Hong Hwa-yeon Wins Best New Actress at the 2025 Korea Drama Awards for ‘Treasure Island’

Rising actress Hong Hwa-yeon won the Best New Actress award at the 2025 Korea Drama Awards, recognized for her nuanced and powerful performance in SBS’s weekend drama *Treasure Island (보물섬)*. Playing the resilient yet emotionally scarred lead, Yeo Eun-nam, Hong captivated both audiences and critics with her layered portrayal.

Treasure Island marked Hong’s first leading role, which she secured after surpassing over 100 competitors in auditions. Her composed presence, expressive eyes, and grounded emotional delivery brought remarkable depth to the role, propelling her to the spotlight as one of 2025’s most promising newcomers.

At the ceremony, Hong appeared in a soft pink tulle gown, exuding elegance and confidence on the red carpet. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I take this award as a reminder to keep working harder and to show my gratitude with sincerity to everyone who supports me.” Surrounded by top stars, her heartfelt remarks drew warm applause from the audience.

Beyond *Treasure Island*, Hong also took on contrasting roles this year in *Your Taste* and *Running Mate*, proving her versatile acting range. Her agency BH Entertainment celebrated the win on Instagram, posting photos from the award night with the caption, “A shining moment for actress Hong Hwa-yeon—congratulations on your achievement.”