SBS TV’s romantic workplace drama Love Scout, starring Han Ji Min and Lee Joon Hyuk, has gained significant traction with soaring ratings, while tvN’s When the Stars Gossip, led by Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin, struggles with a sharp decline.
Love Scout’s Rising Popularity
Premiering on January 3, 2025, Love Scout tells the story of Kang Ji Yun (Han Ji Min), a charismatic CEO, and Yu Eun Ho (Lee Joon Hyuk), her single father assistant. Breaking away from traditional high school romance tropes, this series highlights a refreshing narrative centered on middle-aged romance and workplace dynamics. The flipped roles between CEO and assistant provide a fresh perspective that resonates with viewers.
The drama has swiftly gained momentum, achieving impressive viewership ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, Love Scout debuted with a nationwide rating of 5.2% and has since climbed to 10.5% by its third episode on January 10. The show’s most recent episode on January 11 further elevated its performance, reaching a new peak of 11.3%. Among viewers aged 20 to 49, the series secured an average rating of 4.1%, making it the most-watched program of the week.
Declining Ratings for Competing Dramas
While Love Scout continues to gain popularity, other weekend dramas have struggled to maintain viewership. MBC’s Motel California, starring Lee Se Young and Na In Woo, premiered on January 10 with a respectable 4.5% rating but dropped to 3.8% for its second episode on January 11.
Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin’s highly anticipated When the Stars Gossip, which airs in tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9:20 PM KST slot, has faced consistent declines since its debut. After launching with 3.3% nationwide ratings on January 4, the drama fell to 2.2% by its latest episode on January 11.
Similarly, Channel A’s Check In Hanyang recorded a dip in its January 11 episode, securing a 2.3% rating compared to the previous 2.665%. Meanwhile, JTBC’s historical drama The Tale of Lady Ok, starring Lim Ji Yeon, saw a sharp drop in ratings, with its January 11 episode falling to 7.689%, down from the previous week’s 11.061%.
Despite its strong performances in previous weeks, KBS2’s Iron Family, a long-running drama starring Kim Jung Hyun and Geum Sae Rok, experienced a decline as well. The series recorded a 17.8% rating on January 11, down from 18.9% on January 5.
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Streaming Availability for Popular Weekend Dramas
- Love Scout: Available on Wavve in South Korea and globally on Netflix and Viki
- Motel California: Streaming on Viki
- When the Stars Gossip: Available on Netflix
- Check In Hanyang: Accessible on TVING, Wavve (South Korea), Netflix, and Viki
- The Tale of Lady Ok: Streaming on Kocowa and Netflix
- Iron Family: Available on Kocowa, Viki, and Prime Video
(Availability may vary by region)
For more updates on K-drama ratings and performances, stay tuned to Vviptimes.