Actor Seo Kang-jun has not only broken the record of MBC's Friday-Saturday dramas with just two broadcasts of his comeback project "Undercover High School" but has also captured the hearts of viewers aged 20 to 49, achieving a sweep in both viewer ratings and buzz.
According to the ratings company Nielsen Korea on the 23rd, the viewer rating for the 2nd episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama "Undercover High School" (planned by Namgoong Seong-woo, written by Lim Young-bin, directed by Choi Jeong-in), which aired on the 22nd, recorded 5.6% (based on nationwide broadcast households). This is a 1% point increase compared to the 5.6% recorded in the 1st episode.
"Undercover High School" has thus broken its predecessor "Motel California's" highest viewer rating record (6.0%) in just two broadcasts. An epilogue scene showing Seo Myung-joo watching the basement of an old building in the school on CCTV surged to 8.8%.
In particular, the drama's 20 to 49 viewer rating, a key indicator of channel competitiveness and buzz, was 2.8%, ranking it first among all dramas aired that day. The 1st episode also performed similarly, with a 20 to 49 viewer rating of 2.0%, ranking first among Friday-Saturday dramas. Both overall and 20 to 49 viewer ratings increased side by side, raising expectations for a surge in buzz.
"Undercover High School" is a work that depicts the chaotic and adventurous life of a National Intelligence Service agent disguised as a high school student in pursuit of the whereabouts of Emperor Gojong's missing gold bullion.
Seo Kang-jun, who enlisted in the Army as an active duty soldier in November 2021 and was discharged in May 2023, made his return to the home drama scene in about three years after his appearance in Disney+'s "Grid," which was released during his military service in 2022. Seo Kang-jun plays the role of Jeong Hae-seong, an ace field agent in the National Intelligence Service who is deployed for the "Undercover High School" operation.
At the production presentation, Seo Kang-jun explained his reason for choosing "Undercover High School" as his comeback project after his discharge, saying, "It encompasses various genres. There are many genres like comic, action, romance, and crime, and they are wonderfully and intricately mixed in this work. While it is a light watch, there are hidden messages that make you think about various things and allow you to enjoy it, which is why I chose it."
He also mentioned, "The time in the military felt like an eternity. I thought a lot during that time. I reflected on my past and thought about what kind of actor I wanted to be and why I wanted to act. Looking back, I realize that while not everything I've done or how I've behaved is satisfying, I felt a strong sense that I have no regrets regarding any of it. I think that I did my best in my choices and decided to do everything with no regrets while filming 'Undercover High School', no matter what the outcome is, whether the work succeeds or not. I chose this with the thought of not regretting anything."
His choice was right. Viewer ratings and buzz are rising sharply, with Seo Kang-jun at the center of it all. He has provided satisfaction to viewers with both his acting and visuals, which can even be described as "narrative driven." His astonishing beauty, coupled with deeper acting after his discharge, truly offers an engaging experience.
Seo Kang-jun, who returned fully charged in visuals and acting, demonstrated the essence of an action hot spot in the 1st episode, revealing seriousness and comedy seamlessly. In the 2nd episode, he added plausibility to the character Jeong Hae-seong's narrative, significantly enhancing immersion. Seo Kang-jun provided catharsis by easily subduing a group of bullies, while also delivering laughter through moments of being frightened by school ghost stories. His disappointment towards bystanders of school violence was expressed through delicate emotional acting, receiving praise.
Seo Kang-jun, who returned with fully charged beauty and acting, although he ranks 2nd in viewer ratings for Friday-Saturday dramas following "Treasure Island," creates a hot buzz, leading to expectations for a rising trend.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN=Kang Seo-jeong reporter]