MBC Drama Awards 2013

The end of the year means it’s time for drama awards and what’s better than the big three Korean broadcasting channels’ awards? MBC was the first to announce its winners leaving SBS and KBS with a date on their own. Although I quite disbelieve in MBC nominating and selecting system, there's not a doubt that MBC's end of the year awards are rather valuable for those who win them.

MBC doesn’t actually produce major hits but she’s one of the big three and it gets its share of high ratings and recognitions. Let’s cut the long story short and represent the awards:

Actor of the Year/ Daesang (Grand Prize which is awarded by the PD's from KBS, MBC & SBS): 

Empress Ki isn’t even halfway through but it seems like Ha Ji Won has swept out the three PD’s in one go. I wonder what would’ve happened if the drama actually ended? I am expecting even more awards for this drama next year since it’s considered both 2013 and 2014's drama. Way to go, Ha Ji Won, you got the most important prize of the year.

Best Drama: 

You’re kidding, right? Let me just get my thoughts straight: Wait, what?

I haven’t watched the drama so I am not going to say anything further than that. I will just give you the thoughts of a dear friend of mine who actually saw the drama (that I will never watch even if I was beaten to death). This is the opinion of Erin who’s an exclusive fan of the Melodrama, Makjang and Slice of Life genres:

I watch a lot of melodramas and makjangs so it’s a given that I would watch this drama but I’ve got to say that it was a little disappointing. While the acting was quite good, the story was rather unbalanced and quite dragged even if I tolerate some dragging in long Korean dramas, I was unable to not feel irritated with the developments in here. I didn’t hate the drama but it’s definitely not the best out of its genre. Did you ask me if this deserves the best MBC drama of the year? No, it doesn’t. I am sure that many others did much better than this.

Yes, that’s the spirit!

Top Excellence Actor (Serial Drama): 

I love the guy, I seriously do! But I don't know; maybe his acting actually saved the drama? 

Top Excellence Actress (Serial Drama): 

I will leave the fashion comments to you guys. Han Ji Hye’s comeback was quite respectable; I actually saw this 50 episodes family drama. (Shock!) Even though the screenwriting was all over the place at some point, the acting was rather impressive and Ji Hye played a double role. She did great with both of them.

Top Excellence Actor (Special Production Drama): 

Top Excellence Actress (Special Production Drama): 

Top Excellence Actor (Mini-Series): 

What can I say? Seung Gi is a good actor; not great but still good so this isn’t actually a surprise; he deserves something from this year.



Okay, I had to pause and think twice then play then pause; yes an endless circle. That made me speechless, in a bad way! Like seriously? Suzy is top excellence actress for mini-series? I am really not a hater of Suzy and I don’t bash her like many others do but the girl doesn’t deserve the freaking award! She’s a beginner and believe me, there are many others who are better than her. Give her a cookie or something not a top excellence award!

Excellence Actor (Serial Drama): 

Now we’re talking; I mean he had to choose this over the third season of Vampire Prosecutor so he got to take something for it. He was quite good in the drama bit again, the only thing that really worked in that drama was the cast.

Excellence Actress (Serial Drama): 

I haven't seen the drama and it's still airing I believe but Soo Hyun is a good actress; I wish they would give her more main roles from now on.

Excellence Actor (Special Production Drama): 

Excellence Actress (Special Production Drama): 

Excellence Actor (Mini-Series): 

A what? There’s an award for this drama? I understand that Joo Won is a good actor but not in that drama. Oh no PD-nims how can you even nominate it in the first place? 

Excellence Actress (Mini-Series): 

*Shake my head then hits it on the nearest table* She got An Award? For what? For that expressionless face? Or for that awesome onscreen presence? Oh what am I thinking, of course she got an award for portraying the most irritating character ever written. If that’s what this award means then I fully agree with it: Excellence actress in annoyance is something I can accept. 

Best Rookie Actors: 

Best Rookie Actresses: 

I am not a fashionista but I understand enough to say that Jin Hee's dress is fabulous. It reminds me of one of my favorite French quotes "La Simplicité fait la beauté" which means simplicity is the secret behind beauty (I tried to translate it in a non-literal way). The point is that she's simple and gorgeous.

Best Couple Award: 

Let’s see; I don’t remember any other couple from MBC this year so that has got to be it although the romance wasn’t even that present until later episodes. However, we did get to see a memorable kissing scene.

Popularity Actor Award: 

Hmmm, I thought that Choi Jin Hyuk was going to get that. Or it’s only international fangirling? It seems like it’s not the same in Korea. Seung Gi stayed in hearts there.

Popularity Actress Award: 

I figured as much. But really, Ha Ji Won is lucky because there weren’t many outstanding female actress to compete with her in MBC dramas this year.

Best Screenplay: 

Well, they wrote two major dramas for MBC, how is it possible that they won’t get ahold of the best screenwriters title?

Best Child Actor: 

Best Child Actresses: 

They couldn’t decide between the four girls after all.

Golden Acting Actor Award: 

Kim Sang Joon is forever one of my favorite actors. Veterans are very different from others.

Golden Acting Actress Award: 

Lee Hae Sook managed to make me hate her with passion in ISYG so lord yes! She deserves that prize with applause.

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

Because as I said, veterans are something else.

Random Awards:

Most immature character: Ta Hwan (Empress Ki) – Ji Chang Wook
Most suffering character: Jang Tae San (Two Weeks) – Lee Jun Ki
That’s it? Only a little special award? Are you for real MBC? He did deserve a little more than a little random award.
Most memorable (terrible) mother-in-law: Bae Young Ja (A Hundred Year's Inheritance) – Park Won Suk



In conclusion, I must say that I disagree with most of the awards. Ha Ji Won’s Daesang award would’ve been more meaningful if the drama actually finished airing but anyways, MBC didn’t have a full scale year so it’s understandable that there aren’t many big titles to display. But the choices and the nominations are seriously messed up. I know that the showbiz in South Korea has become pure business, so the ratings rule is everything, but when an actor/actress who doesn’t even deserve to be nominated is given an excellence award then that brings out too many question marks. I’ve been following MBC awards for two or three years now and I must say that their choices are frequently unfair.