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| ▲ This composite image of stills from Kdrama series "Heavenly Ever After" is provided by JTBC. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- The JTBC weekend drama "Heavenly Ever After," starring veteran actress Kim Hye-ja, wrapped up its run with its highest-ever viewership rating.
According to Nielsen Korea on Monday, the final episode of Heavenly Ever After, which aired at 10:30 p.m. the previous day, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 8.3 percent.
The series, which drew attention even before its premiere due to Kim’s casting, began with a strong 5.8 percent rating for its first episode last month. Though ratings dipped to as low as 4.9 percent by episode 10, the finale marked a notable rebound.
In the final episode, Go Nak-joon (played by Son Suk-ku), who lived numerous lifetimes as the husband of Lee Hae-sook (Kim Hye-ja), proposes reincarnation alone in his next life. Hae-sook eventually reincarnates and, after a long life, passes away once more—reuniting with Nak-joon in heaven. The couple comes to realize that while life isn’t always filled with happiness, living together is Heavenly Ever After itself.
The drama stood out for its rare exploration of the afterlife, a theme seldom addressed in Korean television. It introduced imaginative concepts such as choosing one’s appearance age in heaven and using "virtue points" accumulated on Earth to make purchases in the afterlife.
Heavenly Ever After drew added attention as it could potentially be Kim Hye-ja’s final drama, marking a milestone in her over 60-year acting career. At the show's press conference, the 84-year-old actress remarked, “This may be my last work.”
Meanwhile, tvN’s "Our Unwritten Seoul," starring Park Bo-young, surpassed the 5 percent ratings mark in just its second episode. Park captivated viewers by playing twin sisters Yu Mirae and Yu Miji in a dual role.
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