Lee Jong Suk has been making waves in Hallyu with his current acting gig in the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) K-drama W. Also known as W – Two Worlds , the series has become one of the most popular K-dramas on air, and is able to keep up with Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) K-drama Doctors , a series starring Jong Suk’s co-star from Pinocchio , Park Shin Hye. It is also surprising that W got more attention when it debuted, because it did not get as much hype and anticipation as its competitor, Uncontrollably Fond , which may become the most disappointing K-drama for 2016 if it continues on the path it is going.
Despite the fact that W is literally dominating, Lee Jong Suk is not letting the fame of being a part of the most popular K-drama at the moment go to this head. As a matter of fact, he might be using W as a platform for causes he supports such as ending child abuse. This was seen when K-drama fans took notice of a shirt he was wearing that read “My Will Is Good,” a shirt in which all proceeds of its sale went to the Save The Children Organization, a foundation aiming to end child abuse.
Lee Jong Suk was seen wearing the “My Will Is Good” shirt on the Thursday, August 25, episode, which is chronologically the 11th episode, of W, as reported by Korean news outlet Insight through a translation by Soompi. The black-and-white T-shirt was designed in collaboration between Jong Suk and designer Song Ja In through his brand Jain Song.
The black-and-white T-shirt reading “My Will Is Good” along with a white-and-black T-shirt that reads “Please Stop” had all of its proceeds donated to the Save The Children Organization. According to the Save The Children Organization official website , they invest in childhood, giving children a healthy start, an opportunity to learn and protection from harm. In their statement, they claim that by transforming children’s lives now, they can change the course of their future as well as everyone else.
As for the K-drama Witself, it is showing a gradual increase in viewership, growing closer and closer to breaking the 20 percent viewership rating threshold. According to the viewership ratings provided by TNS Media Koreaand AGB Nielsen Korea, respectively the ratings for the Seoul National Capital Area were 15.8 percent and 12.8 percent. As for the nation respectively, they were 14.6 percent and 12.2 percent. Compared to the 11th episode of Doctors, Wfalls short.
Compared to their direct competition, Uncontrollably Fond , which airs on the same days and at the same times as W , they are leaps and bounds ahead of them. It is believed one of the biggest reasons why W is superior is its unique concept and plot, executed through great direction and the actors’ performance of its characters. Uncontrollably Fond technically has a concept and plot that is often seen in K-dramas. That alone is not bad because it is popular, but its direction and progression was sluggish at times. Also, Bae Suzy’s acting is considered a hindrance, though it is better from past acting gigs.
W airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m. KST. For those who do not have access to MBC, it is available for viewing for free, with ads, on Viki . Since subtitles are crowdsourced on the streaming site, W may not be subtitled in the primary language of certain countries or regions.
[Image via Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)]