Beautiful Man Update
I'll admit, this article is certainly late in recognizing the winners of this year's--rather, last year's drama awards. Nonetheless, I suppose it's better late, than never, so here's the gist of things: (note that parentheticals indicate the drama for which an actor's/actress' performance is being recognized)
The Daesang: What is it?
For each award show [MBC, SBS and KBS] the Daesang is revered as the MOST prestigious award. In other words, winning a Daesang is the award for which all actors and actresses strive. To win such an award means that an actor's or actress' ability is so good that it deserves national recognition. The Daesang is also known as the Grand Prize.
2012's Daesang Winners
MBC KBS SBS
Jo Seung Woo Kim Nam Joo Son Hyun Joo
(Horse Doctor) (Unexpected You) (The Chaser)
Drama of the Year
This is only awarded during the MBC Drama Awards.
2012 MBC Drama of the Year
Actor of the Year
This is awarded to the recipient by the decision of PDs from all three broadcasters. SBS is the only award show to award an actor and actress respectively and refers to the awards as the Producer's Award.
Actors of the Year Winners
MBC KBS SBS 
Lee Sung Min Uhm Tae Woong Park Geun Hyung Chae Si Ra
(Golden Time) (Equator Man) (The Chaser) (Five Fingers)
Child Actor Award
WinnersThis award is only given during the MBC Drama Awards.
(I Miss You) (I Miss You) (May Queen)
(The Moon That Embraces the Sun) (The Moon That Embraces the Sun) (The Moon That Embraces the Sun)
The Rookie Award
Also known as the New Actor/Actress Award [MBC], Newcomer Award [KBS] and New Star Award [SBS]. It is given to, of course, notable rookie actors and actresses. MBC and KBS both award two actors and actresses, as SBS awards ten.
Rookie Award Winners
MBC
Kim Jaejoong Lee Jangwoo Kim So Eun Oh Yeon Seo
(Mr. Jin) (I Do, I Do) (Horse Doctor) (Oh Ja Ryong Is Coming)
KBS
Lee Hee Joon Lee Jong Suk Oh Yeon Seo Jin Se Yun
(Unexpected You) (School 2013) (Unexpected You) (Gaksital)
SBS
Minho Sulli Lee Hyun Woo Go Jun Hee Park Hyo Joo
(To the Beautiful You) (The Chaser)
Lee Jonghyun Yoon Jin Yi Park Se Young Kwon Yuri Jung Eun Woo
(A Gentleman's Dignity) (Faith) (Fashion King) (Bride of the Sun)
(Five Fingers)
Best Couple Award
This award is determined by fan votes. KBS and SBS recognize multiple couples; however, only one will be revealed in this article. If you'd like to see the complete list of Best Couple winners, click here.
Best Couple Winners
MBC KBS SBS
Lee Jun Ki/Shin Min Ah Song Joong Ki/Moon Chae Won Kim Min Jong/Yoon Jin Yi
(Arang and the Magistrate) (Nice Guy) (A Gentleman's Dignity)
Popularity Award
Determined by fan voting and is awarded to an actor and actress.
Winners
MBC KBS SBS
Kim Soohyun Joo Won Park Yoochun
(The Moon That Embraces the Sun) (Gaksital) (Rooftop Prince)
Yoon Eun Hye Bae Suzy Kim Haneul
(I Miss You) (Big) (A Gentleman's Dignity)
Excellence Awards: How are dramas broken down into categories?
It's an award to recognize the excellent performances of actor/actress recipients. Furthermore, for each award show [MBC, SBS and KBS] dramas are broken down into different variations. For instance, the categories are:
| MBC | KBS | SBS |
| -Miniseries -Special Production Drama -Serial Drama | -Daily Drama -Miniseries -Mid-length Drama -Serial Drama | -Miniseries -Drama Special -Weekend/Serial Drama |
MBC Excellence Awards
Top (Best) Miniseries Actor and Actress
Kim Soo Hyun Han Gain
(Moon That Embraces the Sun)
Top (Best) Special Drama Production Actor and Actress
Jo Seung Woo Sung Yuri
(Horse Doctor) (Feast of the Gods)
Top (Best) Serial Drama Actor and Actress
(May Queen)
Runner-Up Excellence Awards:
Miniseries: Park Yoochun (I Miss You) and Lee Yoonji (The King2Hearts)Special Drama Production: Lee Sangwoo (Horse Doctor, Feast of the Gods) and Son Dambi (Lights and Shadows)/Sung Yuri (Feast of the Gods)
Serial Drama: Jae Hee (May Queen) and Seo Hyunjin (Feast of the Gods, Oh Ja-Ryong Is Coming)
KBS Excellence Awards
All-Around (Best) Actor and Actress
Song Joong Ki Moon Chae Won Yoo Joon Sang
(Nice Guy) (Unexpected You)
Top (Best) Daily Drama Actor and Actress
Kim Dong Wan Kim Yeong Chul Kim Ye Ryung Seo Jihye
(Be Strong Mr.Kim) (I Will Give You the Stars (Love, My Love) (I Will Give you the
and the Moon) Stars and the Moon)
Top (Best) Miniseries Actor and Actress
Shin Hyun Joon Jang Nara
(Oohlala Couple) (School 2013)
Top (Best) Mid-length Drama Actor and Actress
Uhm Tae Woong Lee Bo Young
(Equator Man) (Equator Man)
Top (Best) Serial Drama Actor and Actress
Joo Won Yoon Yeo Jung
(Gaksital) (Unexpected You)
SBS Excellence Awards
Top (Best) Miniseries Actor and Actress
Lee Min Ho Jung Ryeo Won
(Faith) (History of a Salaryman, King of Dramas)
Top (Best) Drama Special Actor and Actress
So Ji Sub Han Ji Min
(Ghost) (Rooftop Prince)
Top (Best) Weekend/Serial Drama Actor and Actress
Kim Haneul Jang Dong Gun
(A Gentleman's Dignity)
Runner-Up Excellence Awards:
Miniseries: Kim Sung Ryung (The Chaser) and Kim Sang Joong (The Chaser)Drama Special: Park Yoochun (Rooftop Prince) and Jung Yumi (Rooftop Prince)
Weekend/Serial Drama: Kim Soo Ro (A Gentleman's Dignity) and Shin Eun Kyung (Still You)
..and that's the gist of things. Click here to see the complete list of 2012 Drama Awards winners, including screen writers awards, lifetime achievement awards, etc.
