K-Drama Craze Continues: 'Love Take 2' Dominates While Newcomers Soar

The K-drama landscape is buzzing with excitement as familiar favorites continue their winning streaks and fresh new series make impressive debuts. This past week saw KBS 2TV's beloved weekend drama 'Love Take 2' solidifying its position at the top, while 'My Troublesome Star' entered the scene with promising viewership numbers, setting the stage for more captivating stories.

Maintaining its reign as the most-watched Saturday-Sunday drama, 'Love Take 2' proved its immense popularity once again.

The latest episodes captivated audiences, with its 29th installment achieving a robust 18.0% nationwide rating. However, it was the 30th episode that truly shined, soaring to an impressive 20.6% viewership, making it the highest-rated program across all channels on Sunday. This consistent performance underscores its powerful hold on weekend prime time.

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated new KBS 2TV drama 'My Troublesome Star' made a delightful entrance.

Premiering on Saturday, the show garnered a solid 4.8% rating, immediately catching the attention of viewers. Its Sunday episode saw a positive bump, climbing to 5.3%, hinting at a bright future and a potential fan-favorite in the making. This promising start indicates a strong narrative and engaging characters resonating well with the audience from the get-go.

Not to be outdone, KBS 2TV's long-running Sunday night drama 'Beauty and Mr.

Romantic' continued its steady run, securing a commendable 14.5% rating for its 50th episode. This consistent viewership highlights its enduring appeal and dedicated fanbase, proving its status as a reliable performer in its time slot.

The week also brought significant events for Monday-Tuesday dramas.

tvN's 'Lovely Runner' concluded its acclaimed run, achieving its highest ratings ever with its final episodes, scoring 4.6% for episode 15 and a stellar 5.3% for its much-anticipated finale. ENA's 'Crash' made a strong first impression, kicking off with a promising 2.2% for its premiere, suggesting a thrilling ride ahead for crime drama enthusiasts.

Additionally, 'The Midnight Studio' on ENA saw a slight increase in its final week, concluding its story with a 2.2% rating for its finale after previously hitting 1.7% for episode 15.

Other notable dramas included SBS's new Friday-Saturday offering 'Connection,' which launched with a respectable 6.8% for its first episode before settling at 6.1% for its second.

JTBC's 'The Atypical Family' also saw its ratings climb towards its conclusion, achieving 4.2% for its 12th episode. While some series like MBC's 'Miss Saigon' (1.0%), KBS 2TV's 'Dare to Love Me' (1.5% then 1.1%), and JTBC's 'Frankly Speaking' (1.3% then 1.2%) navigated more modest viewership, the overall picture paints a vibrant and competitive landscape for South Korean dramas, with diverse stories capturing various segments of the audience.