The 2025 SBS Drama Awards closed the year on a powerful note, celebrating a television season that blended scale, emotion, and standout performances. At the heart of the ceremony was Lee Je-hoon, who made history by winning the Daesang (Grand Prize) for Taxi Driver 3 — becoming one of the rare actors to receive the top honour twice for the same franchise.
Held on December 31 at the SBS Prism Tower in Seoul’s Sangam district, the night felt like a sweeping tribute to a show that has come to define SBS’s modern drama identity.
Lee Je-hoon and Taxi Driver 3 Lead the Charge
Lee’s portrayal of vigilante driver Kim Do-gi has remained the emotional core of Taxi Driver, and Season 3 pushed that character into darker, more layered territory. His win felt less like a surprise and more like recognition long overdue.
Adding to the franchise’s dominance, Taxi Driver 3 was also named Drama of the Year, cementing its status as SBS’s most influential and talked-about series of 2025. Directed by Kang Bo-seung, the show continued to draw from its webtoon roots while expanding its moral and emotional complexity.
A Night That Reflected the Range of Korean Drama
Beyond Taxi Driver, the awards honoured excellence across genres — from romantic comedies and melodramas to action-heavy thrillers and fantasy-driven narratives. Established stars, scene-stealers, and rising newcomers all had their moment, making the ceremony feel balanced and forward-looking.
🏆 Full List of Winners – SBS Drama Awards 2025
Grand Prize (Daesang)
- Lee Je-hoon – Taxi Driver 3
Drama of the Year
- Taxi Driver 3
Director’s Award
- Yoon Kye-sang – The Winning Try
🌟 Top Excellence Awards
Romantic Comedy
- Male: Choi Woo-shik – Would You Marry Me
- Female: Jung So-min – Would You Marry Me
Romance / Melodrama
- Male: Lee Joon-hyuk – Love Scout
- Female: Han Ji-min – Love Scout
Action / Genre
- Male: Park Hyung-sik – Buried Hearts
- Female: Go Hyun-jung – Queen Mantis
Human / Fantasy
- Male: Yook Sung-jae – The Haunted Palace
- Female: Kim Ji-yeon – The Haunted Palace
⭐ Excellence Awards
Romantic Comedy
- Male: Jang Ki-yong – Dynamite Kiss
- Female: Ahn Eun-jin – Dynamite Kiss
Romance / Melodrama
- Male: Kim Do-hoon – Love Scout
- Female: Jeon Yeo-been – Our Movie
Action / Genre
- Male: Jang Dong-yoon – Queen Mantis
- Female: Pyo Ye-jin – Taxi Driver 3
Human / Fantasy
- Kim Yo-han – The Winning Try
🎭 Best Supporting Actor Awards
Romantic Comedy
- Male: Seo Bum-june – Would You Marry Me
- Female: Shin Seul-ki – Would You Marry Me
Romance / Melodrama
- Male: Go Geon-han – Love Scout
- Female: Lee Sang-hee – Love Scout
Action / Genre
- Male: Lee Hae-young – Buried Hearts
- Female: Han Dong-hee – Queen Mantis
Human / Fantasy
- Male: Lee Sung-wook – The Winning Try
- Female: Gil Hae-yeon – The Winning Try
🎬 Special Awards
- Scene Stealer (Male): Yoon Shi-yoon – Taxi Driver 3
- Scene Stealer (Female): Seo Hye-won – Love Scout
- Best Performance Award: Kim Eui-sung – Taxi Driver 3
- Best Couple Award: Jang Ki-yong & Ahn Eun-jin – Dynamite Kiss
- Best Teamwork Award: Hanyang High School Rugby Team – The Winning Try
🌱 Rookie of the Year Awards
- Kim Dan – The Winning Try
- Kim Mu-jun – Dynamite Kiss
- Cha Woo-min – Buried Hearts
- Ha Yoo-joon – Spring of Youth
- Kim Eun-bi – Our Movie
- Park Jung-yeon – The Winning Try
- Woo Da-vi – Dynamite Kiss
- Hong Hwa-yeon – Buried Hearts
🕊️ Lifetime Achievement Award
- Lee Soon-jae (Posthumous)
Final Words
The 2025 SBS Drama Awards weren’t just about one winner — they reflected a year where Korean television thrived on variety, risk-taking, and emotional storytelling. Still, the night undeniably belonged to Taxi Driver 3 and Lee Je-hoon, whose legacy with the franchise now feels firmly sealed in awards history.
