Will the upset of actor Park Bo-gum winning the KBS Entertainment Awards' grand prize occur?
Tonight (the 20th) at 9:20 p.m., the 2025 KBS Entertainment Awards will be held at the KBS new building public hall in Yeouido, Seoul. With actor Lee Min-jung, singer Lee Chan-won and comedian Moon Se-yoon serving as the three MCs, the honor of awards is expected to go to the performers who appeared on KBS entertainment programs and were active throughout 2025.
In particular, this year's KBS Entertainment Awards is drawing attention with a nominee for the grand prize that approaches an upset. Actor Park Bo-gum has been nominated for the grand prize. This year Park Bo-gum served as the MC for KBS 2TV music program The Seasons and presented Park Bo-gum's Cantabile.
Park Bo-gum's Cantabile aired for a total of 21 episodes from March 14 to Aug. 1. On The Seasons, where prominent singers such as Lee Hyori, Park Jae-beom and AKMU served as hosts, Park Bo-gum showed great activity not as a musician but as an MC. Although its highest rating was only 1.6% (Nielsen Korea nationwide), the show enjoyed heated buzz throughout its run. This has raised curiosity as to whether he will cause an upset not only by being nominated for the grand prize but also by winning it.
Of course, besides Park Bo-gum, comedians Kim Sook and Kim Young-hee, KOYOTE's Kim Jong-min, broadcaster Boom, Lee Chan-won and former announcer Jun Hyun-moo have been named as grand prize nominees. This raises expectations for the awards ceremony that will determine the top figures who led KBS entertainment.
Kim Sook was active across the board with long-running programs such as the boss has donkey ears, Problem Child in House, as well as the new-concept delivery talk show Delivery Was Here and Pursuing Old Encounters. Kim Young-hee built her own Malja Halmae character by briskly resolving audience concerns with sharp on-the-spot ad-libs on the flagship Gag Concert corner Communication king Malja Halmae, and she expanded it into a solo entertainment show.
Kim Jong-min has been a living proof of 2 Days & 1 Night, carrying KBS's Sunday evenings for 18 years. Moreover, recently on 2 Days & 1 Night, fixed member Cho Sae-ho was embroiled in allegations of gang involvement and left the show. Attention is focused on whether the broadcaster's encouragement toward him, who will lead the five-member system, will be expressed as a grand prize.
Also, Boom has led the stable hosting of Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant for more than four years, and on Heart on Wheels he showed the traits of an entertainment veteran, making the grand prize nominee list for the first time. Meanwhile, Lee Chan-won, who wrote last year's upset for the grand prize, solidified his position as "KBS's son" again through programs such as Immortal Songs, Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant, The Secret of Celebrity Soldiers and Volunteer.
Finally, Jun Hyun-moo has not only hosted the boss has donkey ears for more than six years but also played a central role with smooth hosting skills and outstanding sense on Crazy Rich Korean, boasting a powerful presence and being mentioned as one of the leading candidates.
This has prompted various predictions, from Park Bo-gum's upset and support for Kim Jong-min to erase Cho Sae-ho's departure to the reinforcement of Jun Hyun-moo's presence. Attention is focused on the results of tonight's KBS Entertainment Awards. <
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by KBS.
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