A Korean drama nearing its finale has broken past the 19.6% ratings barrier, dominating weekend primetime TV with record-breaking viewership for two consecutive weeks.
According to Nielsen Korea on January 13, episode 32 of KBS2’s weekend drama 'Iron Family' (directed by Sung Jun Hae and Seo Yong Soo, and written by Seo Sook Hyang) reached a nationwide rating of 19.6%, surpassing its previous high of 18.9% from episode 30. The episode’s peak moment even soared to 21.9%.
With just four episodes remaining in its 36-episode run, 'Iron Family' recorded the highest viewership among all weekend dramas aired from January 10 to 12 and claimed the top spot across all channels on January 11 and 12. Viewers are now curious to see if the drama will surpass the 21.4% rating record set by its predecessor, 'Beauty and Mr. Romantic.'
In episode 32, Seo Kang Joo (played by Kim Jung Hyun) shocked viewers by announcing his breakup with Lee Da Rim (portrayed by Geum Sae Rok) to his mother, Baek Ji Yeon (played by Kim Hye Eun). This emotional decision was triggered after Baek Ji Yeon discovered that Da Rim’s family—Go Bong Hee (played by Park Ji Young), Ahn Gil Rye (portrayed by Kim Young Ok), and Lee Man Deuk (played by Park In Hwan)—were behind the theft of her stolen 10 billion KRW (6.9 million USD).
Threatening to report them to the police, Baek Ji Yeon forced Seo Kang Joo to promise to sever ties with both Da Rim and her family. In a heart-wrenching scene, Seo Kang Joo, who had defied his mother for love, tearfully made the painful decision to say goodbye. This development has heightened curiosity about the fate of the couple.
Kim Jung Hyun’s powerful performance in the later episodes has captivated audiences, solidifying his strong on-screen presence. With only four episodes left, viewers are eager to see if Ironing Family can cross the 20% mark and restore KBS’s reputation as the king of weekend dramas.
With tensions rising over the stolen 10 billion KRW and all relationships on the verge of collapse, episode 33 of 'Iron Family' will air on January 18 at 8 PM KST.
Weekend Drama Ratings Recap: Hits and Misses
SBS’s 'Love Scout' – Continuing Its Climb
'Love Scout' has continued to rise, driven by Lee Joon Hyuk’s stellar performance. The third episode, aired on January 10, recorded 10.5%, while the fourth episode reached 11.3%, setting a new personal record.
MBC’s 'Motel California' – Slipping After a Strong Debut
'Motel California' debuted with a solid 4.5% rating on January 10 but saw a decline to 3.8% with its second episode, signaling an early drop in viewership.
JTBC’s 'Tale of Lady Ok' – Momentum Slowing
The January 11 episode of 'Tale of Lady Ok' recorded 7.7%, followed by a rise to 9.2% on January 12. However, compared to earlier episodes that exceeded 10%, the drama's growth has slowed.
tvN’s 'When the Stars Gossip' – Struggling with Low Ratings
'When the Stars Gossip' hit a series low of 2.2% on January 11 and only rose slightly to 2.8% the following day, failing to gain traction after two weeks on air.
Channel A’s 'Check-in Hanyang' – Lowest Weekend Drama Ratings
'Check-in Hanyang' remained at the bottom of the ratings chart, scoring 2.3% on January 11 and 2.6% on January 12, failing to break out of its slump.
SHARE
