tvN 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' and 'Shin's Project' are consecutively breaking viewership records this year and dominating content trends. With high buzz that has captured the hearts of global viewers as well as domestic audiences, they aim to keep that momentum through the second half of the year. In the fourth quarter of this year, a diverse new lineup is prepared, from the drama "Typhoon Family" and "Nice to Not Meet You" to the variety shows 'House On Wheels', "I AM BOXER", "Perfect Glow". The commanding power of trendsetting tvN is expected to shine even brighter in the remaining months of the year.
Recently, the tvN weekend drama 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' recorded a peak household rating of 18.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area and ranked No. 1 in TV-OTT drama buzz for four consecutive weeks, and it reached No. 1 in Netflix's global non-English TV shows, sparking a hot craze at home and abroad. In particular, the fantasy romantic comedy with detailed direction and its original combination with traditional Korean cuisine have continued to receive favorable reviews. The Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shin's Project' recorded an average household rating of 7.8% and a peak of 8.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area in its first week on air, marking the highest figures among tvN Monday-Tuesday dramas aired this year and off to a smooth start. Han Seok-kyu's another acting transformation, enhanced by comedic charm, has received high praise.
The strength of variety content should not be overlooked either. On 'You Quiz on the Block', Bill Gates, counted among the most influential people in the world, appeared, leaving another legendary moment. 'Iron Girls 2', featuring Yui, Geum Sae-rok, Park Ju-hyun and Seol In-ah, is writing a drama of solidarity and growth through an apparently impossible challenge to become boxing champions. Especially their journey to become boxers delivers both fun and emotion, recording a total video view count of 580 million views (as of Sept. 14), drawing explosive interest.
The rest of 2025 will see tvN rolling out a lineup brimming with its unique brand of fun. First, as the successor to 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty', 'Typhoon Family' will premiere on the 11th at 9:10 p.m. The most anticipated new weekend drama for tvN's second half, 'Typhoon Family' (directed by Lee Na-jung and Kim Dong-hwi; written by Jang Hyun; planned by Studio Dragon; produced by Imaginus, Studio PIC and Tris Studio) portrays the struggling growth of novice company boss Kang Tae-poong (Lee Jun-ho), who became the head of a trading company in 1997 during the IMF with no staff, no money and nothing to sell. The chemistry between action-oriented Lee Jun-ho and the logical, analytical Kim Min-ha, along with the realism of the year 1997, is expected to provide dense entertainment and viewing pleasure.
The new Monday-Tuesday drama premiering on Nov. 11, 'Nice to Not Meet You' (directed by Kim Ga-ram; written by Jung Yeo-rang; planned and produced by Studio Dragon, Studio & New and Artist Company) is a mutual coming-of-age story about a national actor who has lost his original passion and an elite reporter who has lost his position, each overcoming their own prejudices and changing. The feud scandal between a top star and an entertainment reporter tied by an annoying bad relationship offers fresh laughs, empathy and fluttering feelings. The meeting of global star Lee Jung-jae and in-demand actor Lim Ji-yeon, along with director Kim Ga-ram of 'Good Partner' and writer Jung Yeo-rang of 'Dr. Cha Jung-sook', has raised many expectations. Also, the new weekend drama 'Pro Bono' (written by Moon Yoo-seok; directed by Kim Seong-yoon; planned by Studio Dragon; produced by Sequence One, Lotte Cultureworks and Studio Flow) is preparing to meet viewers with Jung Kyung-ho and So Ju-yeon. It is a chaotic human courtroom drama about a social-climbing materialistic judge who inadvertently becomes a public defender, and it will depict the thrilling rebellion of justice-driven public defenders.
A large number of new variety show lineups are also prepared. In October, 'The Kim Chang-ok Show', a conflict-resolution lecture show presented by legendary Korean lecture figure Kim Chang-ok for those of us living in an era of communication crisis caused by overload, high efficiency and endless competition (CP Jung Min-sik; directed by Kim Beom-seok and Kim Hyo-yeon), returns for a fourth season. The home-for-a-trip show 'House on Wheels' also returns as 'House on Wheels across the Sea: Hokkaido edition' (directed by Shin Chan-yang and Kim Ah-rim). It covers a new adventure overseas across the sea, and actor Jang Na-ra has joined as a new member following Sung Dong-il and Kim Hee-won. It will premiere on Oct. 12. Another new spinoff program, in which Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Woo-bin and Do Kyung-soo travel to Mexico titled 'GBRB', is also in preparation. In addition, 'Sixth Sense: City Tour', which recorded target ratings No. 1 in its time slot for all episodes, returns for season 2. Following the last season, Yoo Jae-seok, Ko Kyung-pyo and Mimi will return, with Ji Seok-jin joining newly. The more rounded chemistry among the members is expected to deliver harmless laughter.
Rami-ran, Park Min-young, Joo Jong-hyuk, Cha Hong, Leo J and Pony will open a K-beauty shop in the middle of Manhattan, New York, in 'Perfect Glow' (directed by Kim Sang-a, Kwak Ji-hye and Kim Jong-gi), which confirmed its first broadcast on Nov. 8. Led by representative Rami-ran and manager Park Min-young, Korea's top hair and makeup experts will open a Korean-style beauty shop in Manhattan and showcase the true face of K-beauty on site in what is described as a 'K-beauty New York conquest.' With K-beauty drawing worldwide attention, viewers will be able to directly feel its popularity. At year-end, a massive global survival show 'I Am Boxer' featuring Ma Dong-seok is being prepared. 'I Am Boxer' (directed by Lee Won-woong; written by Kang Sook-kyung) is an overwhelming large-scale boxing survival show with mission scales beyond imagination and Hollywood-movie-level spectacle. Ma Dong-seok, who truly loves boxing, PD Lee Won-woong, who created the military survival 'Steel Troops' and the extreme couple survival '2.9 Billion: Marriage War' featuring engaged couples, and writer Kang Sook-kyung of the global hit 'Physical: 100' are collaborating, heralding the birth of another novel survival program. In addition, a new worker variety show featuring Choo Sung Hoon, Jeong Dae-se, Amotti, Heo Kyung-hwan and Baekho is also being planned.
This diverse lineup across genres and subjects for the second half of the year clearly demonstrates the direction tvN pursues. Through hit works that lead trends and drive everyday conversations, tvN is determined to prove its content power that continuously leads the mainstream. Yang Si-gwon, head of channel business at CJ ENM, said he is most pleased and grateful that many viewers love their dramas and variety content. He noted that tvN had already signaled a 2025 that 'operates differently' in the first half of the year, and they aim to continue content power in the second half to solidify tvN's status as the trend. He asked for much expectation and love as powerful and entertaining new shows await.
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