2016 MBC Drama Awards

144 December 30, 2016December 30, 2016

by girlfriday

It’s time to close out 2016 with the Big 3 broadcaster award ceremonies, beginning with the MBC Drama Awards (KBS and SBS will hold their ceremonies tomorrow). The station awards are always a mixed bag, since you’ll never get a representative sample of dramaland by splitting up all the shows by broadcaster, but it’s a longstanding tradition for each of the networks to hand out their own trophies, so it usually turns into a celebration of their most successful and popular shows, with plenty of awards to go around to every possible category imaginable, and then some. (You have your miniseries, your special productions, your serial dramas, and Top Excellence, Excellence, and Golden Actor in each sub-category, ensuring that everyone gets something.)

MBC had a quieter drama year than the other networks, with no big runaway hits to speak of, so W–Two Worlds ended up being the big winner of the night, scooping up everything from the Writer Award to Drama of the Year, and of course acting awards for the cast. Lee Jong-seok took home the Daesang (AND the Top Excellence award, which I find totally redundant, since you can’t really win first place and runner-up for the same category, but whatever MBC).

I loved Lee Jong-seok in W, but I wouldn’t call him Daesang material; his win seems to be a product of MBC’s smaller pool of hit dramas and their voting system, which has left the Daesang entirely in the hands of audience votes for some years now. I guess I can see the upside of that system, where the audience has spoken and can’t complain about the winner, but the downside is that it makes the Daesang feel like a popularity award.

Weekend dramas Marriage Contract, All’s Well With a Happy Home, and Flower in Prison were the other shows that had multiple wins, and feel-good dramas Shopping King Louis and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju earned nods as well. Here are your winners…

WINNERS LIST

Daesang (Grand Prize): Lee Jong-seok (W–Two Worlds)
Drama of the Year: W–Two Worlds
Top Excellence Award, Special Production, Actor: Lee Seo-jin (Marriage Contract)
Top Excellence Award, Special Production, Actress: UEE (Marriage Contract)
Top Excellence, Serial Drama, Actor: Lee Sang-woo (All’s Well With a Happy Home)
Top Excellence, Serial Drama, Actress: Kim So-yeon (All’s Well With a Happy Home)
Top Excellence, Miniseries, Actor: Lee Jong-seok (W–Two Worlds)
Top Excellence, Miniseries, Actress: Han Hyo-joo (W–Two Worlds)
Excellence, Special Production, Actor: Seo Ha-joon (Flower in Prison)
Excellence, Special Production, Actress: Jin Se-yeon (Flower in Prison)
Excellence Award, Serial Drama, Actor: Sohn Ho-joon (Blow Breeze)
Excellence Award, Serial Drama, Actress: Im Ji-yeon (Blow Breeze)
Excellence Award, Miniseries, Actor: Seo In-gook (Shopping King Louis)
Excellence Award, Miniseries, Actress: Lee Sung-kyung (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju)
Golden Actor, Special Production: Jung Jun-ho (Flower in Prison)
Golden Actress, Special Production: Lee Hwi-hyang (Marriage Contract)
Golden Actor, Serial Drama: Lee Pil-mo (All’s Well With a Happy Home)
Golden Actress, Serial Drama: Kim Ji-ho (All’s Well With a Happy Home)
Golden Actor, Miniseries: Kim Eui-sung (W–Two Worlds)
Golden Actress, Miniseries: Im Se-mi (Shopping King Louis)
New Actor: Ryu Joon-yeol (Lucky Romance)
Nam Joo-hyuk (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju)
New Actress: Nam Ji-hyun (Shopping King Louis)
Jo Boa (Monster)
Best Couple Award: Lee Jong-seok & Han Hyo-joo (W–Two Worlds)
Writer Award: Song Jae-jung (W–Two Worlds)
Child Actor Award: Gu Gun-min (Working Mom, Stay at Home Dad)
Jung Da-bin (Flower in Prison)
Voice Acting Award: Choi Su-jin (Animal Expedition, CSI New York)

It was certainly Lee Jong-seok’s night, and he doesn’t disappoint on the red carpet. His Daesang acceptance speech left a lot to be desired (it was so short the MCs tried to turn it into an interview), but he seems to be genuinely terrified of the spotlight. Ironic, given his choice of careers and his ever-growing stardom. He and co-star Han Hyo-joo look great together, though I wish so badly she’d worn a prettier dress. This one is just so… plain. It makes me sad with its plainness, especially when her hair and makeup look perfect.

