| Rom-com “Crash Landing on You” ended on Sunday. Courtesy of tvN |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Rom-com “Crash Landing on You” has become the most sought-after drama on cable channel tvN.
The last episode on Sunday garnered 21.7 percent viewership rating, according to Nielson Korea's data ― a record for tvN dramas since the channel's launch in 2006.
The soap opera, starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, dethroned 2016 hit series “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” which rated 20.5 percent.
"Crash Landing on You" is a 16-episode love story of South Korean chaebol scion Yoon Se-ri (played by Son) and high-ranking North Korean officer Ri Jong-hyok (Hyun Bin). The two bump into each other in North Korea after a paraglider carrying Yoon makes an emergency landing.
Although producer Lee Jung-hyo explained that the most settings in his North Korea-themed work were closer to a fantasy than reality, many still blasted its depiction of the reclusive state. In January, the conservative Christian Liberty Party even filed a complaint with police against tvN, claiming that “Crash Landing on You” portrayed North Korean soldiers only in a “peaceful” way.
“Crash Landing on You” will be replaced by the fantasy series “Hi Bye, Mama!” featuring actress Kim Tae-hee. The soap opera will premiere on Feb. 22.