The 10th episode of SBS Plus's 'Lee Ho-sun's Cider,' which aired on the 31st of last month, recorded a peak household rating of 0.7% (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area, paid broadcasting standard). The show had previously struggled with ratings in the 0% range from episodes 1 to 10.
The episode, titled 'The World is Big and Villains are Many,' introduced various types of villains that people might encounter in everyday life. Lee Ho-sun and Kim Ji-min opened the show with the message, "Where there is good, there is evil, and where there is evil, there is good," reflecting on the diverse villains they have encountered and hinting at those yet to appear.
The episode featured rude neighborhood villains who hurl insults, relational villains who exploit close relationships to take others' belongings, and romance scam cases targeting the loneliness of the elderly. Viewers responded with comments like, "Isn't this about someone around me?" Lee Ho-sun and Kim Ji-min advised, "Not all stress given should be taken," and "Rudeness should be addressed at least once."
'Lee Ho-sun's Cider' has established itself as a refreshing solution variety show, addressing conflicts and villain stories in various relationships such as couples, parents and children, in-laws, and workplaces. Lee Ho-sun's realistic analysis and Kim Ji-min's candid reactions deliver a balanced mix of anger, empathy, laughter, and comfort.
Concluding the episode, Lee Ho-sun shared, "It was a time that made us imagine how to deal with villains when we encounter them. It felt meaningful to have gained a protective shield for ourselves." He added, "People can unknowingly become villains to someone else," emphasizing the importance of apologizing when one realizes their wrongs. Kim Ji-min also reflected, "It was a time to look back on myself. Fortunately, among the 50 villains we met over 10 episodes, I wasn't one of them," bringing laughter.
The production team expressed gratitude for the warm support over the 10 episodes and announced, "We are preparing a more complete regular season to be presented again in March."
'Lee Ho-sun's Cider' will return as a regular season this March.
Reporter Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr