Rivals

Director

Cast

Chae Rim

Lee Jin-wook

Lee Jong-hyuk

Lim Hyeon-shik

Oh Kwang-rok

Kim Si-hoo

Kim Hye-ok

Lee Deok-hwa

Lee Kyeong-jin

Sin Eun-jeong

Choi Ja-hye

Ma Dong-seok

Go Myung Hwan

"Formidable Rivals" Wraps at 9.4%

The KBS2 TV Monday-Tuesday drama, "Formidable Rivals," ended on June 3rd, with the final episode ratings unable to break through 10%. According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, the last episode of "Formidable Rivals" did, however, receive the highest rating (9.4%) of its broadcasts. The drama started airing on April 14th and its average TV ratings were calculated at 7.7%. Starring Chae Rim, Lee Jong-hyuk and Lee Jin-wook, "Formidable Rivals" was a TV drama about the lives of Secret Service agents who worked at the Blue House. Though the plot was unique, it was overshadowed by the popularity of the MBC period piece, "Yisan, Wind of the Palace." On June 3rd, the TV ratings of "Yisan" were 28.9% and the ratings of the SBS drama "Tokyo Sun Shower" were recorded at 4.2%. The production filling the "Formidable Rivals" spot will be the martial arts period drama, "Chil-wu, the Mighty," starring Eric and Ku Hye-sun. Its first broadcast will be on June 9th.

"Rivals" on KBS 2TV Kicks Off with 7.1% Viewer Rating

"Kangjeok" or "Rivals," a brand new drama series on KBS 2TV starring Chaerim and Lee Jong-hyuk, started off with a lower-than-expected viewer rating of 7.1 percent (TNS Media Korea) on April 14. In the first episode, new bodyguards were shown going through grueling training sessions. "Rivals" competed with "Isan" on MBC (27.9%) and "I Love You" on SBS (6.7%). According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, the viewer rating for "Rivals" on April 4 was 6.1 percent while that of "Isan" and "I Love You" were 28.4 percent and 7 percent, respectively. The viewer rating for "Rivals" is only slightly higher than the preceding drama series "Single Dad in Love" which recorded a viewer rating of 5.9 percent in the first episode and an average viewer rating of 4.6 percent. Meanwhile, "Unshaken," a new morning drama series on MBC starring Hong Eun-hee and Kim Nam-jin, recorded a viewer rating of 12.6 for the first episode according to AGB Nielsen Media Research. "I Still Love You," the preceding morning drama had the highest viewer rating of 23.4 percent and an average viewer rating of 16.3 percent.