Shopping King Louis co-stars Seo In-gook and Nam Ji-hyun are this sweet and cute in every picture, like they just genuinely like each other and are happy to be here. They pretty much look like they’re dressed for their wedding, but hey, it’s not like anyone would object to that union.

Is it just me, or are Lee Sung-kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk 80 percent less interesting when they look all pretty and dolled up? I love these two in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju SO MUCH, but on the red carpet they go back to being themselves, and I don’t feel that draw anymore. Give me Bok-ju and Joon-hyung!

This is my favorite dress of the night. I love Jeon So-min in this frothy cotton-candy dress. It’s so youthful and sugary, and she looks aaaammaaaazing in every photo. She’s here for her daily drama Another Victory Tomorrow, but it’s really rom-com remake 1% of Anything that was her notable project of this past year.

UEE picked up a Top Excellence Award for her stirring performance as a single mother with terminal cancer in Marriage Contract, a well-deserved nod for the starlet who really came into her own as an actress this year. She arrived with co-MC Kim Kook-jin, and wore a dress with some strange cutouts. It looks cool from the back, but I don’t like how skinny it makes her look at the waist. I covet her hair and makeup though—so pretty. Co-star Lee Seo-jin wasn’t on the red carpet, but picked up his Top Excellence Award with dimples.

Real-life couple Lee Sang-woo and Kim So-yeon had a great year—their onscreen romance in the family drama All’s Well With a Happy Home turned into an offscreen romance, and they both went home with Top Excellence Awards. I don’t love Lee Sang-woo’s tux, but he got to arrive with Kim So-yeon looking awesome in a shimmery peach dress that hugs her curves, so he wins.

Im Shi-wan and Yoon-ah presented an award together, as future co-stars in the upcoming 2017 MBC sageuk The King Loves.

Weekend drama Blow Breeze’s Sohn Ho-joon, Im Ji-yeon, and Han Joo-wan. Sohn Ho-joon looks that robotic in all of his photos, which I still find endearing because he’s so awkward and cute. The ruffly black dress on Im Ji-yeon isn’t my favorite, but she always wears a dress well and stands out on the red carpet.

I have no idea why Ryu Joon-yeol got a New Actor Award when he’s not new (then again, no one among the New Actor/Actress winners was actually new), but I’m still glad that he got some recognition for his performance in Lucky Romance. The drama was bad, but he was so funny and lovable as a geeky programmer who was new at love.

The cast of weekend sageuk Flower in Prison. Jung Da-bin, Jung Jun-ho, Jin Se-yeon, and Seo Ha-joon picked up acting awards for the series. I think I would’ve liked Jin Se-yeon’s dress better without the train; overall there are just too many wedding dresses on the red carpet, as usual. Also, I can’t believe how grown-up Jung Da-bin looks!

I adore how Monster co-stars Lee El and Jo Boa came holding hands like besties. I have NO idea what Lee El is wearing though. Is it a Samshin Granny concept for her current role in The Lonely Shining Goblin? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure even Granny wouldn’t turn a giant lace tablecloth into a collared floor-length dress, even if red is her color.

Click below to see the full gallery!

Via My Daily

144

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51 mjfan

December 31, 2016 at 1:44 AM

I love Han hyu joo dress . It's elegant and classy not plain.
And Uee now looks scary , she was beautiful before that deadly weight loss . Do they all have to look the same??

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52 Mel

December 31, 2016 at 2:43 AM

May be I'm so used to njh lsk as joon hyung and bok joo esp joo hyuk as his bubbly smiley self that it was a stark contrast to the drama, looked like he was uncomfortable and stiff, as on red carpet they were modeling literally, severe model mode was on lol. They looked gorgeous though. Lee sung kyung was so cute, she was all smiley and happy when she won, btw so happy for them, both of them deserved it.?

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53 Sayaka

December 31, 2016 at 4:03 AM

Congrats to all the winners. While it's unfortunate how popularity/ratings reigns over who wins in these award ceremonies, I have have to say that Lee jong suk's win is completely justified. I think the heat over Lee Jong Suk's short acceptance speech is really unnecessary and uncalled for. Yes, he may be a little disoriented (or whatever people who like to call it), but I don't think he was being spiteful and disregarding anyone or any aspect of the show. He was just being himself... after all, it's a know fact that he's a bit of an introvert, shy, and struggles with social anxiety.

