'Gugidong Friends' Tops Ratings with Heartwarming Connections

'Gugidong Friends' has become a hub of heartwarming relationships.

On the episode aired on the 17th, the second episode of tvN's 'Gugidong Friends' featured Jang Do-yeon, Lee Da-hee, Choi Daniel, Jang Keun-suk, Ahn Jae-hyun, and Kyung Soo-jin exploring activities they could enjoy with their 'housemate friends.' They discovered emotions they hadn't felt alone, falling for the charm of living together.

The episode achieved a viewership rating of 3.1% on average, peaking at 4.0% in the metropolitan area, securing the top spot among cable and general programming channels in its time slot. tvN's target demographic of men and women aged 20-49 also ranked first nationwide and in the metropolitan area across all channels, including terrestrial TV. (Based on Nielsen Korea's data for cable, IPTV, and satellite combined)

On their first day of cohabitation, the 'housemate friends' shared their thoughts on living together for a year. While Kyung Soo-jin responded positively, Jang Do-yeon expressed a desire to end things on a high note, not wanting to spoil the good memories. Jang Keun-suk, who has lived alone for 14 years, mentioned the pressure of having to be considerate, and Choi Daniel, despite needing his own time and space, expressed satisfaction with the Gugidong lifestyle, sparking curiosity about potential changes in their feelings.

As they wrapped up their day in their respective rooms, Ahn Jae-hyun, reluctant to sleep, initiated a late-night gathering with Lee Da-hee and Choi Daniel, enjoying the perks of having friends to talk to anytime. The next morning, Jang Do-yeon, heading to work alone, was touched by a surprise fruit lunchbox and note prepared for her. She expressed her gratitude with a gift and delivered the newspaper from the gate to the front door, spreading warmth.

Lee Da-hee, Choi Daniel, Jang Keun-suk, and Ahn Jae-hyun shared a meal of instant black bean noodles with Kyung Soo-jin, who was cured of insomnia after a 10-hour sleep. They entertained themselves with a physical age test, balancing on one foot to decide who would do the dishes. The competitive 'housemate friends' ignited a prideful contest, with Ahn Jae-hyun, who recorded a physical age of 55 in six seconds, ending up as the chosen one.

Lee Da-hee and Kyung Soo-jin accompanied Choi Daniel on his 'bucket list' mission to get his first tailored suit, playing the role of shopping assistants. The sweet yet fierce chemistry between the easygoing prankster Choi Daniel and the lovingly nagging Lee Da-hee brought laughter.

Jang Keun-suk and Ahn Jae-hyun, out to buy side dishes, secretly visited Jang Do-yeon at her workplace in Sangam-dong for a surprise after-work pick-up, showcasing their camaraderie. Jang Do-yeon, who ran to them in delight, expressed her gratitude, saying, "I was really thankful. It's great that friends came to pick me up, and even better that those friends are Ahn Jae-hyun and Jang Keun-suk. I felt proud."

The 'housemate friends,' facing the turning point of their 40s, visited a fortune teller to explore curiosities they hesitated to pursue alone. They sought advice from Go Chun-ja and Lee Da-young, consultants for the movie 'Pamyoh,' and had their questions answered. Among them, Ahn Jae-hyun was moved to tears by the fortune teller's words, leaving viewers curious about the next episode. Previously, it was reported that Ahn Jae-hyun, born in 1987, had a mutual divorce in 2020.

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