KBS has released the first teaser for the 2025 KBS Drama Awards, but excitement is mixed with concern as the network faces what many viewers are calling a “ratings disaster” this year.
The annual ceremony, which will air on December 31, highlights the year’s miniseries, weekend dramas, daily dramas and one-acts produced by KBS. Despite a difficult year, the network promises a star-studded night that reunites the actors who shaped the 2025 drama lineup.
Returning for the third consecutive year, broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu will host the show alongside actors Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min, the main stars of KBS’ upcoming weekend drama My Beloved Thief premiering on January 3.
A teaser full of stars but not votes
The newly released teaser features a panoramic montage of last year’s KBS dramas. Clips include:
- For Eagle Brothers with Uhm Ji-won and Ahn Jae-wook
- Increase healthy love with Lee Jun-young and Jung Eun-ji
- Walking on Thin Ice with Lee Young-ae and Kim Young-kwang
- Twelve led by Ma Dong-seok and Park Hyung-sik
- The first night with the Duke with Seohyun and Ok Taec-yeon
- Villains Everywhere with Oh Na-ra and So Yoo-jin
A quote from Lee Young-ae in Walking On Thin Ice “Word will spread! People will flock from all over!” is highlighted in the teaser as a promise of what the awards show hopes to deliver.
Star Power failed to save KBS in 2025
Despite releasing more than a dozen dramas, most had surprisingly low ratings. Aside from a few weekend dramas, nearly every series remained in the single-digit range.
Even projects with great successes had difficulties:
- Twelve, starring action icon Ma Dong-seok, opened with 8.1% but sank to 2.4% after harsh reviews.
- Walking On Thin Ice, starring popular actress Lee Young-ae, only averaged 3%.
- Last summer it dropped to 1.5%, one of the lowest levels among KBS miniseries.
- Pump Up the Healthy Love suffered the worst fate, with a humiliating score of 0%.
With viewership at an all-time low, predicting the winner of the Grand Prix (Daesang) has become more difficult than ever.
Despite its disappointing drama schedule, KBS aims to end the year with a glamorous awards ceremony highlighting the network’s biggest talents and most memorable scenes.
Whether the Daesang will go to a veteran like Lee Young-ae or another big star’s performance remains the biggest question as awards night approaches.
The 2025 KBS Drama Awards will air on December 31.
Sources: Daum
