‘Another Oh Hae Young’ Is The First K-Drama By tvN To Dominate Its Time Slot — 10th Episode Earns Over 10 Percent Viewership Rating

Whenever K-drama fans think about channels that pump out popular series, they often default to either the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) or the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). Both television companies not only have the repertoire but the experience earned only through time. KBS series, like Winter Sonata and Descendants of the Sun, or SBS series, like My Love From The Star and Yong Pal, are either recognized as launchers or innovators of the Hallyu Wave when it comes to K-dramas.

However, the reason why KBS and SBS seem to dominate may be the fact they are free. Thanks to said Hallyu Wave along with the extensive reach of the internet, many Korean cable or pay channels are starting to experience the same popularity. One such channel is tvN. Since 2006, they have grown to live up to their slogan of “Content Trend Leader” with successful series over the past three years. Reply 1997, Reply 1994, Emergency Couple, Oh My Ghostess, Twenty Again, Signal, and Memory are just some of the popular series to air under tvN since 2013. As a matter of fact, their series, Reply 1988, was recognized as the first successful K-drama for 2016.

Even though tvN has gained recognition for many popular K-dramas presently, they are also known for producing some series that do not live up to their expectations, especially in the 11 p.m. KST time slot on Mondays and Tuesdays. Though certain series such as Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Flower Boys Next Door, Dating Agency: Cyrano, Let’s Eat 2, and Hidden Identity have earned a cult following, their overall viewership ratings barely break two percent on average. This is also the day and time slot in which the notorious Cheese in the Trap aired on, too.

However, times are now changing, as tvN now has a K-drama in that day and time slot that is actually successful. Another Oh Hae Young has passed the two percent viewership rating average tvN series on its time slot are known for. Not only that, by the airing of its tenth episode, it broke a new record by being the first tvN series on said time slot to earn double digit ratings.

For those who are unfamiliar with Another Oh Hae Young, it is a unique “love triangle” series starring Eric Mun (of K-pop boy group Shinhwa, Super Rookie, Spy Myung Wol), Seo Hyun Jin (of K-pop girl group M.I.L.K., The Three Musketeers, Let’s Eat 2), and Jeon Hye Bin (of K-pop girl group LUV, Gunman in Joseon, Healer). Park Do Kyung (Eric Mun) is a sound director who was going to marry the love of his life, Oh Hae Young (Hye Bin). Hae Young however dumped him on their wedding day. In a fit of vengeance, Do Kyung wanted to ruin Hae Young when he hears she is marrying someone else. However, Do Kyung’s revenge hits a snag as he ruined another Oh Hae Young, one who also went to the same school as the Hae Young who left him on his wedding day, by ruining her wedding. Things become more complicated as that Hae Young suddenly appears and becomes a part of Do Kyung’s life.

The synopsis above is enough to make the K-drama quite interesting, and K-drama fans agree. According to AGB Nielsen, the viewership rating for the 10th episode, titled “The Way to Go to You,” was 10.983 percent in the Seoul National Capital Area. Nationwide, it was 8.425 percent which is still good. As for TNS Media Korea, they only recorded the nationwide viewership percentage at 7.2 percent.

Ultimately, Another Oh Hae Young deserves all the accolades it is earning. As reported by Soompi, the K-drama has many good things going for it, including one of the best original soundtracks for any K-drama, double drama attained from have two different characters with the same name as the female leads, a supporting cast that is just as interesting as the main cast, and a chemistry among all cast members that makes every relationship (the primary couple, secondary couple, family relationships, etc.) even more believable.

Another Oh Hae Young airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 11 p.m. KST on tvN. For those who do not have access to Korean channels, it is available to watch for free, with ads and pending region, on both DramaFever and Viki.

[Image via tvN Promotions of Another Oh Hae Young]