SEOUL — Three of South Korea’s most decorated television actors—So Ji-sub, Namgoong Min, and Ji Sung—are locked in an intense weekend ratings war, each headlining a major network drama airing in the same time slot. The competition has delivered a clear winner so far: So Ji-sub’s action-comedy series on SBS is breaking records and leaving rivals scrambling.
So Ji-sub’s ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ Dominates with Surging Ratings
So Ji-sub, known for his leading roles in hits like Doctor Lawyer, has returned to the small screen in SBS’s The Fiery Priest 2 (also marketed as Return of the Fiery Priest). The drama, which premiered in late October, has been on an unstoppable upward trajectory. Episode 8, which aired on the evening of November 18, jumped 1.2 percentage points to a nationwide rating of 23.1%, according to Nielsen Korea. This figure not only marks a new personal best for the series but also secures its position as the undisputed ratings champion of its time slot across all channels.
The latest episode featured a dramatic turn: So’s character, a former priest turned vigilante, is abducted to North Korea, where he endures brutal torture. To secure a new identity and a peaceful life with his daughter, he accepts a final mission from the North Korean regime—tasked with protecting a high-ranking official, he must once again operate as a secret agent.
Ji Sung and Namgoong Min Struggle to Keep Pace
While So Ji-sub celebrates a landslide victory, his competitors are facing starkly different realities.
Ji Sung, celebrated for his performances in Defendant and Doctor John, stars in JTBC’s Apartment Black Storm (a working title for the crime thriller). The series, which airs on the cable network, drew just 5.3% of the audience for its third episode, flat compared to the previous week. In a promotional interview on JTBC’s news program News Room, Ji Sung revealed a personal desire to collaborate on screen with his wife, actress Lee Bo-young (Agency). He joked that he hesitates to push for the project, fearing he might act poorly and face his wife’s criticism.
Meanwhile, Namgoong Min—famous for The Veil and One Dollar Lawyer—is starring in KBS’s After Marriage (working title). The romantic drama saw a concerning drop, falling 2.2 percentage points to 5% for its fifth episode, placing it in a distant third position among the three contenders.
Where to Watch
International viewers, including those in Hong Kong, can catch the action on streaming platforms. The Fiery Priest 2 and Apartment Black Storm are both available on Netflix. For those following Namgoong Min’s performance, After Marriage is streaming exclusively on Disney+.
The Broader Picture
This three-way ratings battle underscores the intense competitiveness of South Korea’s weekend drama slot, a prime-time window traditionally reserved for major productions. So Ji-sub’s current dominance suggests that audiences are favoring genre-blending storytelling—mixing action, comedy, and suspense—over more conventional romance or thriller narratives. For Ji Sung and Namgoong Min, the next few weeks will be critical as they attempt to reverse their downward trends and avoid the label of ratings disappointments.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on the ratings charts to see if So Ji-sub can continue his winning streak or if one of his rivals will stage a dramatic comeback.
