Realism took the top prize in Seoul. We Are All Trying Here was named a Best Drama winner in the K-Drama category at the 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards, with producer-director Cha Young-hoon using his acceptance speech to deliver an honest message: life doesn't promise happiness, but you can get back up anyway.
Star Today reporter Kim So-yeon reports (via MK) that the ceremony took place on the afternoon of October 8 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, hosted by actor Kim Nam-gil and MBC announcer Lee Jae-eun. We Are All Trying Here shared the Best Drama honor with The Dream Life of Mr. Kim, which was selected alongside it in the K-Drama category.
Taking the stage, Cha expressed his gratitude for the major award, calling it an honor, and thanked the cast — including Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung — for their dedication to every word and stage direction in the script. He also thanked the crew for capturing a sincere picture despite a tight schedule, and gave special recognition to writer Park Hae-young, whose script brought more than 100 people together as one.
Cha then spoke about what the drama is really trying to say. "Our work isn't a fairy tale that promises happiness will come if you work hard at life," he said. "I think it's a realistic story." He pointed to a scene from episode 8 in which Eun-ha explains why she likes Dong-man: she feels at ease with someone who, even after crying in pain, quickly shakes it off and gets back up — and that resilience makes her want to try, too.
He closed his message to the audience with encouragement for anyone struggling: "I hope you endure the anxious days, one by one, and welcome a time of peace." Acknowledging that he couldn't promise happiness would come soon, he said that even painful times pass, and people can shake them off and rise again. He wrapped up by promising he would "go struggle again" with his next project.
Now in its 21st edition, the Seoul International Drama Awards is an international festival honoring outstanding dramas and creators from around the world. This year drew a record 352 submissions from 46 countries and regions, with 10 Best Drama awards and 16 individual winners selected across three categories: International Competition, K-Drama, and International Invitation.
The K-Drama category win puts We Are All Trying Here alongside the year's most recognized Korean productions, with its grounded take on everyday struggle resonating beyond its domestic audience. For Cha, the trophy is validation of a philosophy he carried through the entire production: that honesty about life's difficulties connects more deeply than any promise of a happy ending.
What is We Are All Trying Here about?
We Are All Trying Here is a realistic drama about ordinary people struggling to get through everyday life. Directed by Cha Young-hoon and written by Park Hae-young, the series stars Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung, following characters like Eun-ha and Dong-man as they endure anxious days and lean on each other to get back up again.
We Are All Trying Here premiered on JTBC on April 18, 2026, airing every Saturday and Sunday. All 12 episodes are available to stream internationally on Netflix.
