17th Korea Drama Awards Reveals 32 Best Drama Nominees
The 17th Korea Drama Awards has revealed the nominees for Best Drama, with a total of 32 titles selected from broadcast networks, cable channels, general programming channels, and OTT platforms.
The nominees are competing for one of the ceremony's main awards, with this year's selection reflecting the increasingly competitive Korean drama landscape across both traditional television and streaming platforms.
According to the Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee, the eligible dramas were released in South Korea between August 2025 and July 2026, with the selection made regardless of whether a title originally aired on television or was released through an OTT service.
32 Dramas Compete for Best Drama
The Best Drama lineup includes productions from a wide range of platforms and genres, with tvN receiving six nominations, while JTBC has five.
SBS has four nominated titles, while KBS2 and MBC are also represented among the broadcast networks. ENA has two nominees.
The OTT platforms are particularly prominent this year. Netflix leads the streaming services with 10 nominated dramas, followed by Disney+ with three.
The full lineup includes romance, comedy, action, thriller and other genres, reflecting the broad range of Korean dramas released during the eligibility period.
Strong Competition Across TV and OTT
The nominees demonstrate how the boundaries between traditional broadcasting and streaming continue to become less distinct within the Korean drama industry.
Rather than separating television and OTT productions, the Korea Drama Awards evaluates eligible dramas across platforms, allowing titles released through services such as Netflix and Disney+ to compete alongside dramas from major Korean broadcasters and cable networks.
This year's lineup therefore includes a mix of established television productions and high-profile streaming originals, creating a particularly diverse Best Drama category.
Dear X Among the Nominees
One of the nominated tvN dramas is Dear X, starring Kim Yoo-jung, which has earned a place among the 32 Best Drama contenders.
The nomination adds another major recognition to the drama following its release during the current eligibility period.
However, Dear X is competing against a broad selection of dramas from across Korea's television and OTT landscape, making the Best Drama race one of the most competitive categories of this year's ceremony.
17th Korea Drama Awards Ceremony
The 17th Korea Drama Awards will take place on October 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. KST at the Grand Performance Hall of the Gyeongnam Culture & Arts Center in Jinju, South Korea.
The ceremony will serve as one of the main events of the 2026 Korea Drama Festival, which will be held in Jinju from October 9 to 18.
Korea Drama Awards judging committee chairman Lee Eung-jin praised the quality of this year's productions, noting that many of the nominated dramas have the potential to appeal not only to Asian audiences but also to viewers around the world.
With 32 productions competing for Best Drama, the ceremony is set to highlight the growing diversity and international reach of Korean drama.
17th Korea Drama Awards — Best Drama Nominees
The nominees announced across the major broadcasters and OTT platforms include:
SBS
- Agent Kim Reactivated
- Taxi Driver 3
- My Royal Nemesis
- Queen Mantis
MBC
- The Judge Returns
KBS2
- The Husband
JTBC
- We Are All Trying Here
- Reborn Rookie
- The Dream Life of Mr. Kim
- Surely Tomorrow
- Apartment
tvN
- Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
- The Legend of Kitchen Soldier
- Dear X
- Undercover Miss Hong
- Typhoon Family
- Filing for Love
ENA
- The Scarecrow
- Climax
Netflix
- You and Everything Else
- Genie, Make a Wish
- The Art of Sarah
- The Price of Confession
- Bloodhounds Season 2
- The East Palace
- Can This Love Be Translated?
- Notes from the Last Row
- Boyfriend on Demand
- Study Group
Disney+
- Made in Korea
- The Manipulated
- Gold Land
What to Expect
The 17th Korea Drama Awards will bring together dramas released across an increasingly fragmented Korean content market, with television networks and global streaming platforms now competing within the same awards landscape.
The final winner of Best Drama will be announced during the ceremony on October 10.