'The King: Eternal Monarch' Achieves Peak Viewership of 14%, Proving Kim Eun-sook's Power

Kim Eun-sook's new drama The King: Eternal Monarch has predicted a hit, recording a peak viewership rating of 14%. Photo by The King: Eternal Monarch capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hyesoo] SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The King: Eternal Monarch,' which premiered on the 17th, immediately surpassed double-digit viewership ratings from the first episode, signaling a hit.

The first episode of 'The King: Eternal Monarch' aired that day began with Lee Rim (Lee Jung-jin), the half-brother of Emperor Lee Ho (Kwon Yul) of the Korean Empire and the great-uncle of Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho), staging a rebellion to seize the 'Manpasikjeok,' which symbolizes 'two worlds.' However, it split into two, and Lee Rim took only one half to open the door to a parallel world. Twenty-five years later, Emperor Lee Gon of the Korean Empire, who possessed half of the Manpasikjeok, crossed into the Republic of Korea. He had a fateful encounter with Jeong Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun), a Korean detective, whose ID card was dropped by a mysterious man who appeared on the night of the rebellion 25 years ago. Their poignant embrace delivered a heart-throbbing ending.

Notably, Kim Eun-sook, the undisputed top writer in South Korea and a master of storytelling, completed a fresh and gripping story and thrilling narrative from the first episode through an unimaginable parallel world fantasy romance. Additionally, directors Baek Sang-hoon and Jung Ji-hyun showcased delicate and sophisticated directing skills, presenting visually stunning and spectacular imagery, promising an astonishingly enchanting drama.

Moreover, trusted actors such as Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam, Jung Eun-chae, and Lee Jung-jin breathed vibrant life into their characters while enhancing immersion with bold acting transformations. Lee Min-ho embodied Lee Gon, who ascended as the third emperor of the Korean Empire at the age of eight due to the rebellion, perfectly portraying a dignified appearance, noble character, and a flawless ruler combining both civil and military virtues. Lee Min-ho exploded with various charms, from the charisma of an emperor to the tender sorrow engraved deep in his heart, and playful mischief toward his reliable aide Jo Young (Woo Do-hwan), marking a successful return to the small screen.

Kim Go-eun revealed fresh charm with a realistic performance fully merged with her role as Jeong Tae-eul, a detective in the Korean violent crimes unit. Making her first appearance with a girl-crush vibe, Kim Go-eun displayed a rough-and-tumble style to bring down suspects, as well as a flashy spinning kick and a natural expression that candidly portrayed the straightforward Tae-eul.

Also, Woo Do-hwan transformed into Jo Young, captain of the royal guard, and Kim Kyung-nam revealed a taciturn charisma as Kang Shin-jae, a detective in the Korean violent crimes team 3, capturing viewers' attention. Furthermore, Jung Eun-chae stylishly portrayed Gu Seo-ryung, the youngest and first female prime minister of the Korean Empire, filled with intense desire, leaving a strong impression.

Lee Jung-jin, appearing as the greatest villain in the drama, also played Lee Rim, the Korean Empire's Geumchinwang, showcasing a dark aura by stabbing his half-brother with a knife during the rebellion and swiftly eliminating a lookalike in the Republic of Korea after crossing the parallel world, hinting at an extraordinary trajectory.

The episode's ending intensified curiosity as Emperor Lee Gon crossed into the Republic of Korea and, upon spotting detective Jeong Tae-eul, embraced her passionately. Lee Gon arrived at Gwanghwamun after passing between the Dangganjiju pillars on his Maximus horse from the Korean Empire and was shocked to see detective Jeong Tae-eul trying to stop him. He exclaimed, "Finally, I see you, Detective Jeong Tae-eul," and hugged her tightly, sparking anticipation for their future relationship.

'The King: Eternal Monarch' episode 1 recorded 11.4% for part 1 and 12.9% for part 2 in the metropolitan area (Nielsen Korea, paid households), ranking first in its time slot across all channels. It also broke the highest first-episode record for SBS Friday-Saturday dramas, reaching a peak rating of 14% (part 2), proving the buzz around Kim Eun-sook's drama.

The second episode of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The King: Eternal Monarch' will air on the 18th at 10 PM.