In Korea, every year, an award ceremony called 'Year-End Drama Awards' is held to select the best drama and actors of the year. The Drama Awards are held separately by the three major terrestrial broadcasting stations in Korea (MBC, KBS, SBS). The Grand Prize, the most prestigious award at the Drama Awards, is awarded to the actor who has shown the most outstanding performance, considering factors such as ratings, popularity, and artistic merit, among the dramas of the broadcasting station that year. It is usually awarded to the actors of the most popular drama of the year in Korea. What were the award-winning works in 2023?

Namgung Min of MBC's "My Dearest"

"My Dearest," which aired on MBC in 2023, was the most talked-about drama of the year. The drama, "My Dearest," is a historical drama that tells a love story set against the backdrop of war. It is set in the Joseon Dynasty in the 17th century, during the "Bingjaho란," a war that began with the invasion of the Qing Dynasty. Against the backdrop of the war, it depicts the sorrowful love story of the protagonists, "Lee Jang-hyun" and "Yoo Gil-chae," who face hardship. Many viewers empathized with the couple's love story, and despite being a long 21-episode drama divided into two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, unlike the recent trend of Korean dramas, it garnered a relatively high viewership rating of 10%, attracting attention.

Namgung Min is one of the actors recognized for his acting skills by the public. He played the protagonist, Lee Jang-hyun, in "My Dearest," immersing viewers in the drama. Namgung Min has shown his wide acting spectrum through his comedic performances in "Manager Kim," "One Dollar Lawyer," and his villainous roles in "Remember - War of Son," "A Girl Who Sees Smells." He took on his first leading role in a historical drama, but he received praise for his natural acting even in a historical drama. Namgung Min won his third Grand Prize after winning in 2020 for "STOVE LEAGUE" and 2021 for "THE VEIL." He said in his acceptance speech, "I will never be complacent and remain humble."

You can watch "My Dearest" on Rakuten Viki, Hami Video, and Wavve.

Kim Tae-ri of SBS's "Revenant," Lee Je-hoon of "Taxi Driver 2"

SBS awarded the Grand Prize to two actors. "Revenant," which aired in the summer of 2023, is a work by Kim Eun-hee, a famous Korean writer who wrote the Netflix series "Kingdom." It tells the story of "Yeom Hae-sang," a professor of folklore who starts seeing ghosts after an incident in his childhood, and "Goo San-yeong," a poor civil service exam candidate who is possessed by a ghost. It garnered attention for its solid storyline and acting, befitting the title of a Korean-style occult drama.

Kim Tae-ri, who won the Grand Prize, played the lead role, "Sook-hee," in Park Chan-wook's film "The Handmaiden." She has consistently played leading roles in films like "Little Forest," "1987: When the Day Comes," and dramas like "Mr. Sunshine," "Twenty Five Twenty One," showcasing her impressive acting skills. In her acceptance speech, Kim Tae-ri said, "I am still an actor who is learning. I hope to become an actor who can someday share what I have learned and received."

You can watch "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 "Taxi Driver," which was popular in 2021, and the sequel also garnered attention, bringing the Grand Prize to the lead actor, Lee Je-hoon. "Taxi Driver" is a drama that portrays a group of people who carry out private revenge against villains who cleverly evade the law. The "Taxi Driver" series has gained popularity for its thrilling story and is set to have a Season 3.

Lee Je-hoon, who won the Grand Prize for his role as "Kim Do-gi," is an actor who has established himself as a skilled performer with both good looks and acting abilities, through his excellent performances in works like "The Signal," written by Kim Eun-hee, who also wrote "Kingdom," and "Architecture 101." In his acceptance speech, Lee Je-hoon expressed his condolences to actor Lee Sun-kyun, who took his own life on December 27th, saying he 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 "Kang Gam-chan" in the ongoing historical drama, "Korea-Khitan War." "Korea-Khitan War" is a Korean historical drama, and as the title suggests, it depicts the war between Goryeo and Khitan. The main character is General "Kang Gam-chan," who defended the nation of Goryeo against repeated Khitan invasions. Choi Soo-jong, who won the Grand Prize this time, plays the role. The drama has gained popularity among young people who were not interested in historical dramas, as it was also released on Netflix. In particular, the popularity of the drama has also increased due to the actor Kim Dong-jun, who played the role of the king and is an idol singer, releasing a video on YouTube of him dancing with the cast.

Choi Soo-jong has won the Grand Prize four times, making him the most awarded actor in the history of the Korean Drama Awards. In his acceptance speech, Choi Soo-jong said, "I was lucky." He also spoke about "Korea-Khitan War," which is currently filming, saying, "I admire the actors and staff who are working with smiles on their faces."

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.