Legal drama 'Good Partner' reigns supreme at awards show

Jang Na-ra, a lead actor for SBS drama “Good Partner,” poses at SBS Drama Awards held at SBS Prism Tower, Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap

Jang Na-ra, a lead actor for SBS drama “Good Partner,” poses at SBS Drama Awards held at SBS Prism Tower, Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

"Good Partner," an SBS TV drama that follows the lives of divorce attorneys, has become one of the most popular series of the year, sweeping seven awards at the SBS Drama Awards.

The series centers on Cha Eun-kyung (Jang Na-ra), a star divorce lawyer, and Han Yu-ri (Nam Ji-hyun), a rookie lawyer at a law firm, as they navigate the complexities of divorce cases.

Aired from July to September, "Good Partner" began with a nationwide viewership rating of 7.8 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, and it peaked at 17.7 percent in its seventh episode and concluded with 15.2 percent in the final episode.

The drama attracted high viewership ratings by exploring the topic of infidelity and received positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of the divorce process and its challenge to stereotypes about divorce, ultimately becoming SBS TV's most popular drama of the year.

Actors Jang Na-ra, left, and Nam Ji-hyun pose in a poster for SBS drama “Good Partner.” Courtesy of SBS

Actors Jang Na-ra, left, and Nam Ji-hyun pose in a poster for SBS drama “Good Partner.” Courtesy of SBS

In particular, thanks to this drama, lead actor Jang became the first entertainer to receive grand prizes for both singing and acting. The 43-year-old previously received the Grand Prize at MBC TV's Top 10 Singer Award in 2002 for her second studio album, "Sweet Dream."

After receiving the grand prize, Jang wept, saying it was an unbelievable result.

"Thanks to meeting a good partner like this, I can touch this (award). I could do a lot, thanks to Nam Ji-hyun," she said.

"I realized as I got older how miraculous it is that people I don't know like me and watch the drama. I'm grateful but also feel sorry. Thank you very much to the viewers. I will work really hard in the future and want to remain a curious actor."

The Director's Award went to actor Park Shin-hye for her lead role in "The Judge from Hell,” who played a fallen devil who inhabits the body of a judge.

"I received the rookie actor award at the SBS Drama Awards 21 years ago," Park said after receiving the award. "I'm so grateful for viewers' enthusiastic acceptance of my transformation this time."

Ahn Bo-hyun of "Flex x Cop," Jeon Mi-do of "Connection," Kim Nam-gil and Lee Ha-nee of "The Fiery Priest 2," Kim Jae-young of "The Judge from Hell" and Nam Ji-hyun of "Good Partner" won the Best Acting Award.

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