Lee Hyo-ri, who was also pushed out by Lee Bo-young, has a disappointing end to ‘Canada Check-in’

Lee Hyori's new entertainment show tvN's 'Canada Check-in' started with a viewership rating of around 1% and ended with a viewership rating of around 1%. It recorded disappointing results while competing with weekend mini-series with strong viewership ratings, ranging from ‘The youngest son of a chaebol family’ to ‘Agency’ and ‘The Law’. However, 'Canada Check-in' conveyed more meaning than just viewership ratings by capturing Lee Hyo-ri's sincerity and tears toward her dog.

'Canada Check-in', which ended on the 21st, is a program that depicts the 12-day journey of Hyori Lee, who has been volunteering for abandoned dogs for over 10 years, to Canada to meet dogs that were adopted overseas to new families. This is the second check-in series following ‘Seoul Check-in’, which was first introduced last April.

'Canada Check-in' was not an idea planned by the production team, but was filmed after Hyori Lee, who had already purchased a ticket to Canada, suggested it to the production team first. The filming team was also small.

In the first episode of 'Canada Check-in', Lee Hyori explained why so many abandoned dogs go to Canada for adoption and about mobile volunteering. The reunion with the puppies adopted in Canada was deeply moving.

Lee Hyo-ri's sincerity continued until the last episode. Hyo-ri Lee shed tears when meeting Tommy, the only person Lee Hyo-ri and Lee Sang-soon lived with and whom she wanted to see the most. Lee Hyo-ri confided to Lee Sang-soon, "I wanted to sleep in your arms, but it's all just my greed. I'm happy to see Tommy, but I think he'll be confused," and Lee Sang-soon said, "Let's go and sleep together later." “Let’s get wet and sleep,” he said, expressing his desire to meet Tommy again.

After all the videos were over, Lee Hyori said, "Thank you to the viewers who cried and laughed with 'Canada Check-in'. I also thank the dogs and their owners who joined us. My wife and I had a relaxing and safe day and will come back to you all again." “I hope I can. Please look forward to where the next check-in will be,” he said, making people look forward to the next check-in series.

In this way, 'Canada Check-in' was well-received as a mild entertainment show with no flashy guests or provocative material, but it had to show disappointing results in terms of viewership ratings. In particular, it recorded a viewer rating of 1.6% as it competed in the same time slot as 'The youngest son of a chaebol family', which had a viewership rating of close to 20% from the first episode. Afterwards, it jumped to 2.1% in the third episode, but fell back to the 1% range when it faced 'The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family' starring Song Joong-ki and 'Agency' starring Lee Bo-young.

However, on OTT TV, it consistently ranked in the top 10, demonstrating Lee Hyori's power. In particular, 'Canada Check-in' was not produced with the hope of being a box office hit, so it will not be affected by low viewership ratings. Rather, it made people look forward to Hyori Lee's next check-in series. My husband Lee Sang-soon secretly hoped, “There will be no next check-in.”

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr