'Scarecrow' Drama Breaks Its Own Viewership Record Again

The drama 'Scarecrow' has once again surpassed its own highest viewership ratings.

In the sixth episode of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow', aired on the 5th, Kang Tae-joo (played by Park Hae-soo) found himself in turmoil, suspecting brothers Lee Ki-beom (played by Song Geon-hee) and Lee Ki-hwan (played by Jung Moon-sung). However, it was revealed that Lee Ki-beom had made a false confession under duress, and Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun) was behind it all, infuriating Kang Tae-joo. With new clues emerging, suspicion also began to fall on Lee Ki-beom's friend, Lim Seok-man (played by Baek Seung-hwan), marking another turning point in the investigation.

The sixth episode set a new record with an average nationwide rating of 7.4%, peaking at 8.3%, and an average metropolitan rating of 7.7%, peaking at 8.5%, ranking first across all channels in its time slot.

Kang Tae-joo was deeply troubled by the photos and handbag found during a search, caught between Lee Ki-beom and Lee Ki-hwan. He asked Cha Si-young to delay the official announcement of the suspect, suggesting that Lee Ki-beom might not be the real culprit. However, during a press conference watched by his father, Cha Moo-jin (played by Yoo Seung-mok), Cha Si-young revealed the investigation's status. When confronted by Kang Tae-joo, Cha Si-young explained that the date on the photo could not confirm an alibi for the day of Choi In-sook's (played by Min Hye-soo) death. He firmly told Kang Tae-joo, "Find the real culprit. Convince me with evidence, that's the order."

Suspicion towards another suspect, Lee Ki-hwan, was short-lived as his blood type did not match the perpetrator's. Meanwhile, Kang Tae-joo visited a nuclear research institute for a radioactive isotope test, which, though not officially verified, could infer the suspect's occupation or living environment. The analysis suggested that the perpetrator might be a laborer exposed to metalworking environments.

News broke that the elusive Lee Ki-beom had confessed after being arrested, but Kang Tae-joo was skeptical. Discrepancies in Lee Ki-beom's statement were found, and Kang Tae-joo discovered that Lee Ki-beom had been illegally detained and coerced by detectives Jang Myung-do (played by Jeon Jae-hong) and Do Hyung-gu (played by Kim Eun-woo), with Cha Si-young orchestrating it all. Shocked by this betrayal, Kang Tae-joo confronted Cha Si-young, leading to a physical altercation, and pleaded for Lee Ki-beom's release.

Meanwhile, Seo Ji-won (played by Kwak Sun-young) met Park Ae-sook (played by Hwang Eun-hoo). Seo Ji-won questioned why Park Ae-sook's handbag, a surviving victim, was stored at Kang Sung Bookstore before confirming Lee Ki-beom's guilt. Park Ae-sook revealed that a matchbox with the name 'Pig Cafe' was found in the handbag returned by the police. Seo Ji-won used this clue to track down cafe employees, eventually encountering the name 'Lim Seok-man'. Kang Tae-joo and Seo Ji-won simultaneously sought out Lim Seok-man, who was the only witness to Lee Ki-beom's arrest and the one who placed the handbag at the bookstore.

Lim Seok-man promised to testify to clear Lee Ki-beom's name, giving Kang Tae-joo some relief. However, Kang Tae-joo soon noticed Lim Seok-man's limping gait, recalling his sister Kang Soon-young's words, "The man (the perpetrator) was limping." Observing Lim Seok-man's workplace filled with scrap metal and equipment, and his sweat-drenched body while repairing farm tools, matched the radioactive isotope test results. As Lim Seok-man emerged as a new suspect, suspicion among Kang Tae-joo and viewers reached its peak.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr