It’s that time again—when Korea’s most celebrated filmmakers and rising storytellers gather under one roof to spotlight a year of cinematic brilliance and boundary-breaking drama. The 23rd Director’s Cut Awards, hosted by the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK), has just revealed its nominee roster, and it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, vision, and storytelling mastery.
Spanning both film and television, this year’s selection recognizes the directors, actors, writers, and fresh faces who’ve left an indelible mark on screens large and small between January 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
From powerhouse veterans to exciting new voices, this year’s line-up boasts a diverse range of talents making waves in the industry.
Let’s dive into this year’s nominee line-up!
In the Film category:
From mind-bending sci-fi to emotionally rich dramas, this year’s film contenders capture Korea’s cinematic evolution.
Best Director:
Legendary names and dynamic newer voices lead the charge. Nominees include:
- Kim Hyung Joo (‘The Match’)
- Nam Dong Hyub (‘Handsome Guys’)
- Bong Joon Ho (‘Mickey 17’)
- Woo Min Ho (‘Harbin’)
- Jang Jae Hyun (‘Exhuma’)
- Hur Jin Ho (‘A Normal Family’)
Best Vision:
This category honors bold direction and fresh aesthetics, spotlighting the creative risk-takers.
Nominees include:
- Kim Da Min (‘FAQ’)
- Kim Dong Chul (‘Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning’)
- Park Ri Woong (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
- Park Hong Jun (‘Work to Do’)
- Oh Jung Min (‘House of the Seasons’)
- Lee Mi Rang (‘Connecting My Daughter’)
Best New Director:
This category honors bold direction and fresh aesthetics, spotlighting the creative risk-takers.
- Kim Dong Chul (‘Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning’)
- Kim Se Hwi (‘Following’)
- Nam Dong Hyub (‘Handsome Guys’)
- Park Hong Jun (‘Work to Do’)
- Oh Jung Min (‘House of the Seasons’)
Best Screenplay:
Celebrating the pen behind the magic, this year’s sharpest scripts come from:
- Kim Hyung Joo, Yoon Jong Bin (‘The Match’)
- Park Ri Woong (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
- Bong Joon Ho (‘Mickey 17’)
- Oh Jung Min (‘House of the Seasons’)
- Jang Jae Hyun (‘Exhuma’)
Best Actress:
Double nominee Kim Go Eun stuns with nods for both ‘Exhuma’ and ‘Love in the Big City’. She’s joined by the seasoned talents who lift up the screen:
- Kim Go Eun (‘Love in the Big City’)
- Kim Go Eun (‘Exhuma’)
- Kim Jae Hwa (‘Blesser’)
- Shin Hae Sun (‘Following’)
- Yang Hee Kyung (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
Best Actor:
The leading men of the big screen- icons include:
- Robert Pattinson (‘Mickey 17’)
- Yoo Ah In (‘The Match’)
- Yoon Joo Sang (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
- Lee Byung Hun (‘The Match’)
- Choi Min Sik (‘Exhuma’)
A promising future shines with the talented name:
Best New Actress:
Rising women in cinema:
- Kim Geum Soon (‘Star of Ulsan’)
- Kim Shin Rok (‘Uprising’)
- Kim Ji Ahn (‘Exhuma’)
- Yang Hee Kyung (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
- Han Sun Hwa (‘Pilot’)
Best New Actor:
Rising men in cinema:
- Kang Seung Ho (‘House of the Seasons’)
- Noh Sang Hyun (‘Love in the Big City’)
- Yoon Joo Sang (‘The Land of Morning Calm’)
- Lee Do Hyun (‘Exhuma’)
- Hong Kyung (‘Troll Factory’)
In the Drama Series :
Where storytelling expands, and characters come alive overtime.K-Drama continues to dominate screens globally, and this year’s dramas brought bold ideas, unique visuals, and unforgettable performances.
Best Director:
Visionaries behind some of the most unforgettable series:
- Kim Gok, Kim Sun (‘Family Matters’)
- Park Chan Wook (‘The Sympathizer’)
- Yeon Sang Ho (‘Parasyte: The Grey’)
- Lee Chang Hee (‘A Killer Paradox’)
- Im Dae Hyung (‘LTNS’)
- Hwang Dong Hyuk (‘Squid Game 2’)
Best Actress:
A seasoned list of powerhouse names featuring:
- Kim Hye Joon (‘A Shop for Killers’)
- Bae Doona (‘Family Matters’)
- Esom (‘LTNS’)
- Jeon So Nee (‘Parasyte: The Grey’)
- Chun Woo Hee (‘The 8 Show’)
Best Actor:
Captivating performers list includes:
- Ryoo Seung Bum (‘Family Matters’)
- Ahn Jae Hong (‘LTNS’)
- Lee Byung Hun (‘Squid Game 2’)
- Lee Hee Joon (‘A Killer Paradox’)
- Choi Woo Shik (‘A Killer Paradox’)
Breakout stars of the year and new faces we’re rooting for! Fresh, talented faces lighting up the screen:
Best New Actress:
- Geum Hae Na (‘A Shop for Killers’)
- Moon Geun Young (‘Hellbound 2’)
- Lee Soo Kyung (‘Love in the Big City’)
- Lee Su Hyun (‘Family Matters’)
- Jung Yi Seo (‘A Killer Paradox’)
Best New Actor:
- Kim Yo Han (‘A Killer Paradox’)
- Lomon (‘Family Matters’)
- Park Sung Hoon (‘Squid Game 2’)
- Jin Ho Eun (‘Love in the Big City’)
- Hyun Bong Sik (‘A Killer Paradox’)
Congratulations to all the nominees for bagging this prestigious nomination!
As the 23rd Director’s Cut Awards gear up for a dazzling evening, the stage is set for a fierce celebration of artistic brilliance. ‘Exhuma’ dominates the film category with nominations in direction, screenplay, and all major acting nods. Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ and ‘The Match’ also emerge as strong contenders, while on the drama front, ‘Squid Game 2’, ‘A Killer Paradox’, and ‘A Shop for Killers’ lead the pack. With such a powerhouse lineup, this year’s ceremony promises a thrilling showcase of Korea’s finest screen storytelling.
The 23rd Director’s Cut Awards will take place on May 20 at 7 PM KST(3:30 PM IST).
Written by Sharanya
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