme Job> and <Dream> which
is current one in theater challenges Best Screenwriter in International
Category with the entry named <Alice, the Final Weapon>. Also, Yoo
Byung-jae, who is the famous Comedian and a writer as well, challenges Best
Screenwriter with the entry named <Unicorn>.
While the rematch of <The Glory> and
<Extraordinary Attorney Woo> is drawing people’s attention, the
organizing committee said, "It’s true that these are one of the fabulous
and the successful series in the market, but we know well that every single
entry is produced by the great efforts of the numerous people who are
concerned. We can proudly say the SDA is the only festival in Korea that we can
meet various series around the world like even from Greece, Norway, Israel and
Australia.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, KBS, MBC, SBS, EBS, and CBS,
Seoul International Drama Awards 2023 will be broadcast live on KBS 2TV on
September 21 (Thursday), and various events with celebrities will be held at
Banpo Hangang Park from September 20 (Wed) to September 22 (Fri).