Kim Tae-ri’s “Jeongnyeon” Breaks Records, Outshining “Queen of Tears” in Ratings

Nielsen Korea, a leading ratings research firm, has reported that the fourth episode of tvN’s weekend series “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” (also known simply as “Jeongnyeon”), which aired on October 20, reached an impressive 12.7% viewership rating according to their assessment criteria across nationwide paid platforms. This achievement marks the show’s highest ratings thus far, obtaining double-digit viewership in just its fourth episode.

The storyline of “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” centers around Yoon Jeong-nyeon, played by Kim Tae-ri, depicting her journey as a “natural vocal talent” determined to become the leading actress in national theater during the post-Korean War 1950s. The series premiered its inaugural episode on October 12.

In the fourth episode, Jeong-nyeon faces expulsion from the Maeran National Theater Troupe and begins to contemplate a return as she prepares for her debut as a television singer, which she considers a necessary step for survival. Viewers have responded positively to Kim Tae-ri’s powerful portrayal during this crucial phase of the narrative.

Kim Tae-ri takes the leading role in this production, which is directed by Jung Ji-in, known for her work on the MBC drama “The Red Sleeve.” Before its release, the drama generated buzz due to its talented cast, including Shin Ye-eun, Ra Mi-ran, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Yun-hye, and Moon So-ri. Following a series of successful weekend dramas in 2023 like “Queen of Tears,” “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” “The Auditors,” and “Love Next Door,” expectations were high for the show.

“Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” has indeed met these expectations, with its premiere episode achieving a 4.8% rating, followed by 8.2% for the second episode and 9.2% for the third. The show has consistently surpassed its previous viewership records with each new episode.

Viewers are increasingly curious if “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” will ascend to the top of the weekend primetime ratings, as it narrows the distance to KBS 2TV’s weekend drama “Iron Family,” currently the frontrunner in Sunday primetime viewership.

The eighth episode of “Iron Family,” which also aired on October 20, reached a viewership rating of 16.2% according to Nielsen Korea’s standards. This places “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” at a 3.5% disadvantage in comparison to its counterpart. As viewers remain focused on the ratings, many question whether “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” can match the box office success of “Queen of Tears,” which concluded in April with its peak rating reaching 24.9% for its series finale, surpassing “Beauty and Mr. Romantic,”a drama on KBS 2TV.

As “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” continues to shine, both “Iron Family” and JTBC’s “A Virtuous Business” are also witnessing a spike in their viewership figures, contributing to a thrilling weekend rivalry. “Iron Family” just recorded its highest rating to date with 16.2%, signifying a positive trajectory, while “A Virtuous Business,” which debuted on October 12, achieved a new high of 5.9% in its fourth episode on October 20, according to Nielsen Korea’s nationwide metrics.

Source: Daum

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