South Korea's Political Turmoil Shakes Up TV Schedules: Dramas and Variety Shows Affected

Amid escalating political unrest in South Korea, major broadcasters are scrambling to adjust their programming schedules, impacting beloved variety shows and dramas. Extended news coverage and special reports are taking priority as the nation navigates an intense political crisis.

Variety Shows Pulled for News Coverage

MBC has announced sweeping cancellations of its flagship variety programs this week. Fan favorites such as “Music Core”, “Home Alone” (“I Live Alone”), “How Do You Play?”, and “The Manager” will not air, making way for extended editions of “News Desk” and urgent news reports.

Similarly, JTBC’s hit show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) will be off the air for the week, leaving fans disappointed but understanding of the circumstances.

Dramas See Major Delays

Popular dramas are also experiencing significant disruptions. MBC’s “When the Phone Rings” will skip its 5th and 6th episodes this week, originally slated for December 6 and 7. Instead, Episode 5 will air on December 13, resetting its broadcast timeline.

Over at SBS, “The Fiery Priest 2” will air Episode 9 as planned tonight (December 6), but Episode 10, scheduled for December 7, is postponed for news coverage. The network has also pulled its music show “Inkigayo” from its December 8 lineup.

JTBC’s “The Tale of Lady Ok” will delay its 3rd episode from December 7 to December 8 at 10:30 p.m. KST. Meanwhile, Channel A’s weekend drama “Marry YOU” has rescheduled its December 7 episode, opting for a back-to-back airing of Episodes 7 and 8 on December 8 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

Political Drama Behind the Scenes

The sudden upheaval in TV schedules follows a series of high-stakes political events. On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a dramatic emergency address. In a stunning turn of events, the National Assembly quickly passed a resolution demanding its revocation. Hours later, at 4:30 a.m. KST, President Yoon announced the termination of martial law.

Despite the reversal, political tensions remain high. Opposition parties have intensified efforts to impeach President Yoon, with a vote on the impeachment motion scheduled for December 7.

As South Korea’s political landscape continues to evolve, broadcasters are staying on high alert, prioritizing coverage of breaking developments over regular programming.

Stay tuned for more updates as this unprecedented political and media storm unfolds.