Despite facing unexpected challenges and financial setbacks, actress Lee Young Ae has secured a nomination for the KBS Drama Awards with her role in ‘Eunsu’s Good Day‘. This news emerges amidst a blend of high anticipation and a lingering debate over the drama’s performance, which fell short of expectations in the rating charts.
The announcement on December 26th highlighted nominees such as Ahn Jae Wook and Uhm Ji Won from ‘Please Take Care of the Five Eagle Brothers!’, ‘Na Young Hee from ‘Cinderella Game’, alongside Lee Young Ae and Kim Young Kwang from ‘Eunsu’s Good Day’. These picks promise a thrilling awards season, igniting interest in who will take home the coveted honors.
Despite the buzz surrounding Lee’s return to a KBS drama after 26 years, ‘Eunsu’s Good Day’ and its counterpart, ‘Twelve’ starring Ma Dong Seok, stumbled under the weight of expectations. Positioned as part of KBS’s fresh Saturday–Sunday miniseries initiative, these dramas struggled to capture the anticipated audience size.
The financial implications for KBS were considerable. Reports indicate that KBS purchased ‘Twelve’ for 5.5 billion won per episode, only to recover approximately 2.6 billion won through advertising. This steep deficit led to a cumulative loss estimated at 18 billion won. Similarly, ‘Eunsu’s Good Day’ incurred substantial losses. KBS’s investment of 10.6 billion won per episode across 12 episodes culminated in a staggering 88 billion won shortfall, according to industry insiders.
The drama landscape was rounded out by top performers like ‘Please Take Care of the Five Eagle Brothers!’ which claimed a nationwide peak of 22.4% in viewership, outshining its competitors with its heartfelt depiction of familial bonds beyond blood ties. As KBS prepares for its year-end awards ceremony, airing live on December 31 at 7:10 p.m. KST, the absence of post-finale interviews from Lee Young Ae raises questions about her potential attendance.
Such dynamics position the 2025 KBS Drama Awards as a pivotal moment for the broadcasting giant, balancing critical acclaim with financial realities.
