Singer and actor Lee Junho has achieved a hat-trick of success with his latest drama 'Typhoon Family', following the hits 'The Red Sleeve' and 'King the Land'. Once again, he has proven his status as a reliable actor by securing double-digit ratings.
The tvN drama 'Typhoon Family', which concluded on the 30th of last month, is set during the 1997 IMF financial crisis and follows the growth of novice businessman Kang Tae-pung, played by Lee Junho, who becomes the president of a struggling trading company.
According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of 'Typhoon Family' achieved an average nationwide rating of 10.3%, peaking at 11.4%, and an average of 10.7% in the metropolitan area, peaking at 12.1%, setting a new personal best. It topped the ratings across all channels, including terrestrial networks, during its time slot.
'Typhoon Family' was highly anticipated even before its premiere. Lee Junho, who starred in 'King the Land' with a peak rating of 15.7%, was expected to continue the stable viewership trend set by 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty', which concluded with a 17.1% rating on the same channel.
Premiering on October 11, 'Typhoon Family' started with a 5.9% rating and climbed to 9.0% by the fourth episode. However, as the plot slowed and the romance aspect increased, ratings stagnated between 7% and 9%. The 15th episode, aired on the 29th of last month, saw a dip to 6.6%, posing a challenge.
Amidst speculation on whether it could break the 10% barrier, Lee Junho achieved a double-digit rating of 10.3% in the final episode, marking his third consecutive hit. A broadcasting industry insider commented, "Despite some mid-series pacing issues, Lee Junho's strong performance was pivotal. His consistent acting skills have built trust with the audience."
Lee Junho debuted in 2008 with the group 2PM, releasing hit songs like 'Heartbeat', 'Again & Again', and 'Hands Up'. He began his acting career in 2013 with the film 'Cold Eyes', which attracted 5.5 million viewers.
He made his small screen debut in 2016 with the drama 'Memory'. He gradually built his filmography with roles in dramas such as 'Manager Kim', 'Wok of Love', and 'Rain or Shine'. In 2021, he starred in the MBC drama 'The Red Sleeve', achieving a peak rating of 17.4%, marking a turning point in his acting career. Lee Junho won the Best Actor in a Miniseries award at the MBC Drama Awards for his role in 'The Red Sleeve'.
With 'The Red Sleeve', 'King the Land', and 'Typhoon Family', Lee Junho has achieved three consecutive double-digit ratings. His next project is the Netflix series 'Cashero', set to premiere on the 26th. 'Cashero' follows a new kind of hero whose power grows with spending money. Lee Junho plays Kang Sang-woong, who becomes a hero overnight. All eyes are on whether he can achieve a fourth consecutive hit with 'Cashero'.
Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TENASIA yoon@tenasia.co.kr