IU and Lee Joon-Gi star in the SBS drama 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo.' (Photo : YouTube/Korean World)
Things are not going well for SBS's "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo." Decline in viewership ratings continues for the historical drama ever since it premiered on Aug. 29.
"Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" has been getting a lot of attention for its A-list cast, which includes Lee Joon-Gi, IU, and Kang Ha Neul. Not to mention that it became the most expensive Korean drama sold to China despite the rising political strain between the two countries over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
However, as early as the fourth episode of "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo," decrease in viewers was noticed. The show's 14th episode, which aired on Oct. 10, Monday, only recorded a national TV rating of 6.8 percent, which is a 1.4 percent drop from the previous episode.
Having said that, the SBS historical drama has continued to struggle against its primetime rivals. KBS 2TV's "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" recorded a nationwide rating of 17.9 percent, while MBC's "Woman with a Suitcase" accumulated 8.2 percent.
Many fans see the special broadcast of "2016 Pro Baseball Wild Card Game" as the culprit behind "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo's" low rating. On Oct. 8, Saturday, local newsoutlet OSEN, as cited by Naver, reported that the airing of the show's 14th episode will depend on the results of the wild card match between the KIA Tigers and LG Twins.
Despite the slight drop in viewership ratings, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" has gained immense popularity not just in South Korea and mainland China, but as well as in the Middle-East and in the North America.
With only five episodes left, SBS has released an interview with Lee, who plays 4th Prince Wang So in the historical drama. There, the "Scholar Who Walks the Night" actor shared his thoughts on the show's growing fame overseas.
"I'm extremely grateful," Lee said in a statement obtained by The Kpop Herald. "Every culture is different and they have different tastes. I'm glad we satisfy their tastes, and it also really interests me. When I read feedback and encouraging comments on my social media, I feel like I want to be a better actor."
Check out the preview for "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" episode 16 below:
