Only three episodes into its run, Reborn Rookie has already made history. The JTBC weekend drama starring Lee Jun Young and Lee Ju Myoung achieved an average nationwide rating of 6.7 percent for its third episode on June 6, 2026, according to Nielsen Korea. This marks the highest viewership ratings for any JTBC drama so far this year.
The peak minute rating for Episode 3 reached 8.1 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area, showing the drama’s growing popularity week by week. The show has nearly doubled its ratings since its premiere on May 30, 2026, when Episode 1 recorded a 3.5 percent rating and Episode 2 rose to 4.6 percent.
Episode 3 Recap: Hwang Jun Hyun Secures 300 Billion Won in Slush Funds
Episode 3 of Reborn Rookie delivered major plot developments. Hwang Jun Hyun, whose body is inhabited by the spirit of Chairman Kang Yong Ho (played by Son Hyun Joo), made significant moves to turn the tables on his enemies.
After becoming suspicious of fellow trainee Kang Bang Geul (played by Lee Ju Myoung), Jun Hyun followed her to figure out why she wanted to stay at Choiseong Group so badly. But Bang Geul caught him instead. She discovered him taking money from Chairman Kang’s secret warehouse and confronted him. Jun Hyun convinced her that he was on Kang Yong Ho’s side, and the two agreed to work together against Kang Jae Kyung (played by Jeon Hye Jin) and Kang Jae Sung (played by Jin Goo).
The story intensified when Jun Hyun and Bang Geul uncovered suspicious movements involving Jae Sung’s hidden funds. Instead of exposing everything immediately, Jun Hyun chose a bigger plan. He realized that taking down Jae Sung too soon would only benefit Jae Kyung. So he moved to secure the hidden funds for himself.
Jun Hyun approached the executive director in charge of the money and warned him that he was being used. After following Jun Hyun’s advice, the executive director handed over approximately 300 billion won in slush funds to him. Jun Hyun smiled as if everything was going according to plan.
A Unique Bodyswap Story with Comedy and Revenge
Reborn Rookie tells the story of Kang Yong Ho, the powerful chairman of a major conglomerate. After being betrayed by his own family, he gets into an accident and unexpectedly wakes up in the body of Hwang Jun Hyun, a young soccer player whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Forced to start over as a new employee at his own company, Chairman Kang uses this second chance to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy that destroyed his life. The drama blends fantasy, workplace comedy, mystery, and family revenge into a fresh package.
The show has been praised for its humor. Watching a powerful chairman take orders from his former subordinates and attend meetings as a regular employee creates countless funny situations. Lee Jun Young has received positive reviews for playing a twenty-something body with the mind of an experienced business mogul.
Weekend Drama Ratings for June 6, 2026
Reborn Rookie faced tough competition on Saturday night. KBS 2TV’s Recipe for Love remained the most-watched show of the evening with an average nationwide rating of 13.1 percent.
SBS’s My Royal Nemesis scored 9.9 percent for the night, making it the most-watched miniseries of the entire week.
MBC’s Fifties Professionals, which airs in the same time slot as My Royal Nemesis, maintained its average nationwide rating of 4.8 percent as it wrapped up the first half of its run.
Where to Watch Reborn Rookie
Reborn Rookie airs every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m. KST on JTBC in South Korea.
International viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can stream the drama with English subtitles on Rakuten Viki. Viewers in select Asian regions, including Indonesia, can watch on Viu.
The drama will run for a total of 12 episodes. Episode 4 is scheduled to air on June 7, 2026.
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Main Cast of Reborn Rookie
The main cast includes:
- Lee Jun Young as Hwang Jun Hyun (body of the young soccer player)
- Son Hyun Joo as Kang Yong Ho (Chairman whose soul inhabits Jun Hyun’s body)
- Lee Ju Myoung as Kang Bang Geul (the chairman’s secret youngest daughter)
- Jeon Hye Jin as Kang Jae Kyung (the chairman’s daughter)
- Jin Goo as Kang Jae Sung (the chairman’s son)
Also Read: Teach You a Lesson Episode 1 Recap: Na Hwa-jin Uses Brutal Force to Stop Student Bullies
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