ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, IU, Lee Jun-ho, Lee Chae-min, Kim Hye-yoon win big at 2025 APAN Star Awards - Complete winners list  

The 2025 Seoulcon APAN Star Awards returns on December 29 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza Art Hall 1 in Seoul. The ceremony gathered leading drama figures under one roof. Once again, Kim Seung-woo teamed up with Park Sun-young as hosts. This year’s ceremony began at 7 pm, airing on tvN and TVING.

2025 APAN Star Awards winners

In total, nineteen trophies were handed out at the 2025 APAN Star Awards. These cover directing, writing, and acting across drama formats. Awards recognize mid-length and full-length performances. Separate honors spotlight excellence roles, web dramas, and short-form projects. New actors also receive recognition, while young and child performers are included as well. Below is the list of winners under various categories.

• Grand Prize (Daesang) - IU for When Life Gives You Tangerines
• Best Entertainer Award - Cha Eun-woo
• Actor Popularity Award - Lee Jun-ho
• Actress Popularity Award: Kim Hye-yoon
• Global Star: Lee Jun-ho
• Best OST: More Beautiful than Heaven from Heavenly Ever After
• Best Child Actor/Actress - Kim Tae-yeon and Lee Cheon-mu
• Best Couple Award - Chung Subin and Lee Hyeri for Friendly Rivalry
• Best Drama - When Life Gives You Tangerines
• Best New Actor - Lee Chae-min and Kang You-seok
• Best New Actress - Ha-young
• Female Excellence Award (Mid-Length Drama) - Shin Ye-eun
• Male Excellence Award (Mid-Length Drama) - Lee Jun-young for When Live Gives You Tangerines and Pump Up the Healthy Love
• Male Top Excellence Award (Mid-Length Drama) - Lee Junho for Typhoon Family
• Female Excellence Award (Mid-Length Drama) - Cha Joo-young for The Queen Who Crowns
• Best Web Drama Actor - Park Sung-woong
• Male Acting Award - Ko Kyu-pil
• Female Acting Award - Oh Nara
• Male Excellence Award (Long Form-Drama) - Kim Dong-wan
• Female Excellence Award (Long Form-Drama) - Park Eun-hye
• Male Top Excellence Award (Long Form-Drama) - Son Chang-min
• Female Top Excellence Award (Long Form-Drama) - Park Hana
• Best Writer - Jang Hyun-sook for Typhoon Family
• Best Director - Kim Won-seok for When Life Gives You Tangerines

Highlights of 2025 APAN Star Awards

The APAN Star Awards drew major attention with IU leading the spotlight. She stepped out in a fall creation by Monique Lhuillier, styled with jewelry from Graff. As she appeared, cameras followed closely.

Alongside her, many familiar faces were present. Attendees included Lee Jun-ho, Jung Jin-young, Shin Ye-eun, and Kang You-seok. The list continued with Cha Joo-young, Han Ji-eun, and Park Ha-sun. Meanwhile, Oh Nara, Chung Subin, Lee Jun-young, Hayoung, and Jung Eun-chae were also witnessed at the venue.

Later, Lee Chae-min addressed the audience after winning Best New Actor. During his remarks, he expressed gratitude toward Bon Appétit, Your Majesty filmmaker Jang Tae-yoo. The actor also mentioned his co-star YoonA. Moreover, IU becomes only the third actress, after Song Hye-kyo and Kim Tae-ri, to win a Daesang. Another highlight was Ji Chang-wook presenting the Top Excellence Award for Best Actor at the 2025 APAN Star Awards, returning in the role as a previous winner.

APAN Star Awards remains the country’s only awards show uniting broadcast, cable, OTT, and web productions. The event is backed by the Korea Entertainment Management Association and the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency. Meanwhile, Ourteam Modern Village and Guardians Company oversee production.

Edited by Shreya Jha