Eight Distinct Stars Receive Identical Awards at 2025 SBS Drama Awards, Stirring Debate

Eight actors face backlash for sharing rookie awards at 2025 SBS Drama Awards

The 2025 SBS Drama Awards stirred controversy after handing the exact same rookie award to eight different actors and actresses.

Four male actors—Kim Dan (The Winning Try), Kim Moo Jun (Dynamite Kiss), Cha Woo Min (Buried Hearts), and Ha Yu Jun (Spring of Youth)—all won the rookie award together.

At the same time, four actresses—Kim Eun Bi (Our Movie), Park Jung Yeon (The Winning Try), Woo Da Bi (Dynamite Kiss), and Hong Hwa Yeon (Buried Hearts)—were also named rookie winners.

The ceremony’s atmosphere turned awkward when it was revealed all four male nominees were actually winners. Even the actors looked confused and clapped awkwardly.

2025 SBS 연기대상
김단 – 트라이
김무준 – 키스는 괜히 해서!
차우민 – 보물섬
하유준 – 사계의 봄

김은비 – 우리영화
박정연 – 트라이
우다비 – 키스는 괜히 해서!
홍화연 – 보물섬
— 루키 (@o3o_rookie) December 31, 2025

The four male winners appeared on screen together, making audiences expect nominees. Instead, all were winners, causing visible confusion on stage.

2025 SBS 연기대상 신인상 시상 ㅈㄴ 웃김
신인상 연기 영상 나오고 4명이 좌르륵 나오는데 알고보니 후보가 아니라 수상이어서 다들 어리둥절 하면서 멀뚱멀뚱 박수만 침ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
— 루 (@rooclip) December 31, 2025

Giving multiple rookie awards is an SBS tradition. Still, many online criticized it for reducing the award’s value.

Netizens shared their thoughts:

“This isn’t even that bold for SBS. Back in the day, they handed them out in huge batches—actors just kept coming up on stage and it never seemed to end lol.”

“Awards given out en masse already have zero prestige anyway. It’s basically just an attendance award.”

“Giving out a lot of Best New Actor awards isn’t a bad thing though.”

“Didn’t they give out even more in the past?”

“SBS is known for handing out a lot of Best New Actor awards.”

The multiple-winner approach keeps dividing opinions, with some fans calling it normal and others saying it cheapens the prize.