[E-Daily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee is hosting the “70th Anniversary of Korean Drama: Original Drama AI Trailer Contest” to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korean drama.

Running from the 13th of this month through the 31st of next month, this contest is open to anyone interested in Korean dramas. It was organized to carry on the creative legacy accumulated over 70 years of Korean drama and to discover new drama concepts and trailer ideas suited for the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and short-form content. Participants must create and submit a trailer lasting between 1 and 3 minutes using AI video production tools, based on the logline, characters, and world-building of an original drama they have conceived.
The total prize pool is 14 million won, with awards as follows: △Grand Prize (1 entry) – 5 million won, △First Prize (2 entries) – 3 million won each, and △Second Prize (3 entries) – 1 million won each. Judging will be based on △the originality and completeness of the story, △the scalability and development potential of the intellectual property (IP), △the appropriateness of AI technology use and the effectiveness of conveying the creative intent. The final winners will be announced on October 6 at the 70th Anniversary Celebration of Korean Drama, held at Le West Hall in COEX Magok.
Now in its 21st year, the Seoul Drama Awards set a record for the highest number of entries ever, with a total of 352 dramas submitted from 46 countries (regions). In particular, the Short-Form Drama category—revived in 2021—received 49 entries from 10 countries across three continents, confirming growing interest in this new drama format characterized by short running times and quick immersion. Aligned with this global trend toward short-form content, this AI trailer contest is being launched as a forward-looking creative project aimed at discovering the next generation of drama IPs in the form of trailers.
An official from the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee stated, “This year’s Seoul Drama Awards is confirming new trends in global drama through the highest number of entries in history and the revival of the short-form category,” adding, “We hope this AI Trailer Contest, organized to mark the 70th anniversary of Korean drama, will serve as a starting point for the next generation of creators to showcase their own dramatic worlds.” The official continued, “Ultimately, what matters more than AI technology is the power of the story to make viewers want to see the next scene,” adding, “We look forward to receiving many entries that will demonstrate the potential of new K-drama IP.”
The 21st Seoul Drama Awards will kick off with a 70th-anniversary celebration for Korean dramas on October 6 at Le West Hall in COEX Magok, followed by a red carpet event and awards ceremony on October 8 at KBS Hall. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on MBC TV and the official Seoul Drama Awards YouTube channel. Following that, from October 9 to 10, the Drama Festa—open to domestic and international drama fans—will take place at the outdoor stage in Banpo Hangang Park and the lakeside stage at Seokchon Lake (Seoho).
The Seoul Drama Awards was conceived in 2005 as the world’s first awards ceremony dedicated exclusively to dramas, with the aim of promoting cultural exchange and global harmony through drama. It is an annual drama festival where 40 to 60 countries compete for the title of the year’s best drama, and where industry professionals and fans gather in one place to interact.