Year-End Awards Showdown: MBC & KBS Face 'Best Actor Drought', SBS Crowned with 'Best Actor Harvest'

As the year-end 'Drama Awards' ceremony season approaches, a clear divide is emerging between broadcasters, with SBS solidifying its status as the 'Kingdom of Dramas' once again.

In stark contrast, MBC and KBS have struggled to produce hit dramas, failing to surpass the 10% viewership rating benchmark. While these two networks face challenges in identifying standout Grand Prize contenders, SBS boasts a plethora of actors worthy of the top honor, creating a 'best actor harvest' scenario.

**MBC: No 10% Dramas, Lacks Symbolic Lead Actor**

This year, MBC has not a single drama that crossed the 10% viewership mark, a key indicator of success. The closest were 'Undercover High School,' starring Seo Kang-joon, which achieved 8.3% viewership, and the currently airing 'Moon Over the River,' which garnered 6.1%. Other dramas like 'Motel California' and 'Bunny and Brothers' hovered around the 5% mark, failing to create significant buzz.

The absence of a symbolic lead actor who could realistically contend for the Grand Prize is MBC's most significant concern, leaving the production team in a difficult position when planning lineups.

**KBS: Reliance on Weekend Dramas, 'Eagle Five' Holds the Line**

KBS mini-series also failed to break the 10% viewership barrier, marking a disappointing year. Anticipated dramas such as Ma Dong-seok's 'Twelve' only reached a peak of 8.3%, and Lee Young-ae's 'A Lucky Day' recorded 5.1%. 'Twelve,' in particular, despite a substantial production budget, struggled with a weak narrative, ultimately concluding with ratings in the low 2% range.

However, the network found some solace in its weekend dramas. 'Splendid Days' secured a stable 15.9% viewership, and 'Eagle Five,' starring Ahn Jae-wook and Uhm Ji-won, surpassed 21.9%, salvaging the network's reputation. While Ma Dong-seok and Lee Young-ae were initially considered strong candidates, their dramas' performance has weakened their claims. Ahn Jae-wook and Uhm Ji-won are now seen as the more plausible contenders for the Grand Prize from 'Eagle Five.'

**SBS: Four Dramas Surpass 10% - A True 'Drama Kingdom'**

SBS has once again proven its dominance, with four of its mini-series exceeding 10% viewership this year. Notable successes include 'My Perfect Secretary,' starring Han Ji-min and Lee Jun-hyuk (12%), 'Treasure Island,' featuring Park Hyung-sik and Heo Joon-ho (15.4%), the historical drama 'Imperial Palace,' starring Yuk Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon (over 11%), and 'The Fiery Priest 3' (over 12%).

Even dramas that didn't quite reach the 10% threshold showed promise. 'Marry Me,' starring Choi Woo-shik and Jung So-min, achieved 9.1%, and 'Mantis: Killer's Outing,' directed by Byun Young-joo and starring Go Hyun-jung, recorded 7.5%. Considering the challenging nature of the thriller genre, these can be considered significant successes.

'Try: We Become Miracles,' a rugby drama starring Yoon Kye-sang, garnered 6.8% but received critical acclaim for its portrayal of sports. The only notable underperformer was Namkoong Min's 'Our Movie,' which logged 4.2%.

With potential Grand Prize nominees including Go Hyun-jung, Han Ji-min, Park Hyung-sik, Lee Je-hoon, and Yoon Kye-sang, SBS is facing the delightful dilemma of having too many strong contenders, a true testament to its 'drama kingdom' status.

Korean netizens are commenting, 'MBC and KBS didn't have many good dramas this year,' and 'SBS's lineup of actors is really stacked.' Many agree, saying, 'Whoever wins, congratulations!' showing consensus on the differing drama performances across the networks.