In a historic moment for the Korean entertainment industry, CJ ENM has achieved a remarkable milestone at the 2025 Venice TV Awards by becoming the first Korean entertainment company to secure a Gold Trophy at this prestigious international event. The accolade was awarded to the company’s popular music channel Mnet program, “Couple Palace,” for excellence in the Light Entertainment category. CJ ENM’s impressive representation was further highlighted by three additional nominations across diverse genres.
Although Korean television content has seen nominations at the Venice TV Awards in prior years, this marks the inaugural win of a Gold Trophy for Korean productions, establishing a significant moment in the global recognition of Korean media.
“Couple Palace,” ingeniously conceptualized and produced by the talented duo of Lee Sun-young and Jeong Min-seok — who are also credited for international hit formats like “I Can See Your Voice” and “Love Catcher” — delves into contemporary marriage themes through a groundbreaking reality format.
The creators expressed their excitement, stating, “We aimed to craft something distinctive surrounding the theme of modern marriage, and we are thrilled our efforts have been acknowledged. We dedicated significant thought and creativity to address real marital issues through an innovative lens, and we are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm towards our authentic and imaginative approach.”
In addition to its Gold triumph, CJ ENM received three more nominations: “LTNS,” an Original series on TVING competing in the Comedy category; “Pyramid Game,” produced by CJ ENM Studios, recognized for Direction; and “Marry My Husband,” produced by Studio Dragon and currently streaming on Prime Video, competing for Best Soap/Telenovela.
“CJ ENM is elated at the recognition from the Venice TV Awards,” remarked Jang-ho Seo, executive VP of content business at CJ ENM. “Winning the Light Entertainment category with ‘Couple Palace’ underscores our leadership in entertainment programs, particularly in the dating show segment. The nominations for ‘LTNS,’ ‘Marry My Husband,’ and ‘Pyramid Game’ further highlight our capability to deliver exceptional series across various genres.”
Carlo Arturo Sigon, director and president of the Italian Directors Guild, noted, “While it is often a cliché in the TV world, every time I encounter something remarkable, it feels like a breath of fresh air.”
This momentous achievement coincides beautifully with CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 2025. Over the years, the company has curated a multifaceted portfolio that boasts Oscar-winning films, such as “Parasite,” Tony Award-winning musicals like “Kinky Boots,” popular television dramas, including “Queen of Tears,” and the globally adored competition series “I Can See Your Voice.”
2025 Venice TV Awards Winners:
TV Series: “Empathy” (Crave, Canada)
Documentary: “The Man Who Definitely Didn’t Steal Hollywood” (BBC, U.K.)
Comedy: “Ludwig” (BBC One, U.K.)
TV Film: “Driving into the Storm” (NHK BS4K, Japan)
News Coverage: “The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell: Reporting From the Red Sea” (CBS News, U.S.)
Technology/Innovation: “8 May 1945” (TF1, France)
Performing Arts: “The Lost Music of Auschwitz” (Sky Arts, U.K.)
Children/Youth: “Crongton” (BBC, U.K.)
Cross Platform Programming: “Peacock 2024 Paris Olympic Games” (NBC Peacock, U.S.)
Reality TV: “Farmers Going Abroad” (SBS6, Netherlands)
Branded Entertainment: “RONA’s Build it to Win it” (Bell Media/Noovo, Canada)
Soap/Telenovela: “The Last Will” (SIC, Portugal)
Light Entertainment: “Couple Palace” (Mnet, South Korea) – CJ ENM
Sport: “Giroud” (Canal+, France)
Program Promotion: “We Rise as We Fight” (TV Globo, Brazil)
Animation: “Luka and the Flower of the Sun” (NHK ETV, Japan)
Cinematography: “Deep Ocean: Kingdom of the Coelacanth” (NHK BS8K, Japan)
Direction: “Queen of Fucking Everything” (YLE, Finland)
New Talent: “If I could fly” (Germany)
Special Documentary Prize: “Atomic People” (BBC, U.K.)
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