Yoo Jae Suk, widely regarded as Korea’s “National MC,” is in the running for the ‘2024 KBS Entertainment Awards’ after a decade. However, mixed results from his latest show have cast doubt on his chances of taking home the Grand Prize.

On December 10th, KBS confirmed that Yoo Jae Suk would attend the ‘2024 KBS Entertainment Awards’ on December 21st. This will mark his first appearance at the event in four years, following his last attendance in 2020 as a presenter.

While he has attended as a presenter in recent years, this marks his return as a nominee after four years, raising the possibility of his first win at KBS in ten years. Yoo Jae Suk previously won the KBS Entertainment Grand Prize in 2014 for his work as an MC on ‘Happy Together 3’ and ‘I Am a Man.’

Yoo Jae Suk’s return to KBS this year was marked by the launch of ‘Synchro U,’ which transitioned from a successful pilot to a regular program. However, the show struggled to maintain momentum, closing out with ratings in the 1% range. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode recorded a viewership of 1.8%.

Amid Yoo Jae Suk’s uncertain chances, Jun Hyun Moo has emerged as a leading contender for this year’s Grand Prize. As the main MC of ‘Boss in the Mirror,’ Jun Hyun Moo consistently records ratings in the 4-5% range and has held the top spot in its time slot across all channels for 132 consecutive weeks.

Jun Hyun Moo’s versatility was further highlighted when he took on weightlifting commentary for the 2024 Paris Olympics after meeting weightlifter Park Hye Jung on the show. The coverage achieved a peak rating of 18.5%, further boosting his case as the most likely Grand Prize winner.

While ‘Synchro U’ marked a notable return for Yoo Jae Suk to KBS after three years, its lukewarm reception poses challenges to his chances at reclaiming the Grand Prize. Fans eagerly await to see if he can overcome the odds and win the award again after a decade.