The Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Busan Metropolitan City, and co-organised by the Busan International Film Festival and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, opened grandly with actors Kang Ki-young and Tiffany Young as hosts, and performances by Nerd Connection and TRI.BE added to the festive atmosphere.
First, in the Best Creative category, which recognises works that contribute to the diversification of content through innovative ideas and fresh formats, director Wong Kar-wai’s first feature series Blossoms Shanghai was honoured with the award. Hu Ge, the lead actor of Blossoms Shanghai, also won Best Lead Actor(Male), making the series a double winner. Imperfect Us, the most nominated work this year, earned two awards: Ariel Lin for Best Lead Actor(Female) and Tanya Chua’s “Learn to Live Again” for Best Original Song, a newly introduced category. The People’s Choice Award, also launched this year to encourage audience engagement, was awarded to Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hyeyoon from Lovely Runner after receiving approximately 600,000 votes from global viewers via Kinolights.
Among a competitive field of contenders, the standout achievements of Korean films and actors are also notable. Coupang Play’s Boyhood, a domestic and international hit, won Best OTT Original, an award given to original OTT series that are recognised for their popularity and quality. Mask Girl, which gained attention by rising to second place in Netflix’s non-English TV category after its release, took home the honour of Best Supporting Actor as Ahn Jae-hong and Yeom Hye-ran swept the awards. Best Writer was awarded to Ju Hwa-mi for The Atypical Family, a series that uniquely reimagines the superhero genre through a distinctly Korean lens. Additionally, Chae Jong-hyeop from Eye Love You, which swept Japan by taking the top spot on Netflix Japan, and Kim Yo-han from The Killer Paradox, which ranked first in 11 countries shortly after its release, jointly won the Best Newcomer Actor(Male), showcasing the success of Korean actors both domestically and internationally. Best Visual Effects went to Parasyte: The Grey, receiving great support from the judges.
The diversifying Asian content once again proved its growing global influence as well. In the Best Asian Contents category, Kazakhstan’s 1286 won the award, signalling the rise of a new powerhouse. Best Director went to Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah for Netflix Indonesia’s first original series, Cigarette Girl. In the Best Reality & Variety category, Thailand’s hit show Two Faces, where participants meet their doppelgängers, shared the award with Korea’s Jinny’s Kitchen 2, which not only became a domestic sensation but also ranked first in the non-drama category on Prime Video in eight countries, further solidifying the global presence of Korean variety shows.
The emergence of new Asian stars also stood out. In the Best Newcomer Actor(Female) category, Nimura Sawa was nominated for her delicate yet powerful performance in her debut leading role in SHUT UP. The Rising Star of the Year Award, recognising individuals with both domestic and international influence, was jointly awarded to Anson Kong, who transitioned from Hong Kong pop star to next-generation actor in Warriors Within 2; Jo Yoonsu, a rising star in Korea for her role in The Tyrant; and Miyoshi Ayaka, who has excelled across modelling, acting, and variety shows, including Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook. Together, they represent the emergence of a new wave of Asian stars.
The Creative Beyond Border category, which recognises efforts to pioneer new genres in the OTT space, went to TVING’s shamanism documentary Shaman: Whispers from the Dead. The New Technology Award, given to platforms providing innovative services using ICT-based technologies, was awarded to KOCOWA, which effectively incorporated AI technology to strengthen its position as a global content platform.
