2024 KBS Drama Awards: Anticipation Builds for the Grand Prize and Kim Jung-hyun's Apology
The 2024 KBS Drama Awards are set to take place on January 11 at 9:20 PM, showcasing a fierce competition for the coveted Grand Prize. Originally scheduled for December 31 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, the event was postponed due to a national mourning period following a tragic airplane accident. KBS has confirmed that the awards will be broadcasted as a recorded show, revealing the winners, including the highly anticipated Grand Prize, after the mourning period ends.
This year, the spotlight is on the Grand Prize, with KBS reviving its Wednesday-Thursday dramas, featuring titles like Perfect Family (완벽한 가족), Barking (개소리), and Face Me (페이스미). Weekend dramas include Beauty and the Beast (미녀와 순정남) and Iron Family (다리미 패밀리), while daily dramas such as Blood and Tears (피도 눈물도 없이), Scandal (스캔들), and Let’s Get Married, Maenggong! (결혼하자 맹꽁아!) have also aired.
A total of six nominees are in the running for the Grand Prize: Lee Soon-jae from Barking, Ji Hyun-woo and Lim Soo-hyang from Beauty and the Beast, Kim Jung-hyun and Park Ji-young from Iron Family, and Kim Ha-neul from Let’s Get Caught by the Collar (멱살 한번 잡힙시다). If Lee Soon-jae wins, he will break the record for the oldest recipient of the award. Ji Hyun-woo could potentially secure his second Grand Prize, aiming for a record-breaking third in the future. Additionally, there is keen interest in whether Park Ji-young, Kim Ha-neul, and Lim Soo-hyang can become the first female winners since Gong Hyo-jin in 2019.
Another point of interest is actor Kim Jung-hyun's recent apology. Six years ago, he faced backlash for his behavior during the press conference for the drama Time (시간), where he refused to link arms with his co-star Seohyun from Girls' Generation, leading to accusations of a rigid demeanor. It later emerged that his actions were influenced by his then-girlfriend, actress Seo Ye-ji, who was reportedly gaslighting him. This led to Kim being derogatorily referred to as 'Kim Stiff' (김딱딱) in conversations about the incident.
On stage, Kim Jung-hyun expressed, "I have many things to reflect on. My heart has been heavy for a long time, and I wanted to apologize." However, following the announcement of his remarks, negative public sentiment began to rise, with critics arguing that his unilateral apology, six years later, failed to consider Seohyun's feelings once again.
KBS is now faced with the decision of whether to air Kim's acceptance speech in full or edit it for the broadcast, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
The ceremony will also feature celebratory performances, with Kinky directing the opening show, and artists like Kim Da-hyun and the Yuk Joong-wan Family performing songs from their respective dramas. Additionally, musical stars Ok Joo-hyun and Kim Sung-sik will present a duet.