Kim Go Eun Wins Top Honor at Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026

CANTIKA.COM, Jakarta - Actress, Kim Go Eun, has secured the highest recognition at the Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026, while Tving's "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" and Netflix's "Better Late Than Single" were among the other main winners that evening.

Kim Go Eun, who starred in the two most talked-about series last year - "You and Everything Else" (2025) from Netflix and the romantic drama "Yumi's Cells" (2021-26) from Tving - received the highest accolade at the fifth Blue Dragon Series Awards on Friday.

"I never take for granted the opportunity to work on a project," said Kim as tears streamed down her face after receiving the Grand Prize. "I try to approach every role with sincerity, determination, and a strong sense of responsibility."

"I will continue to work hard to keep the audience curious about what else I can show as an actress, and I hope to be continually given the opportunity," she said.

This marks her second victory at the annual awards, after she won Best Actress for her lead role as Yu-mi in the first season of "Yumi's Cells" at the inaugural ceremony in 2022.

The Blue Dragon Series Awards, organized by the sports and entertainment newspaper Sports Chosun, honors achievements in television and streaming, separate from the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Nominations are selected through online polls and evaluations by Sports Chosun journalists and industry experts. Winners are chosen by a panel of six experts and fan voting, the latter contributing to a seventh of the final score.

Awards Moment Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026

Stars began arriving on the red carpet at the Paradise City resort complex on Yeongjong Island, Incheon, starting at 7 p.m. Many posed with heart-shaped cheek styles, while others showcased the trending upside-down V sign.

Yoona, actress and Girls' Generation member, and Jun Hyun-moo hosted the awards for the fifth year. ENA's drama "The Scarecrow" led the nominations this year with six awards. Park Hae-soo won the Best Actor award for his role as a detective tracking a serial killer in the mystery thriller film.

However, the top award for the drama category went to Tving's comedy "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," starring Park Ji-hoon as a young soldier serving food in a military canteen. Yoon Kyung-ho, who recently also found success with the SBS action series "Agent Kim Reactivated," won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the Tving show.

Shin Hye Sun won the Best Actress award for her role as a master swindler in the Netflix thriller "The Art of Sarah."

In the variety show category, the first season of the reality dating show "Better Late Than Single" (2025-) on Netflix won the Best Entertainment Program. The show returned for its second season in early July with a new group of non-celebrity contestants who have never dated before.

Comedian Lee Eun-ji, one of the cast members who provided commentary on the show, thanked the participants for their courage to take part. "I sincerely thank you for sharing your lives and personal stories with us," she said.

Netflix's reality show "Screwballs" (2025-) and "Saturday Night Live Korea 8" (2021-) from Coupang Play also emerged as major winners. Kim Sook from "Screwballs" won the Best Female Entertainer award, while Kim Won-hoon from "Saturday Night Live Korea" took home the Best Male Entertainer award.

Kim Won-hoon appeared emotional as he brought a 'Death Note' prop onto the stage to receive his award, referring to the manga series book in which anyone whose name is written will die. "Every time I attend an awards ceremony, I don't prepare an acceptance speech, but how I will react if I don't win," he said.

"I was going to write the names of the organizers in the 'Death Note' if I didn't win, but because you have given me this award, I will let you live," he joked.

Musical performances included Taste Boys, a fictional boy band from "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," and Choi Ye-na, accompanied by the embodiment of brain cells from "Yumi's Cells" during her performance of the songs "NemoNemo" (2024) and "Catch Catch."

Tiger JK, accompanied by Lee from "Better Late Than Single," performed the song "Angel" (2014) before the rapper took the stage with Mimi from Oh My Girl to perform "Good Life" (2001) and the highly popular song "Monster" (2009) before the announcement of the main awards that evening.

KOREAJOONGANGDAILY | ECKA PRAMITA

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