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2026 Nominees Announced in New York
The International Emmy Awards nominees, announced in New York on September 23, 2026, include two from South Korea: one for an individual performance and one for a production. Actor Park Ji-hyun was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress for the Netflix series You and Everything Else, and the Disney+ series Hyper Knife was nominated for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series.
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences organizes the International Emmys, which recognize television programming produced and first aired outside the United States. This year’s nominees number 64 across 16 categories, from 22 countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and South Korea.
In the official announcement, Academy President and CEO Bruce L. Paisner said this year’s competition is tougher than ever, with strong programs and performances from around the world competing for a nomination. Both Korean nominees are up against international competitors in the same categories, not set apart in a regional bracket.
Park Ji-hyun Is the First Korean Actress Nominated for Best Performance
Park Ji-hyun is the first Korean name on this year’s list. Her performance in You and Everything Else, produced and distributed by Kakao Entertainment and Netflix, earned her the Best Performance by an Actress nomination. Domestic reports describe her as the first Korean actress to receive this particular International Emmy nomination. The category evaluates the performance itself, not the show’s overall success.
Her nomination shows that Korean drama’s reach abroad isn’t limited to streaming numbers or sales figures. Global platforms give a show its initial audience, but an Emmy nomination means the performance itself was reviewed closely. It’s one more sign that Korean content’s international standing now extends to individual actors and crew, not just distribution reach.
Park is up against Mona Mina Leon of Belgium’s Holy Sh!t, Bárbara Mori of Mexico’s Lucca’s World, and Sheridan Smith of the UK’s I Fought the Law. The four nominees come from different languages, production environments, and genres. The winner will be decided by how the jury weighs each performance against the others, not by popularity at home.
Hyper Knife Competes for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series
The second Korean nominee, Hyper Knife, is up for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series. The official list credits Walt Disney Company Korea, CJ ENM Studios, and BLAAD as producers. Where Park’s nomination recognizes one actor’s performance, Hyper Knife‘s nomination covers the show as a whole: its self-contained story, direction, and production within a limited number of episodes.
Unlike ongoing drama series, the mini-series category is for a complete story told in a condensed format. A nomination here reflects the structure and execution of the whole show, not just an interesting premise. Hyper Knife is an example of a Korean-made show moving from a global platform release into international awards consideration.
Its competition in this category spans several continents: Spain’s Anatomy of a Moment, Brazil’s Oxygen Masks Will Not Drop Down Automatically, and the UK’s Prisoner 951. Being named alongside these European and South American productions is itself notable. The show has moved past international distribution into a separate stage of evaluation based on artistic merit.
Two Nominations, Two Different Paths
These two nominations didn’t come from a single studio or streaming pipeline. You and Everything Else came through Kakao Entertainment and Netflix, while Hyper Knife involved Disney+, CJ ENM Studios, and others. The nominee list shows a Korean production industry with multiple companies using different international distribution networks.
What’s being judged differs too: one actor’s choices on screen, and a complete mini-series as a finished piece of work. Having both an actor and a production nominated in the same year suggests that international recognition of Korean content is spreading beyond a single hit show or genre.
A nomination isn’t a win, and it doesn’t mean Korean content has surpassed everyone else’s. What it confirms is that a Korean actor and a Korean series each hold one of four finalist spots in their categories. The more useful way to read this is not to guess at winners, but to note that television from very different cultural backgrounds is being judged on the same stage.
What the International Emmys Recognize
Within the broader Emmy system, which centers on American television, the International Emmys have long covered non-US, non-English programming. Since its first ceremony in New York in 1973, the award has introduced local creators and stories to the wider television industry. In the streaming era, where a show can launch worldwide at once, the pool of nominees has grown more varied and more competitive.
A nomination here is a peer evaluation of craft, separate from viewership numbers or platform trending charts. For Park Ji-hyun and Hyper Knife, the nominations point to which elements of Korean television are resonating with international judges.
The 54th Gala Takes Place November 23
Nominees will gather in New York for the International Emmy World Television Festival from November 20 to 22, with welcome events, panels, and screenings. Winners will be announced the next day, November 23, at the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala. In Korea, attention will be on whether Park Ji-hyun and Hyper Knife win their respective categories.
The nominations themselves matter beyond who eventually wins. Among 22 countries, Korean content secured a spot in two separate categories: individual acting and overall production. Park Ji-hyun’s nomination, the first for a Korean actress in this category, stands on its own. The November ceremony will show both the final results and how international judges are currently assessing Korean television.
Sources: International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Nominee Announcement, September 23, 2026; Hankook Ilbo, September 25, 2026.
