In the first half of 2023, the SBS drama, which was evaluated as 'the best lineup ever' from the time the 2023 drama lineup was released at the Drama Awards last year, perfectly lived up to the expectations and broke through the household average viewership rating of 10%. It ranked #1 in viewership ratings. Accordingly, the SBS drama's first-place march has been continuing for four years since 2020.
According to Nielsen Korea, an audience rating research institute, as a result of analyzing the drama ratings (excluding weekends/short films/daily plays, based on the metropolitan area) broadcast on three terrestrial broadcasters, tvN, and JTBC from January 1 to June 30, 2023, SBS With an average household viewer rating of 10%, it was the only channel to achieve double digits and took first place. It was followed by JTBC with 8.8%, tvN with 6.3%, KBS2 with 5.2%, and MBC with 2.8%. The average 2049 audience rating, which is a key indicator of topicality and channel competitiveness, also recorded 3.6%, and the SBS drama took first place, widening the gap with other channels. After that, JTBC recorded 2.7%, tvN 1.9%, KBS2 1.3%, and MBC recorded 0.9%.
Even in the individual drama ranking survey, SBS, with 'Exemplary Taxi 2', which recorded 15.9% of households and 6.4% of 2049 households, recorded the best box office hit in the first half of all TV miniseries, placed four works in the TOP 10 in household and 2049 ratings rankings. 'Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3' ranked third in both household and 2049 viewership ratings, proving its still popular popularity, and 'Ghost' and 'Bob' also helped by being in the top 10 in both household and 2049 viewership ratings. This is the result of being chosen by viewers as a result of the success of SBS's representative season-based drama, along with the propaganda of masterpieces with three beats, such as star writers, splendid casting, and solid directing skills.
In the second half of the year, the sensation of SBS dramas is expected to continue. Writer Kim Eun-hee's new work 'Ghost' has succeeded in suppressing the baseline by soaring to a maximum of 15.1% at the moment when the 4th episode was aired. The 2049 viewership rating reached 5.5% in the second episode and consistently recorded around 5%, ranking first among all programs broadcast for a week, including dramas and entertainment, as well as first place in the same time zone. In addition, at the same time as the release, it is continuing its march to the top by winning the first place in the Disney + Korean TV show category, the first place in the wave viewership, and the first place in the Kinolights OTT integrated ranking.
Season 2 of the K-cooperative drama 'Police next to the Fire Station', which depicts cooperation between the fire department and the police for the first time in Korean drama history, 'The Police Station Next to the Fire Station and the National Forensic Service' will premiere on Friday, August 4, following 'Ghost'. Season 2, which returned with Kim Rae-won, Son Ho-jun, and Gong Seung-yeon, who played a big role in Season 1, will complete the 'Triangle Cooperation' led by the fire department, the police, and the National Forensic Service, which declared 'the end game with the final villain', and expand the world view and destructive power. It presents a story and is expected to show the final evolution of the 'K-Cooperative Play' that will blow away the heat this summer.
Then, 'National Death Penalty Vote' starring Park Hae-jin, Park Seong-woong, and Lim Ji-yeon confirmed to be broadcast every Thursday at 9:00 pm, starting with the first and second consecutive broadcasts on the night of August 10th. 'National Death Penalty Vote' is a public participation judgment drama depicting the story of tracking down an unknown person who carries out a national death penalty vote on vicious criminals and executes them. 'National Death Penalty Vote', which is expected to be a hard-boiled tracking thriller ambitiously presented by SBS, a master of the genre, is scheduled to hit the home theater in the second half of 2023 through a novel and shocking setting, a proven story, and powerful actors.
And in the second half, a comeback is scheduled for writer Kim Soon-ok, who made Korea fall into the 'Penthouse' syndrome over two years from 2020. 'Escape of 7', writer Kim Soon-ok's first new work after 'Penthouse', depicts the story of seven people who are involved in the disappearance of a girl who has disappeared due to numerous lies and desires, and encounters a tremendous incident. It is expected that 'Escape of 7', which will be showcased by new faces such as Um Ki-jun and other penthouse box office stars, Hwang Jung-eum and Lee Joon, will write another legendary record with a more intense and unconventional story. Above all, attention is focused on what kind of sensation the meeting between writer Soon-ok Kim and director Dong-min Joo, who made the series 'The Empress' and 'Penthouse' consecutively, will create a sensation.
Lastly, 'My Demon', which has been raising expectations from the beginning with the casting of the most popular actors Kim Yoo-jung and Song Kang, is scheduled to decorate the end of 2023. 'My Demon' is a drama depicting the romance between a conglomerate heiress, Do Do-hee, who is an enemy on all sides, and a demon who loses her ability overnight to save her. Writer Choi A-il, who co-wrote 'Queen Iron Man', will take on the script and find viewers with a novel and fun story that will make the perfect casting shine.
Attention is focusing on whether SBS dramas with various genres, such as Korean occult, K-co-activities, hard-boiled thrillers, and fantasy romances, as well as the best casting and brilliant writers, will be able to win first place in the second half of the year.
Reporter Ryu Ye-ji and Ten Asia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr