Seo Kang Joon Fails to Boost Ratings: MBC Still Trails Behind SBS

MBC’s latest offering, Undercover High School, has encountered a notable decline in viewership ratings since its debut. The series premiered with a respectable 5.6% rating and peaked at 8.3% by its fourth episode. However, interest has waned, leading to a drop to 7.2% in the fifth episode and a concerning low of 6.1% in the sixth.

Even Seo Kang Joon Could not Save Ratings mbc

This action-comedy series follows a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent who goes undercover as a high school student in a mission to locate Emperor Gojong’s lost gold bars. The series also marks the anticipated return of actor Seo Kang Joon after completing his military service, adding to its initial buzz.

In an effort to revive audience interest, the production team is ramping up marketing initiatives. Nevertheless, Undercover High School is struggling to capture online discussions, falling behind the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines. Recent data from FUNdex, the analysis platform of Good Data Corporation, highlights the disparity in popularity among these shows:

When Life Gives You Tangerines – 41.71%
Undercover High School – 10.35%
Buried Hearts – 6.41%

In contrast, SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama Buried Hearts continues to thrive, initially debuting at 6.1% and then surpassing the 10% mark by its fourth episode. To date, it has consistently broken its own rating records, achieving 12.3% in the latest installment, creating a stark contrast to Undercover High School.

MBC’s Ongoing Battle for Viewership

The struggles of MBC in the Friday-Saturday drama slot are well-documented. A review of last year’s ratings shows a consistent pattern of underperformance against SBS’s lineup:

Black Out (MBC) versus Good Partner (SBS)
Doubt (MBC) against The Judge from Hell (SBS)
When the Phone Rings (MBC) compared with The Fiery Priest 2 (SBS)
Motel California (MBC) versus Love Scout (SBS)

This downward trend continues with Undercover High School failing to secure a foothold against Buried Hearts. Despite the return of Seo Kang Joon, MBC remains unable to break its series of disappointing ratings.

Can MBC Reverse the Current Trend?

Looking ahead, MBC is gearing up to release Crushology 101, featuring talents such as Roh Jeong Eui, Lee Chae Min, and Cho Jun Young. Meanwhile, SBS is set to unveil The Haunted Palace starring Yook Sung Jae and Kim Ji Yeon. With Undercover High School facing critiques for being “shallow and childish, ”the question remains: can Crushology 101 successfully redirect MBC’s trajectory? Time will ultimately reveal the answer.

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