Staying on top of K-entertainment biz, When Life Gives You Tangerines‘ leading star and K-pop queen IU took home the most significant award of the evening at the 2025 Newsis Expo. On Thursday, August 28 (KST), the winners of this year’s ceremony were honoured for their contributions to K-culture throughout the year.
The event was collectively sponsored by Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Seoul Metropolitan Council; Korea Creative Content Agency; and Seoul Tourism Organisation. Held at the Lotte Hotel Crystal Ballroom in Seoul, the South Korean celebration of entertainment talents rolled out the red carpet for well-deserving A-listers whose efforts positively deepened the respect for the Hallyu Wave across the world.
While singer-actress IU snagged the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award this year, fellow K-drama actors Squid Game‘s Lee Jung Jae, Love Scout‘s Lee Joon Hyuk and The Divorce Insurance actress Lee Joo Bin were among other big winners of the night.
Last year, Queen of Tears actor Kim Soo Hyun secured the same title as IU, shorty before his name was submerged in controversial headlines. Lovely Runner‘s Kim Hye Yoon, Pyramid Game’s Bona, and Sweet Home’s Go Min Si were some other beloved actress who returned home victorious in 2024. At the time, K-pop icons H1-KEY, PLAVE and Big Ocean also won one award or the other.
Here’s what happened at this year’s Newsis K-Expo:
2025 Newsis K-Expo winners list
- Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Award: IU
- Seoul Mayor Award: ATEEZ, Maybe Happy Ending writer Hue Park
- National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee’s Chairman Award: Lee Joon Hyuk (Love Scout), Lee Joo Bin (The Divorce Insurance)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award: Lee Jung Jae (Squid Game)
- Seoul Tourism Organisation’s President Award: Choo Young Woo (Head Over Heels), KiiiKiii
- Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Chairman Award: STAYC, P1Harmony
- Global Netizen Award – OST: ZEROBASEONE‘s Zhang Hao
- Global Netizen Award – Trot: Lee Chan Won
- Global Netizen Award – Next Icon: AHOF
- Hallyu Special Award: RESCENE
- Hallyu Special Ballad Award: Hwang Karam
- Korea Creative Content Agency Award: BEATPELLA HOUSE
Who won last year at the 2024 Newsis K-Expo Awards?
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award: Kim Soo Hyun
- National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s Chairman Award: Byun Yo Han (Uncle Samsik), Kim Hye Yoon (Lovely Runner)
- Hallyu Special Award: Big Ocean
- Korea Creative Content Agency Award: MODHAUS’ CEO Jaden Jeong (aka Jeong Byeong Gi) – tripleS producer
- Seoul Mayor Award: Go Min Si (Sweet Home)
- Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Chairman Award: H1-KEY, PLAVE
- Seoul Tourism Organisation’s President Award: Chae Jong Hyeop (Eye Love You, Serendipity’s Embrace), WJSN’s Bona, aka Kim Ji Yeon (Pyramid Game)