Kim Ji-won, Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Hae-in, & more bag top honors at the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards: Complete winners list

Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Go-eun, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Ji-won, Jung Hae-in, and more were honored as winners at the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards on January 7.

The annual awards ceremony, held in Korea, recognizes brands and individuals anticipated to lead the upcoming year. Winners are determined through consumer surveys and expert evaluations. For the 2025 edition, the survey expanded beyond Korea to include Vietnam, reflecting broader consumer preferences.

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2025 Korea First Brand Awards: List of winners

Below is the list of winners of the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards according to the survey conducted in South Korea.

Female Idol: aespa

Male Idol: ZEROBASEONE

Rising Male Idol: PLAVE

Rising Female Idol: FIFTY FIFTY

Rookie Male Idol: NCT WISH

Rookie Female Idol: UNIS

Male Vocalist: Changsub

Female Vocalist: Sunwoo Jung-A

Band: DAY6

Male Solo Artist: Lim Young Woong

Female Solo Artist: Karina

Drama Actor: Jung Hae-in

Drama Actress: Kim Tae-ri

Actor (Hot Trend): Kang Hoon

Actress (Hot Trend): Roh Yoon-seo

Rising Actor: Bae Hyeon-seong

Rising Actress: Park So-jin

Rookie Actor: Baek Seo-hoo

Rookie Actress: Chae Won-bin

OTT Actor: Kim Sung-cheol

OTT Actress: Go Min-si

Film Actor: Koo Kyo-hwan

Film Actress: Kim Go-eun

Scene-Stealer Actor: Kim Sung-kyun

Scene-Stealer Actress: Moon Geun-young

Idol Actor: Park Ji-hoon

Idol Actress: Seunghee

Male Idol Variety Star: BamBam

Female Idol Variety Star: Karina

Male Variety Show Star: Jun Hyun-moo

Female Variety Show Star: Hong Jin-kyung

Male Entertainer: Defconn

Female Entertainer: Lee Eun-ji

Male Multi-Entertainer: Dex

Female Multi-Entertainer: Ra Mi-ran

Sports Entertainer: Kim Jun Ho

Specialist-Entertainer: Jung Seung Je

Female Commercial Model: NewJeans

Male Commercial Model: Lim Young Woong

Male Celebrity YouTuber: Daesung (ZIP_DS)

Female Celebrity YouTuber: Hyeri (I am Lee Hyeri)

Chef: Baek Jong Won

eSports: League of Legends

Professional Baseball: KIA Tigers

Male Hot Icon: Na Young Suk

Female Hot Icon: Gabee

Male Radio DJ: Lee Moon-se (“Hello, this is Lee Moon Se”)

Female Radio DJ: Joo Hyun-young (” Joo Hyun Young at 12 o’clock”)

Comedienne: Lee Su-ji

Comedian: Hwang Jae-sung

Male Web Variety Program MC: Changsub (“Changing Majors”)

Female Web Variety Program MC: Jihyo (“Tenant”)

Character: “Catch! Teenieping”

OTT Variety Program: “Culinary Class Wars”

Music Variety Program: “The Seasons”

Educational Variety Program: “upGRADE you: Teachers”

Cooking Variety Program: “Fresh Off the Sea”

Criminal Variety Program: “Brave Detectives 4”

Travel Variety Program: “Europe Outside Your Tent”

Winners according to the survey conducted in Vietnam

Male Idol: TEMPEST

Female Idol: aespa

Male Rookie Idol: ARrC

Female Rookie Idol: BABYMONSTER

Male Solo Artist: Jin

Female Solo Artist: Rosé

Vocalist: Taeyeon

Actor: Kim Soo-hyun

Actress: Kim Ji-won

Variety Show: “Running Man”

Character: Larva

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Which actors won in 2024?

At the 2024 Korea First Brand Awards, Namgoong Min was recognized as Actor of the Year, while Rowoon and Go Yoon-jung were honored as Rising Actor and Rising Actress, respectively. In the OTT category, Yoo Seung-ho and Suzy received accolades as OTT Actor and OTT Actress, with Lee Jung-ha and Lee Han-byeol winning as OTT Rising Actor and Actress in the 2024 Korea First Brand Awards.

In film, Kang Dong-won and Park Bo-young were named Film Actor and Film Actress, with Kim Taek and Park Ji-hu earning titles as Film Rookie Actor and Actress. In the drama category, Yoon Hyun-soo and Shin Eun-soo were celebrated as Drama Rookie Actor and Actress. Meanwhile, Jo Jae-yoon and Kim Shin-rok stood out as Scene-Stealer Actor and Actress in the 2024 Korea First Brand Awards.

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As per South Korean outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards photo wall was held at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on January 7.