Seo Kang Joon walked away with the night’s highest honor at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards, taking home the coveted Grand Prize.
The actor delivered one of the year’s most buzzed-about performances in the drama Undercover High School, thrilling viewers with nonstop catharsis and cementing the show as a breakout hit. Among all MBC Friday–Saturday dramas aired in 2025, the series ranked No. 1 in both viewership and buzz.
Portraying National Intelligence Service agent Jeong Hae Seong, who goes undercover by concealing his identity, Seo Kang Joon marked a triumphant return following his military discharge. Accepting the award, he shared a humble and heartfelt speech.
“While I was in the military, I missed the set so much,” he said. “While filming the project, I often thought about how easily I could be replaced at any time. I don’t know how many more years I’ll be able to do this job, but until the very end, I don’t want to be someone who can be replaced. That’s why I’ll keep studying, thinking, and acting with even more sincerity.”
Below is the full list of winners at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards:
- Grand Prize (Daesang): Seo Kang Joon (Undercover High School)
- Drama of the Year: Undercover High School
- Top Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actress): Jin Ki Joo (Undercover High School), Kim Se Jeong (Moon River)
- Top Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actor): Kang Tae Oh (Moon River)
- Top Excellence Award, Daily & Short-Form (Actress): Jang Shin Young (The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun)
- Top Excellence Award, Daily & Short-Form (Actor): Song Chang Eui (Desperate Mrs. Seonju)
- Best Actor Award (Actress): Lee Se Young (Motel California)
- Best Actor Award (Actor): Jung Kyung Ho (Oh My Ghost Clients)
- Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actress): Lee Sun Bin (To the Moon)
- Excellence Award, Miniseries (Actor): Na In Woo (Motel California)
- Excellence Award, Daily & Short-Form (Actress): Yoon Ah Jung (The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun)
- Excellence Award, Daily & Short-Form (Actor): Oh Chang Seok (The Woman Who Swallowed the Sun)
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Late Lee Soon Jae
- Best Couple Award: Kang Tae Oh, Kim Se Jeong (Moon River)
- Best Character Award: Jin Goo (Moon River)
- Supporting Actor Award (Actress): Kim Shin Rock (Undercover High School)
- Supporting Actor Award (Actor): Kim Nam Hee (Moon River)
- Rookie Award (Actress): Jo Aram (To the Moon), Hong Su Zu (Moon River)
- Rookie Award (Actor): Lee Chae Min (Crushology 101), Lee Shin Young (Moon River)
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