In the blink of an eye, 2024 is already coming to a close and so much has happened within this year alone.
From ZAPZEE’s exclusive interviews to drama reviews and daily news, there are a mountain of special things to discuss for an end-of-the-year wrap-up. However, the most important thing is recognizing the accomplishments of various Korean actors and dramas throughout the year with the official ZAPZEE 2024 Awards.
With a plethora of categories such as Movies of The Year and Best New Actors and Actresses, ZAPZEE has gathered and awarded three top-tier artists and shows for all 9 categories. Check out to see if your favorite idols, stars, and dramas made it to our awards list.
Movies of the Year:
- Exhuma
- Handsome Guys
- Victory
Occult mystery film Exhuma surpassed 9 million views in 24 days of release and proved Korea’s power presence at the box office- even dominating global box offices in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand during its first-week premier. Following the hype, Handsome Guys became one of Korea’s top five-grossing films and had a 336% return in profits thanks to its addictive and comedic storyline. Meanwhile, The Millennium Girls, about a cheerleading team in Victory, resonated with this year’s Y2K trends and resonated with fans on an emotional level.
Dramas of the Year:
- Doubt
- A Shop for Killers
- Lovely Runner
Doubt raised the bar for thriller-suspense dramas outdoing series like Hierarchy. Various cinematic moments heightened the psychological thrills of each episode. A Shop for Killers action-packed drama made Disney Plus a go-to place for K-Dramas. It scored an 8.7 on MyDramaList and IMDb due to well-executed fight scenes and story transitions. Lovely Runner outshined Queen of Tears with a youthful romance mixed with the push-and-pull storyline of both hero and heroine providing a much-needed escapism.
Actresses of the Year:
- Kim Go Eun (Exhuma, Love in the Big City)
- Hyeri (Victory)
- Kim Hye Yoon (Lovely Runner)
Kim Go Eun mythical atmosphere in her role for Exhuma transcended. Kim’s maturity and development in acting enhanced Exhuma’s quality as a whole. Hyeri appears as the friend you want to cheer for on-screen with her realistic essence in Victory. Her heartwarming expressions and vivacious mind bring her character to life. Kim Hye Yoon stated, “The ‘rescue romance’ theme as the leads save each other, both emotionally and physically is attractive.” She played both a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armor effortlessly.
Actors of the Year:
- Choi Min Sik (Exhuma)
- Han Suk Kyu (Doubt)
- Byun Woo Seok (Lovely Runner)
Choi Min Sik outperformed himself, bringing the fear of Korea’s past to life in Exhuma. He expressed horror in a genuine way and captivated fans as a senior actor. Han Suk Kyu chemistry in Doubt as the tragic father-daughter duo took center stage. His calm but icy expressions and made Han’s suspenseful acting intense and delightful. Byeon Woo Seok is a male lead both strong and tender for his character in need during Lovely Runner. In JoyNews24’s survey, Byeon received 90 of 200 votes as a standout in the drama category for this refreshing romance.
Best New Actresses:
- Chae Won Bin (Doubt)
- Woo Da Bi (Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born)
- Jang Da Ah (Pyramid Game)
Chae Won Bin’s melancholic behavior paired with blank stares and reserved demeanor surged up raw emotions that fans ate up. The unmatched star power of Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born is in the stellar casting. Woo Da Bi proved herself amongst a cast of recognized actors. Lastly, Jang Da Ah gave us a pure princess in her queen bee role for Pyramid Game. Viewers naturally hate her guts and despicable nature for organizing the brutal games within the series.
Best New Actors:
- Noh Sang Hyun (Love in The Big City)
- Noh Jae Won (Doubt, A Killer Paradox)
- Kim Yo Han (A Killer Paradox, Officer Black Belt)
Noh Sang Hyun confidently portrayed the taboo LGBT+ love story of Love in The Big City with pure conviction. The heartfelt story of self-acceptance alongside steamy chemistry made him a beautiful phenomenon to watch. Noh Jae Won portrays a charming guise with the most psychotic of sides. Noh proves to be beguiling in Doubt. Kim Yo Han became the adorkable and admirable hero making him relatable in Killer Paradox. His great impression on fans built anticipation for more breakthrough roles.
Songs of the Year:
- “Supernatural” (NewJeans)
- “APT.” (Rosé)
- “Magnetic” (ILLIT)
Nostalgic hit “Super Shy” catapulted their careers but “Supernatural” was another extraordinary hit solidifying NewJeans’ identity as boundary-pushing artists with familiar, refreshing Y2K concepts. Rosé’s pairing with Bruno Mars prompted a global hit. “APT” checked off all the criteria to succeed and the apartment pronunciation made it an unforgettable addiction. ILLIT released “Magnetic” and controlled your feed on any SNS platform. Even army men dancing to the elaborate, fast-paced choreography on TikTok went viral.
Artists of the Year:
- Rosé
- NewJeans
- aespa
Rosé became a star outside of K-Pop with “apateu” addictive jibberish. Her successful collaboration with Bruno Mars proves Rosé can be all on her own. NewJeans’ highlight with “Supernatural” reminded the world of all the reasons why the girl group is so successful. Their simplicity differs from the glamour of K-pop. Lastly, aespa outshined peers NewJeans and IVE in 2024. Whiplash and SUPERNOVA found success and their sensual energy at Gayo Daejeon of 2024 didn’t go unnoticed.
BL Dramas of the Year:
- Love for Love’s Sake
- The Time of Fever
- Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo
BL surged within Korea. Love for Love’s Sake’s fresh-faced cast embellished the incredible storyline. The piqued interest heightened them to earn an 8.8 on MyDramaList. The Time of Fever heeded the call to spice things up as the kiss between Won Tae Min and Do Woo became a hot topic. The actors expressed concerns of representing gay romance more naturally but succeeded. Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo premiered at the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival showcasing queer love within Korea on a larger scale. Scoring 8.2 on MyDramaList and IMDb, it is the right direction for LGBT+ content in Korea.
What did you think of the final lineup of winners? Did any of the names surprise you or were your favorites on the list all along? Comment who you’d love to see win for each category and what other things you may expect in the year 2025 – perhaps your predictions will be correct?
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