Who would have guessed that we’d be in the last month of the year already? I trust that everyone’s 2022 has been off to a terrific start; if not, what do you think would be the perfect way to end this year with? It’s watching South Korean year-end music festivals and drama awards all streaming on KOCOWA!
For those who may not know, every December, MBC, SBS, and KBS—the three main broadcasting stations in South Korea—host massive music festivals. So that as many people as possible can tune in, they schedule the airings of these specials on different days, airing the “KBS Song Festival” first, the “SBS Gayo Daejeon” before Christmas, and the “MBC Song Festival” on New Year’s Eve!
These networks also host yearly drama awards, with these award shows honoring K-Dramas that aired on their channel (KBS, MBC, and SBS). The purpose of these ceremonies is to honor the best of the year’s television dramas, actors, actresses, directors, writers, and more! The drama awards ceremonies for KBS and SBS are usually held on December 31; the drama awards ceremony for MBC is held the day before, on December 30, due to the “MBC Music Festival.”
Music Festivals
Seeing all my favorite K-Pop artists in one location is something I look forward to every year as a K-Pop fan, and the K-Pop music festivals at the end of the year are a big part of that. What also makes these music festivals extra special is that we will get to see amazing collaborations between different boy groups and girl groups!
One of my favorite collaborations was during the “2018 KBS Song Festival“(Love!) when members of several female groups (Red Velvet Joy + TWICE Tzuyu + Yeonwoo + Mijoo + Sowon + Jiho) performed Miss A’s Hush! AND who would forget the iconic special MC stage of YoonA and Lee Jun Ho performing Señorita at the “2021 MBC Music Festival“!
“2022 KBS Song Festival” – December 16
MCs: Na In Woo, IVE Jang Wonyoung, Kim Shin Young
Theme: Y2K
The lineup of Performing K-pop artists:
- NCT 127
- NCT DREAM
- aespa
- (G)I-DLE
- NewJeans
- LE SSERAFIM
- NMIXX
- Kep1er
- IVE
- ENHYPEN
- STAYC
- Koyote
- BoA
- TXT
- ITZY
- ONEUS
- YENA
- ATEEZ
- Stray Kids
- Forestella
- fromis_9
- THE BOYZ
- PENTAGON
- Kim Wooseok
“2022 SBS Gayo Daejeon” – December 24
MCs: SHINee Key, ASTRO Cha Eun Woo, IVE Yujin
The lineup of Performing K-pop artists:
- NCT 127
- NCT DREAM
- (G)I-DLE
- ITZY
- IVE
- NMIXX
- NewJeans
- Stray Kids
- ATEEZ
- TXT
- aespa
- ENHYPEN
- LE SSERAFIM
“2022 MBC Music Festival” – December 31
MCs: SNSD Im Yoon A, Lee Jun Ho, Jang Sung Kyu
“2022 MBC Music Festival” haven’t announced their performing artist lineup yet, so stay tuned! This also marks YoonA’s 8th year hosting this music festival, and it is Lee Jun Ho’s second time hosting it! Hoping to see another amazing collaboration between these two, just like last year!
Drama Awards
What better way to round out the year as a K-Drama fan than to witness our favorite actors and actresses recognized for their work? Seeing our favorite actors interact and connect with one another is what makes drama award shows so entertaining to watch. We also get to see them in their beautiful dress and suit as they walk on the red carpet!
One of my favorite interactions from these award shows is when Namkoong Min always makes sure to include his then-fiancée, now-wife Jin Ah Reum, in his speeches. Seeing on-screen couples that I adore, like Nana and Park Sung Hoon (from “Into The Ring“) and Shin Hae Sun and Kim Myung Soo (from “Angel’s Last Mission: Love“), receive the “Best Couple Award” was a treat as well. KBS, SBS, and MBC drama awards have nominated all of the dramas that aired and ended this year, so which dramas and actors are you rooting for the most?
“2022 MBC Drama Awards”
MCs: Kim Sung Joo and Choi Soo Young
Date: December 30
Year-end drama awards programs are generally conducted on the 31st, but since the “2022 MBC Song Festival” has this time, the drama awards are held a day earlier!
MBC 2022 Dramas
- “Tracer“
- “Tomorrow”
- “Doctor Lawyer”
- “Big Mouth”
- “The Golden Spoon”
- “Fanletter, Please“
- “The Secret House“
- “Game of Witches“
- “Boar Hunt“
- “May I Help You”
- “Showtime Begins”
“2022 KBS Drama Awards”
MCs: Jung Yong Hwa, Lee Hye Ri, and Jun Hyun Moo
Date: December 31
KBS 2022 K-dramas
- “Moonshine“
- “Crazy Love”
- “Bloody Heart”
- “Café Minamdang”
- “The Law Cafe“
- “Curtain Call”
- “Love All Play”
- “Bravo, My Life“
- “The Love In Your Eyes“
- “2022 KBS Drama Special“
- “Jinxed at First”
- “If You Wish Upon Me”
- “Bad Prosecutor“
- “It’s Beautiful Now“
- “Three Bold Siblings“
- “Gold Mask“
- “Vengeance of the Bride“
- “The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won“
“2022 SBS Drama Awards”
MCs: Shin Dong Yup, Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Se Jeong
Date: December 31
SBS 2022 K-dramas
- “Business Proposal”
- “Woori the Virgin”
- “Cheer Up“
- “Through the Darkness“
- “Again My Life”
- “One Dollar Lawyer”
- “The First Responders”
- “Why Her”
- “Today’s Webtoon”
Where Can You Stream These Shows with English Subtitles?
You can watch all of these shows with professional English subtitles on KOCOWA! December is really gonna be a busy month for K-Pop and K-Drama fans and lucky for us because all of these year-end music festivals and drama awards! Stay tuned on KOCOWA for these shows and make sure you subscribe to get your 14-day free trial!
