‘Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim’ Will Not Air During ‘2016 SBS Gayo Daejun’ — Popular K-Drama To Air Only One Episode This Week Due To End-Of-The-Year Music Special [K-Drama Spoilers]

Around this time, every major Korean broadcasting station airs their annual event that Hallyu fans must tune in to celebrate the upcoming new year. These include respective entertainment awards for the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). However, some stations have special end-of-the-year shows exclusive to them. One such show is the upcoming 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun.

Broadly translated to “Battle of the Bands,” the SBS Gayo Daejun has been one of SBS’ end-of-the-year shows to tune into since its initiation back in 1997. It usually airs the day after Christmas at 10 p.m. KST. Any of SBS’ original broadcasting at that time will be put on hold for it too. For K-drama fans who may not care much about K-pop, that is debilitating news because the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun will force Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim to only air one episode on Tuesday this week.

To be frank, this will only be news to new K-drama fans who are unfamiliar with how important end-of-the-year shows are for Korean broadcasting stations since seasoned K-drama fans would already know about it by now. According to Korean news outlet Naver, the remaining episodes of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim will be pushed back by one day as it will not air on December 26. In its place, the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun will air. Also as a result of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim being pushed back, either the last episode will also be pushed back meaning it will air six days from its original air date or two episodes, the penultimate episode and finale, will air on the scheduled day for the finale, back-to-back.

Though the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun is a very important event, it does happen during a critical moment in Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim. At the end of the 14th episode titled “Paragonimiasis Effect,” there was a huge ratings spike to the drama’s already high ratings for TNmS Media Korea. The nation recorded 21.6 percent while the Seoul National Capital Area recorded 26.0 percent.

[WARNING: Spoilers Ahead! Skip To Paragraph After First Image!] The ratings spike is because Kang Dong Joo (Yoo Yeon Suk) finally gets the acceptance of Yoon Seo Jung (Seo Hyun Jin) in their relationship. It results in one of the steamiest kiss scenes seen in any K-drama for this year. Oftentimes, K-drama kisses are “lip presses” but Yeon Suk and Hyun Jin really got into their characters to deliver something to make fans’ watch with bated breath.

Even though the steamy kiss scene between Yoo Yeon Suk and Seo Hyun Jin is the reason for said ratings spike, it is technically not the highest Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim has seen if we were to look ratings from both Korean viewership companies. The 12th episode titled “The Boiling Point” had higher ratings across the board because it presented a moral dilemma for Yeon Suk’s character Dong Joo in lying on a death certificate. If he lied, he would advance in doctor seniority. If he did not, he would face his own morality and the reason why he became a doctor in the first place.

For those interested in the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun, it will be hosted by You Hee Yeol, Yuri of Girls’ Generation, and Baekhyun of EXO. Three particular events will take place at the show that should be notable. The first is a special stage collaboration between CL formerly of 2NE1 and G-Dragon of Big Bang. According to Soompi, the pair previously collaborated on a track titled “The Leaders” from G-Dragon’s album back in 2009. Also, an insider at SBS provided more info about the collaboration in which “another member” might join them.

“The stage will be produced by Teddy and there is a possibility that another member will join G-Dragon and CL.”

The second is Uhm Jung Hwa and T.O.P. of Big Bang reuniting for a collaboration on a special stage also. Finally, the third is a producer stage featuring Lee Soo Man (founder of SM Entertainment), J.Y. Park (founder of JYP Entertainment), Teddy Park (producer at YG Entertainment), Yoo Young Jin (SM Entertainment songwriter), Yoon Jong Shin (CEO of Mystic Entertainment), and 10cm.

K-pop fans who want to watch the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejun, it will air on Monday at 10 p.m. KST on SBS. For those who do not have access to Korean channels, there will be a live stream available on K-pop Stream Online. As for those interested in Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim, it usually airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. KST on SBS. For those who also do not have access to Korean channels, it can be viewed on OnDemandKorea, DramaFever by one of its other titles, Doctor Romantic, and on Viki by the other title, Romantic Doctor Kim.

[Featured Image by Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS)]