Broadcaster Park Na-rae. Photo: Sports Kyunghyang BD
By mid-December, the entertainment industry is usually busy wrapping up the year. While actors with films or dramas in production are often tied up, singers postpone new album releases and prepare for year-end stages. Variety personalities likewise take stock of their year and gear up for the various ‘Entertainment Awards’ ceremonies that arrive around the end of the year.
This year, the terrestrial Entertainment Awards will begin with KBS on the 20th, followed by MBC on the 29th and SBS on the 30th. But there is no one to give awards to. Setting aside whether there are people ‘worthy of awards,’ even those ‘worthy of awards’ are disappearing one by one amid various controversies and incidents.
Broadcaster Jo Se-ho. Photo: Sports Kyunghyang DB
Unlike previous years, December has been filled with incidents, accidents, and controversies heating up not only entertainment but also politics and society. Broadcaster Park Na-rae, following power-abuse allegations, became embroiled in disputes over illegal medical practices and operating an unregistered agency. There were also suspicions that her mother, who heads her one-person agency, attempted a one-sided settlement with former managers who came forward with revelations after leaving. In the end, facing police investigations stemming from complaints and accusations, Park Na-rae announced a halt to her activities.
Jo Se-ho is in a similar situation, albeit with less gravity. An anonymous whistleblower dragged him into a ‘gang ties’ controversy. The whistleblower asserted that the person Jo took a photo with was an organized-crime figure and alleged that Jo promoted the man’s franchise, which allegedly engaged in illegal activities, in return for payment. Jo denied the claims, but as threats of further revelations continued, he ultimately stepped down from major shows such as ‘You Quiz on the Block’ and ‘2 Days & 1 Night.’
Actor and broadcaster Lee Yi-kyung. Photo: Sports Kyunghyang DB
Actor-turned-variety star Lee Yi-kyung, who had a solid year, is no exception. Appearing on MBC’s ‘How Do You Play?,’ SBS Plus·ENA’s ‘I Am SOLO,’ and tvN’s ‘A 10-Billion-Won Breakfast,’ he has lately faced controversy over his private life, and his acceptance speech at an overseas awards event sparked a ‘Yoo Jae-suk passing’ controversy, putting him through the wringer. He may still appear at the terrestrial year-end ceremonies he is connected to, but it remains uncertain whether he will take the stage for any acceptance speech that has become a subject of gossip.
Even beyond these three cases, this year saw an unusually large number of misfortunes for variety figures. Lee Kyung-kyu, the ‘godfather’ of variety, was embroiled in a drugged-driving controversy and, for the first time since his debut, stood before the police photo line, while broadcaster Lee Jin-ho, who had been under suspicion of illegal gambling, also faced a drunk-driving charge, making it the worst year of his career.
Broadcaster Lee Kyung-kyu. Photo: Sports Kyunghyang DB
Baek Jong-won, a culinary researcher better known as a TV personality, ultimately announced a suspension of broadcasting activities amid a raft of allegations concerning his corporation and personal matters, while Park Mi-sun and Ji Ye-eun halted activities due to health issues, drawing sympathy. As these issues piled up, the variety scene’s talent pool became shallow, and the year-end succession of controversies made this all the more pronounced.
As a result, KBS has little choice but to lean on past winners such as Moon Se-yoon or Kim Sook; MBC on Jun Hyun-moo; and SBS on Tak Jae-hoon and Lee Sang-min. The tier right belowthe Top Excellence Award levelhas an even thinner slate of candidates. Even the ‘regular’ Yoo Jae-suk is going through a rough patch, to the point his agency has issued warnings about malicious comments. Variety shows already battling chronic ratings declines and audience erosion are now facing a ‘shortage of awardable talent’ due to cast controversies.
Culinary researcher and broadcaster Baek Jong-won. Photo: Sports Kyunghyang DB
Within the industry, there is concern about a ‘vicious cycle’ in which the pool of awardees is shrinking, leading to poor commercial performance and, in turn, a gloomier outlook for next year. December 2025, when those meant to bring laughter are bringing worries instead. The broadcasting world, especially the variety field, is enduring a colder winter than ever.