This is not something you can overcome just like that (even if you had years of experience) I know, because even though my profession involves being in front of people, interacting with people on constant basis, I am still shy and still get uncomfortable around large crowds of people. It's just who I am, and sometimes, it just kicks in and I draw a blank on how to respond properly. It happens. I think people should just step back and imagine being in that person's shoes before throwing them under the bus for being themselves.

In any case, congrats to all the actors. Everyone has worked hard.

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54 Lin_K

December 31, 2016 at 4:15 AM

Congrats to all the winners! I'm glad Seo Ha Joon won for Flower in Prison. His acting was on point. He should get more dramas. He is talented.

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55 Hamster

December 31, 2016 at 5:11 AM

Daesang of MBC not acting award just popular award. I'm so sorry for Kim So Yeon. She should be the winner with high level of act in Happy Home. Anyway, She and her boyfriend Lee Sang Woo such a perfect couple.

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56 unguu

December 31, 2016 at 9:37 AM

I think my comment in every year end korean tv award will be same again and again, even for the next year.
Why the female don't try to wear something more fun, chic, and colourful? Why did the most of them always choose white weddinggown-style?
Han hyo jo is very beautiful, but I am sorry for saying "I didn't like her dress although her dress not white".

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57 fournier48

December 31, 2016 at 10:34 AM

I have to say that after watching him on Celebrity Bromance, I am pretty sure that Nam Joo Hyuk is playing himself on Weightlifting Fairy. He looks extremely nervous in these photos.

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58 wackycashew

December 31, 2016 at 12:29 PM

I'm happy for LJS for the Daesang win. I'm also glad that NJH, LSK, and RJY all nabbed awards.

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59 Serendipity

December 31, 2016 at 6:15 PM

I cannot really consider MBC (or KBS/SBS whatever) seriously when there are so many categories and awards.Was there anyone who didn't win?

Aren't there any decent fashion designers in Korea? What's with those old-fashioned white bridal-gown alikes?White is the color of mourning in Buddhism by the way.The same for ALL Red Carpet events.

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60 Pchan

January 1, 2017 at 7:19 AM

Am just sad Jung Kyung Ho didn't get any award at all for his performance in One More Happy Ending, despite not having a good rating, I love his performance & really think he deserves to get a recognition at the very least, which sadly, he didn't get. I hope he'll get to play in another station other than MBC, but it seems his next project will be still at MBC as well :<

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61 Geenah

January 1, 2017 at 12:19 PM

I understand it must be because of her role,but UEE look terrible, like she could use some ham sandwich or something. She looks hungry and ill for real. Someone please treat her to a high-carb dinner tonight!

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62 liz

January 1, 2017 at 3:56 PM

Lee Jong Suk acting is overrated tbh.

He doea well in his roles and is charming, but they all feel the same to me (opinion)

He winning the daesang was too much.

And his speech was really short. Fans saying he has stage fright, but he was a model and mc before, how he has stage fright being a model ? Really now? lol

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63 Eman Resu

January 1, 2017 at 4:42 PM

Jung Da Bin. She's really pretty. I really like her.

Kim So Yeon. Sooo pretty and sooo sexy. My ultimate noona crush. ;)

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64 Leonie

January 4, 2017 at 6:36 AM

Why am I so late. Btw I liked mbc awards more than kbs where all people was like bogum here bogum there. Ugh felt suffocated and pls don't get me wrong but it was too much. Secondly, I felt it was unfair for seo in guk to get nominated in excellence award only and not also at top excellence award. He had been dramas as leads every year and 2 dramas this year. And he was not nominated at top excellent nomines? HIS ACTING IS GREAT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HIM AS LOUIS. HE BROUGHT THE CHARACTER TO LIFE. I know tha LJS is great too and the drama ratings is high. But to compare with seo In guk's acting , I have to say many things was unfair with him this year :( Also he got less recognition for 38 Task Force. I felt genuinely sad for him as I just finished that drama yesterday. I just can't understand the awards system in Korea. I think it is understandable when knetz was critisizing. :( But it had happened already..

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Tyara

January 12, 2017 at 6:10 AM

I agree with you. Seo In guk is freakingly talented. I realised after reading ur comment how did inguk did not nominated on top exellent award?When RJY also got nominated in there?this is so unfair with him.
P.s LJS should take counselling or classes for speeches. It is not like he is a rookie. He had been model and actor for years. There should be no excuse like he took nerve calming tonic or whatsoever.

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65 Grace

January 6, 2017 at 8:02 PM

Jeon So Min looks stunning. Indeed.... she looks amaaaaazingly beautiful <3. Hope to see more of her this 2017

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