Top 4 Korean Dramas of 2023 Chosen by Korean Broadcasting Stations

In South Korea, an annual year-end awards ceremony called the 'Drama Awards' is held to select the best drama and actors of the year. The Drama Awards are held by each of the three major terrestrial broadcasters in Korea (MBC, KBS, and SBS). The Grand Prize, the most prestigious award at the Drama Awards, is given to the actor who has delivered the most outstanding performance in the dramas of that broadcaster, considering factors such as viewership ratings, popularity, and artistic merit. Typically, the award is presented to an actor from the most popular drama of the year. So, what were the winners of 2023?

Namgung Min of MBC’s “My Dearest”

Among the dramas aired on MBC in 2023, “My Dearest” garnered the most attention. The drama “My Dearest” is a historical drama that depicts a love story set against the backdrop of war. The historical setting is the Joseon Dynasty in the 17th century, during the devastating war known as the Byeongja Horan, caused by the invasion of the Qing Dynasty. Many viewers empathized with the sorrowful love story of the protagonists, ‘Lee Jang-hyun’ and ‘Yoo Gil-chae’, who face hardships amidst the chaotic war. Despite being a 21-episode long drama divided into Part 1 and Part 2, which is different from the current trend of Korean dramas, it attracted attention with relatively high viewership ratings of 10%.

Namgung Min is one of the actors recognized for his acting skills by the public. He enhanced the immersion of the drama by brilliantly portraying the protagonist, Lee Jang-hyun, in “My Dearest”. Namgung Min has broadened his acting spectrum, showcasing comedic performances in dramas like “Chief Kim” and “One Dollar Lawyer,” and villainous roles in dramas such as “Remember – War of the Son” and “A Girl Who Sees Smells.” Despite taking on his first lead role in a historical drama, he received praise for not appearing awkward in the genre. Namgung Min won his third Grand Prize, following his wins for “Stove League” in 2020 and “The Veil” in 2021. In his acceptance speech, he stated, “I will never become complacent and will remain humble.”

You can watch the drama “My Dearest” on Rakuten Viki, Hami Video, and Wavve.

Kim Tae-ri of SBS’s “Revenant” and Lee Je-hoon of “Taxi Driver 2”

SBS awarded the Grand Prize to two individuals. The drama “Revenant”, which aired in the summer of 2023, is a work by renowned Korean screenwriter Kim Eun-hee, who also wrote the Netflix series “Kingdom”. It tells the story of ‘Yeom Hae-sang’, a folklore professor who can see evil spirits due to a childhood incident, and ‘Goo San-yeong’, a struggling civil servant exam candidate who becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit, as they work together to chase away the evil spirit. It drew attention for its solid storyline and acting prowess, fitting its title of a Korean-style occult drama.

Kim Tae-ri, who won the Grand Prize, played the lead role of ‘Sook-hee’ in Park Chan-wook’s film “The Handmaiden”. She has consistently showcased her exceptional acting abilities in films like “Little Forest” and “1987”, and dramas like “Mr. Sunshine” and “Twenty-Five Twenty-One”, consistently taking on leading roles. In her acceptance speech, Kim Tae-ri stated, “I am still a learning actor, and I aspire to become an actor who can one day share what I have learned and received.”

You can watch the drama “Revenant” on Wavve, Disney+, and Hulu.

The other Grand Prize winner is Lee Je-hoon of “Taxi Driver 2”. “Taxi Driver 2” is a sequel to the popular 2021 drama “Taxi Driver”, and it also gained significant popularity, leading to Lee Je-hoon receiving the Grand Prize. “Taxi Driver” is about a group that carries out private vengeance against villains who cleverly evade the law to torment others. The “Taxi Driver” series, which garnered popularity with its exhilarating and satisfying story, is scheduled to release a season 3.

Lee Je-hoon, who won the Grand Prize for his role as ‘Kim Do-gi’, has also demonstrated his acting prowess in works like “Signal” and “Architecture 101”, both written by Kim Eun-hee, proving himself to be an actor with both good looks and strong acting ability. In his acceptance speech, Lee Je-hoon expressed his grief over the passing of actor Lee Sun-gyun, who died by suicide on December 27th, and said that Lee Sun-gyun was his role model.

You can watch the “Taxi Driver” series on Coupang Play, Rakuten Viki, and Amazon Prime Video.

Choi Soo-jong of KBS’s “Korea-Khitan War”

KBS awarded the Grand Prize to Choi Soo-jong for his role as ‘Gang Gam-chan’ in the currently airing historical drama “Korea-Khitan War”. “Korea-Khitan War” is a Korean historical drama that, as the title suggests, depicts the war between Goryeo and Khitan. General ‘Gang Gam-chan’, who defended the nation of Goryeo from the Khitan’s repeated invasions, is the protagonist, and the role is played by Choi Soo-jong, the recipient of the Grand Prize. The drama has also been released on Netflix, gaining popularity among younger audiences who might not typically be interested in historical dramas. In particular, a video of actor Kim Dong-jun, who plays the king, dancing with other cast members was shared on YouTube, further increasing interest in the drama.

Choi Soo-jong became the recipient of the most Grand Prizes in the history of the Korean Drama Awards, having received the award four times. In his acceptance speech, Choi Soo-jong said that he was ‘lucky’, and regarding the ongoing drama “Korea-Khitan War”, he expressed admiration for the actors and staff, stating, “They all work with smiles and respect.”

The drama “Korea-Khitan War” is currently airing on KBS every Saturday and Sunday at 9:25 PM and is available on Wavve, Netflix, and Rakuten Viki.