When the Phone Rings' Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin sweep big: Reported winners list at the 2024 MBC Drama Awards

The 2024 MBC Drama Awards ceremony, originally scheduled for a live broadcast on December 30, 2024, was canceled in light of the tragic Jeju Air crash. In solidarity with the victims, the ceremony proceeded as a pre-recording and the live stream was postponed. Despite the changes, a leaked list of winners from the pre-recorded broadcast quickly made its way online.

Fans eagerly awaited the results of the MBC Drama Awards, especially after the network's latest K-drama When the Phone Rings garnered significant recognition in 2024. Among the standout winners of the MBC Drama Awards night were the lead stars of When the Phone Rings, Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin.

The popular duo reportedly walked away with major honors, including the Best Couple Award. The pair's on-screen chemistry captivated audiences and contributed to the drama’s success.

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2024 MBC Drama Awards: Winners revealed

The ceremony celebrated the talent and remarkable dramas of the year. Here are the winners of MBC Drama Awards of various categories, showcasing the best of Korean television in 2024:

• Daesang / Grand Prize: Han Suk-kyu for Doubt
• Top Excellence Award: Yoo Yeon-seok for When the Phone Rings, Lee Je-hoon for Chief Detective 1958, and Honey Lee for Knight Flower
• Drama of the Year: Chief Detective 1958
• Best New Actor: Heo Nam-joon for When the Phone Rings and Lee Ga-seop for Black Out
• Best New Actress: Chae Won-bin for Doubt
• Best Actor: Byun Yo-han for Black Out
• Best Actress: Kim Nam-joo for Wonderful World
• Best Couple: Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin for When the Phone Rings
• Excellence Award: Lee Jong-won for Knight Flower and Chae Soo-bin for When the Phone Rings

The pre-recorded ceremony was conducted with a somber tone, as hosts and presenters acknowledged the tragic plane crash that led to the changes in the event. Kim Sung-Joo returned as the host, joined by Chae Soo-bin, marking her first appearance as a main MC since her acting debut.

Presenters for the MBC Drama Awards included the lead actors from MBC’s upcoming 2025 shows, such as Motel California, Undercover High School, and Labor Attorney Noh Moo Jin. The full broadcast will be aired at a later date on MBC, Naver Now, and YouTube.

The MBC Drama Awards (Korean: MBC 연기대상; RR: MBC Yeon-gi Daesang) is an annual event organized by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to recognize excellence in Korean dramas broadcast on its network. Held every December, the ceremony honors the achievements of actors, directors, and production teams.

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Jeju Air flight 7C2216 crash: South Korea’s deadliest aviation tragedy claims 179 lives

For the unversed, on December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, crashed as it attempted to land at Muan International Airport, South Korea. BBC reported that the tragedy claimed the lives of 179 out of 181 individuals on board, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea's history. The flight, from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, carried 175 passengers and six crew members.

Plane crash kills many in South Korea (Image via Getty)

As the aircraft approached Muan International Airport, the crew received a warning of a potential bird strike. During the descent, the landing gear failed to deploy, prompting an emergency go-around. In a second attempt, the crew attempted a belly landing, but the aircraft overran the runway, collided with a concrete barrier, and erupted in flames.

As per BBC, preliminary investigations suggest a bird strike may have caused the malfunction, though experts are examining other factors. The black boxes have been recovered for analysis.

This marks Jeju Air's first fatal accident in its 19-year history. The disaster has led to an outpouring of grief and condolences from around the globe.