Lee Min Ho attends a press conference for a commercial event on September 11, 2014 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo : Getty Images/Ashley Pon)
The SBS drama "Legend of the Blue Sea" is off to a good start with its premiere episode posting double-digit TV ratings. Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun's new series took the top spot in the rating race against competitor dramas "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" and "Oh My Geum Bi."
Avid South Korean drama lovers were given a unique treat on Nov. 16, Wednesday, given the three dramas that premiered on the major Korean networks SBS, MBC and KBS. With various story themes that depicted life challenges, family drama and a romance that spanned centuries, viewers had their pick whether to watch the first episode of "Legend of the Blue Sea," "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" or "Oh My Geum Bi."
However, TV ratings showed that many South Korean viewers tuned into SBS to watch the premiere episode of Lee and Jun's new drama. "Legend of the Blue Sea" registered an impressive viewership share of 16.4 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, as cited by OSEN.
At its peak, the SBS drama's premiere episode posted viewership ratings of 20.7 percent. Lee and Jun's characters' touching encounter during a rainy night was the scene that reached the highest TV ratings for the said episode.
Meanwhile, the KBS drama "Oh My Geum Bi" that stars Oh Ji Ho and Heo Jung Eun premiered with TV ratings of 5.9 percent. Coming in at third place is Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk's MBC drama "Weightlifting Fairy" that posted a viewership share of 3.3 percent.
In other news, "Legend of the Blue Sea" actress Jun recently shared her thoughts about her mermaid character in the SBS drama. In a press event for the new series held in Seoul on Nov. 14, Monday, the South Korean star made mention of her excitement to portray a different character in the drama.
Despite Jun athletic prowess and swimming skills, she shared that portraying a mermaid in the SBS drama pushed her to her physical limits, Yonhap News quoted the actress as saying. She added, "I tell myself every day that I will never again play a character that's limited to a certain occupation that involves water or fire."
"Legend of the Blue Sea" airs every Wednesday and Thursday on SBS. Watch the trailer below:
