The highly acclaimed American science fiction drama series "Severance" has been awarded the Golden Bird, the highest honor at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards. The Apple TV+ series, which gained widespread popularity following its 2022 debut, continues to receive critical acclaim and industry recognition for its innovative storytelling and unique premise.

"Severance" is produced by CJ ENM's U.S. studio Fifth Season and follows employees at the mysterious Lumon Industries corporation. The show's central concept revolves around workers who undergo a surgical "severance" procedure that completely separates their work memories from their personal lives, creating two distinct personas with no knowledge of each other's existence. This dystopian workplace thriller has captivated audiences with its exploration of work-life balance taken to an extreme.

The series recently dominated the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, securing eight victories on Monday night, including the prestigious Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. This Emmy success further solidified the show's position as one of television's most compelling and well-crafted productions.

In the international competition category at this year's Seoul International Drama Awards, Netflix's British series "Adolescence" claimed the grand prize. The Best Director award was shared between two acclaimed filmmakers: Hirokazu Kore-eda for "Asura" and Philip Barantini for "Adolescence." Owen Cooper received the Best Actor honor for his compelling performance in "Adolescence," while the Best Actress award was jointly presented to Cate Blanchett for "Disclaimer" and Kim Min-ha for "Pachinko."

The Korean drama categories also featured notable winners, with the Outstanding Korean Drama award being split between two exceptional productions: Netflix's "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and the medical drama "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call." Actor Ju Ji-hoon was recognized with the Outstanding Korean Actor award for his powerful performance in "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call."

Singer and actress Lee Ji-eun, professionally known as IU, earned the Outstanding Korean Actress award for her remarkable dual performance in "When Life Gives You Tangerines." She portrayed both the character Geum-myoung and her mother Ae-soon, showcasing her versatility and acting range in this emotionally complex role.

The Seoul International Drama Awards, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is organized jointly by the Korean Broadcasters Association and the SDA organizing committee. This year's awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 2nd at KBS Hall located in Yeouido, Seoul, bringing together industry professionals and celebrating excellence in both domestic and international television drama production.