What Is 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards was held on July 19, 2022, at the Paradise Hotel in Incheon, South Korea, honoring excellence in streaming and broadcast content. Hosted by MBC and JTBC, it recognized K-dramas, variety shows, and digital originals. The event marked the first major South Korean awards show dedicated exclusively to series content across platforms.

Key Facts

The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards took place on July 19, 2022
The ceremony was held at Paradise Hotel in Incheon, South Korea
MBC and JTBC co-hosted the inaugural event
Top award winners included 'The Glory' and 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'
Over 10 categories honored both broadcast and streaming platform content

Overview

The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards debuted in 2022 as a new branch of the long-running Blue Dragon Film Awards, specifically dedicated to honoring excellence in Korean television and digital series. Organized by Sports Chosun, a subsidiary of JoongAng Ilbo, the event aimed to recognize the growing influence of K-series across broadcast networks and streaming platforms.

Unlike traditional award shows, this ceremony focused exclusively on episodic content, including K-dramas, variety shows, and original series produced for platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and local services such as TVING and Wavve. The inaugural event highlighted the shift in viewer habits toward on-demand and serialized storytelling.

July 19, 2022 marked the official date of the first ceremony, held at the Paradise Hotel in Incheon, South Korea.
MBC and JTBC co-hosted the event, combining broadcast prestige with modern digital content recognition.
The awards were established by Sports Chosun, extending the legacy of the Blue Dragon Film Awards into the series realm.
Over 10 award categories were presented, including Best Series, Best Actor, and Best New Actress.
Winners included 'The Glory' and 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', both of which received multiple accolades for writing and performance.

How It Works

The Blue Dragon Series Awards follow a nomination and voting process involving industry professionals, critics, and audience input. Categories are designed to reflect both artistic merit and popularity, ensuring a balanced representation of critical and commercial success.

Eligibility Period: Series released between January 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022, were considered for the inaugural awards.
Nomination Committee: A panel of 50 industry experts, including producers, critics, and journalists, selected finalists in each category.
Voting Process: Final winners were determined by a combination of 70% jury vote and 30% public online voting.
Award Categories: Includes Best Series, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best New Talent, among others.
Platform Inclusivity: Both broadcast networks and OTT platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and TVING were eligible for nominations.
Ceremony Format: The event is held annually, typically in July, and broadcast live across major Korean networks.

Comparison at a Glance

Award shows in South Korea vary in focus, eligibility, and prestige; the Blue Dragon Series Awards distinguish themselves by emphasizing digital content alongside traditional TV.

Award Show	First Held	Organizer	Focus	Platform Emphasis
Blue Dragon Series Awards	2022	Sports Chosun	TV and streaming series	OTT and broadcast
Baeksang Arts Awards	1965	JoongAng Ilbo	Film, TV, theater	Broadcast only (historically)
APAN Star Awards	2012	Korean Entertainment Producers Association	Television dramas	Primarily broadcast
Asia Artist Awards	2016	Sports Dong-A	Idol culture and acting	Mixed (K-pop and drama)
KTU Drama Awards	2021	Korea Television Union	Broadcast dramas	Terrestrial TV only

The table illustrates how the Blue Dragon Series Awards stand out by embracing both traditional and digital platforms. While older ceremonies like Baeksang have only recently adapted to OTT content, the Blue Dragon Series Awards were designed from the start to reflect the modern media landscape, making them particularly relevant to today’s streaming-dominated market.

Why It Matters

The launch of the Blue Dragon Series Awards signifies a major shift in how Korean entertainment is recognized, adapting to the rise of digital platforms and global content consumption. By including streaming series, the awards validate new forms of storytelling and production outside the traditional network system.

Global Recognition: Honoring Netflix and Disney+ originals helps amplify Korean content internationally and attract foreign investment.
Industry Evolution: The awards reflect the blurring line between broadcast and streaming, encouraging innovation in production.
Artist Exposure: Newcomers and digital-native actors gain equal platform visibility alongside TV veterans.
Viewer Engagement: Public voting components increase fan participation and boost social media buzz.
Cultural Impact: Recognizing diverse genres—from legal dramas to reality shows—validates broader cultural narratives.
Future-Proofing: The format is scalable and adaptable to emerging platforms like short-form video or AI-generated content.

As Korean content continues to dominate global entertainment, the Blue Dragon Series Awards play a crucial role in shaping industry standards and celebrating creative excellence in an evolving digital age.