'Treasure Island' Finale Breaks Records with Highest Ratings Ever

'Treasure Island' concluded its run with record-breaking ratings. Lead actor Park Hyung-sik, who previously starred in JTBC's 'Doctor Slump,' reportedly earned 500 million KRW per episode.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 13th, the final episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Treasure Island,' aired on the 12th, achieved a metropolitan area rating of 15.7% and a nationwide rating of 15.4%, surpassing the 15% mark and setting a new record. This impressive figure ranked it first among all channels during its time slot and among all mini-series aired that week. The peak moment rating soared to 17.9%. Additionally, the key demographic rating for ages 20-49 was 4%, making it the top program of the week. 'Treasure Island' ended its run with the highest ratings among all mini-series aired in 2025.

Seo Dong-joo (played by Park Hyung-sik) succeeded in his life-risking revenge against the villain Yeom Jang-seon (played by Heo Joon-ho) but felt emptiness rather than satisfaction. Characters driven by greed met bitter ends, yet new characters fell into the trap of desire, highlighting the futility and perpetuity of human greed.

Previously, Seo Dong-joo attacked Yeom Jang-seon, who then disappeared. Despite achieving his goal of becoming the CEO of Daesan Energy and ousting Yeom Jang-seon, Seo Dong-joo found no peace or happiness.

Yeom Jang-seon's whereabouts remained unknown. Seo Dong-joo visited Wa Young-jae, a symbolic place of Yeom Jang-seon's desires, recalling their intense confrontations. A sense of futility was evident on Seo Dong-joo's face.

A shocking revelation unfolded: Yeom Jang-seon was imprisoned in Daesan Group's secret vault, a scheme orchestrated by Seo Dong-joo. Trapped among the wealth he coveted, Yeom Jang-seon struggled to escape. Seo Dong-joo, fulfilling his revenge goal to strip Yeom Jang-seon and Heo Il-do (played by Lee Hae-young) of everything, obtained a donation agreement from Yeom Jang-seon before releasing him. Tears fell from Seo Dong-joo's eyes as he watched Yeom Jang-seon leave the vault.

Seo Dong-joo shared the vault's password with Yeo Eun-nam (played by Hong Hwa-yeon) before departing. At sea, he scattered Heo Il-do's ashes and gazed at the two guns in his hands, filled with deep regret. Despite his successful revenge, Seo Dong-joo's back conveyed a profound sense of emptiness.

Meanwhile, Yeom Jang-seon, having lost everything, was arrested and faced justice. Ji Sun-woo (played by Cha Woo-min) killed his nephew Heo Tae-yoon (played by Yoon Sang-hyun) in his ambition to take over Daesan Group. Cha Deok-hee (played by Kim Jung-nan), who killed her husband out of greed, became a wreck after losing her beloved son Heo Tae-yoon due to Ji Sun-woo's ambition. Cha Kang-cheon (played by Woo Hyun), who intended to pass Daesan Group to his son with the Cha surname, succumbed to severe dementia, losing focus in his eyes. These characters, consumed by greed, met bitter ends. The series concluded with Yeo Eun-nam's (played by Hong Hwa-yeon) narration, "Dong-joo, you don't have to come back, just come to rest."

Writer Lee Myung-hee skillfully wove familiar yet captivating elements like revenge, money, greed, and secret births into a tightly woven and shocking narrative. Director Jin Chang-kyu highlighted characters consumed by greed with both bold and delicate touches, heightening the tension. The trendy direction elevated the drama's quality.

Above all, the stellar performances of actors Park Hyung-sik, Heo Joon-ho, Lee Hae-young, Hong Hwa-yeon, Woo Hyun, Kim Jung-nan, Do Ji-won, and Hong Soo-hyun captivated viewers each episode. Park Hyung-sik's successful transformation and Heo Joon-ho's groundbreaking villainous role dominated the screen with immense impact. Lee Hae-young and Kim Jung-nan conveyed complex emotions, while Hong Hwa-yeon showcased an impressive presence for a newcomer.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr