With only two episodes remaining, tvN's "Lovely Runner" is wrapping up its run with massive popularity across Asia and beyond. Despite mixed TV ratings, the drama has sparked industry-wide debates on the relevance of traditional viewership metrics.

"Lovely Runner" has not only taken over the drama scene but also made waves in the music industry. According to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex, it has been the most talked-about TV-OTT drama for three weeks straight in May.

Stars Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon have also been topping the performer buzz rankings for three consecutive weeks. The drama has dominated the 20-49 age group in tvN’s target demographic, holding the top spot across all channels, including terrestrial TV, for seven weeks in a row. It’s also the highest-rated weekday drama among women in their 20s this year.

In music, "Lovely Runner" is making a splash. As of May 24, its OST tracks are climbing the charts on Melon, with "Showers" at fifth place, "It Must Have Been" at 41st, "Spring Snow" at 60th, "Run Run" at 79th, and "Like a Dream" at 96th. "Showers" is particularly popular, ranking high on multiple charts like Melon HOT100, Genie TOP200, and Bugs real-time chart.

Globally, "Lovely Runner" is a hit. According to Rakuten Viki, it has been the number one show in 130 countries for six weeks straight, including major markets like the US, Canada, the UK, France, Brazil, and Mexico. It’s consistently breaking viewership records in North America and is the top 2024 title there.

In Japan, it leads in drama and Korean Wave viewership on U-NEXT, and it’s second in overall content viewership.

In Taiwan, it’s top of the iQIYI drama rankings with a near-perfect score of 9.9 out of 10. On Asia’s Viu platform, it’s first in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong, and second in Thailand and the Philippines. It also boasts a 9.1 rating on IMDb, showcasing its global appeal.

Despite its widespread popularity, "Lovely Runner" hasn’t achieved sky-high TV ratings. It started at 3.1% and peaked at 4.8%, which is modest compared to tvN’s previous hit "Queen of Tears," which ended with 24.9%. This discrepancy has fueled debates among industry insiders about what truly defines a hit.

"Lovely Runner" proves that traditional TV ratings aren’t the only measure of success. The drama’s buzz and popularity highlight the need for a broader perspective when evaluating the success of TV shows.

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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