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]

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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).