'Descendants of the Sun' inches up with final quarter remaining

By Park Sojung

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean TV series "Descendants of the Sun" has renewed its viewership record yet again, inching closer to the 40-percent mark that no weeknight show has been able to touch in four years, data showed Friday.

The KBS 2TV drama was watched by 33 percent of viewers across South Korea on Thursday, data by Nielsen Korea showed. In Seoul, where response has been generally greater, the figure was 36.6 percent. Both are the highest viewership that has ever been reported in the respective regions for this drama.

The series starring actor Song Joong-ki and actress Song Hye-kyo now has four episodes remaining to reach the 40-percent milestone. The previous weekday night drama to have achieved that status was MBC's "Moon Embracing the Sun," which placed "My Love from the Star" actor Kim Soo-hyun in directors' radar and catapulted him to Asia-wide fame.

In episode 12, South Korean special forces captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) rescues Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) from her kidnappers in the fictional country of Uruk. For the first time, Kang sees firsthand just how dangerous Yoo's job can be, but she reaffirms her commitment to Yoo, saying, "I'm gonna put up with you."

The remaining four episodes will take place in Seoul, as the team of soldiers and doctors complete their mission in Uruk and fly back to South Korea.

While the experience in the Mediterranean country has brought Yoo and Kang closer, it has seemingly left the other couple, Sgt. Major Seo Dae-young and First Lt. Yun Myeong-ju, fragile.

"Descendants of the Sun" airs Wednesday and Thursday nights at 10 p.m. In China, where the show is simultaneously broadcast, episodes are available on the video website iQiyi.

sojungpark@yna.co.kr
(END)