K-Drama Festival Lights Up Jinju: '2025 Korea Drama Festival' Concludes Successfully

The '2025 Korea Drama Festival' (2025 KDF), held for ten days from the 10th to the 19th in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, has successfully concluded amidst enthusiastic support from fans.

This landmark event, establishing itself as Korea's premier drama festival, offered a vibrant array of experiential content, including a photo zone recreating popular drama sets and an exhibition hall showcasing the history of K-dramas, drawing significant praise from attendees.

The festival's excitement was further amplified by art exhibitions inspired by dramas, busking performances, and a 'KDF Music Festa' featuring live OST performances.

A major highlight was the '16th Korea Drama Awards,' where luminaries such as Ahn Jae-wook ('Grand Prize'), Park Bo-young ('Best Acting Award'), and Yook Sung-jae ('Best Acting Award') were honored, recognizing talents beloved by domestic and international fans. Veteran actress Kim Yong-rim received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' serving as an inspiration to younger generations with her nearly 60-year acting career.

The festival also attracted international attention, with a cultural exchange delegation from São Paulo, Brazil, visiting Jinju and hailing it as the 'heart of K-content,' attributing the success of K-dramas to the city's rich cultural soil. Festival chairman Son Sung-min expressed, "It was meaningful to share the present and future of Korean dramas in Jinju," pledging continued efforts for the industry's advancement.

Netizens commented, "It's so proud that Jinju hosted such a big event," "I definitely want to participate next year and make good memories," and "Congratulations to all the Drama Awards winners! Special respect to veteran actress Kim Yong-rim." They celebrated the festival's success and expressed anticipation for next year's event.