Lee Jun-ho's 'King the Land' Ascends to New Ratings Heights, Solidifying 'Life Character' Status

tvN's weekend drama 'King the Land' is captivating audiences, mirroring the strong viewership trajectory of its predecessor, 'The Chef of Tyranny'.

The fourth episode, aired on the 19th, achieved a nationwide average rating of 9% and a peak of 9.8%, along with a Seoul metropolitan average of 8.5% and a peak of 9.4%. This performance not only marked a new personal best for the series but also secured its top position among cable and general programming channels in its timeslot. The drama also dominated the 2049 target demographic, with nationwide average ratings of 2.4% and a peak of 2.7%, ranking first across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, in its timeslot (Source: Nielsen Korea, based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite).

Last night's episode showcased the exhilarating first collaboration between Kang Tae-hoon (Lee Jun-ho), who has now become the president of Taeyang Trading Company, and Oh Mi-seon (Kim Min-ha), who has been promoted to chief. A portion of the fabric, thought to be completely seized by Pyo Baek-ho (Kim Sang-ho), the president of Pyo Sang-sun, was dramatically saved thanks to a truck driver (Jo Sang-gu).

Tae-hoon cleverly exploited the ambiguity in the contract regarding units, guiding Pyo Sang-sun to calculate the quantity in 'yards' instead of '50,000 meters.' Meanwhile, Ko Ma-jin (Lee Chang-hoon), who had previously left Taeyang Trading Company, assisted Tae-hoon in a move to get back at Pyo Sang-sun, encouraging the return of the goods.

Fooled by this ploy, Pyo Sang-sun returned the fabric to Italy, only to soon discover a 10% shortage in quantity. Since returns were only permissible for items with no change in quantity or quality, Pyo Sang-sun was suddenly faced with the burden of not only the inventory but also the round-trip shipping and logistics costs. Faced with this predicament, Tae-hoon and Mi-seon appeared with the remaining fabric, offering to purchase it at three times the original cost under the condition of same-day cash payment and on-site delivery. With no other option to minimize losses, Pyo Baek-ho was forced to accept the humiliating terms. Tae-hoon, having been defrauded by a single line in a contract and then turning the tables with a single unit of measurement, found himself increasingly enjoying the life of a trading company executive.

Following this satisfying turn of events, Tae-hoon and Mi-seon traveled to Busan, a hub for dollars and exports, to meet with Jeong Cha-ran (Kim Hye-eun) of 'Hongshin Trading.' Still sharp in her senses amidst the international market, she had survived by navigating currency exchange and international money transfers. The International Market, which had endured even during the Korean War, bustled with life as money and goods flowed ceaselessly, even through the IMF crisis.

Tae-hoon searched for new export items, while Mi-seon, true to her nickname 'Human Calculator,' impressed Jeong Cha-ran with her rapid mental currency exchange calculations and transaction summaries. Amidst this, Tae-hoon's attention was caught by 'Subak Safety Shoes,' a brand with 32 years of tradition. The owner, Park Yun-cheol (Jin Seon-kyu), introduced himself as a 'researcher rather than a merchant' and demonstrated the safety shoes' formidable protective capabilities. He successively struck the shoes with a sharp steel pipe, a frying pan, a stainless steel pot, and other brands of safety shoes, all of which were damaged. Finally, he struck his own 'Subak Safety' with immense force, proving its intactness and superior safety by withstanding even a flame torch. After a factory tour, Tae-hoon, seeing the potential for a new export item, immediately secured a deal for 500 pairs.

However, Mi-seon reprimanded Tae-hoon, who was ecstatically celebrating the deal made below cost, explaining that the funds remaining after handling the fabric were already allocated for other purposes. But Tae-hoon's heartfelt apology on the Busan beach softened Mi-seon's heart. He wrote 'Sorry' in the sand and then erased 'Sorry' to leave the message 'Won't make you angry again,' sharing a smile that brought them closer.

Just as things seemed to be falling into place, another challenge loomed for Tae-hoon. On Christmas morning, as if a miracle had occurred, he discovered that his apartment had been put up for auction and seized. Forced to flee his home, now covered in red auction stickers, he and his mother, Jeong Mi (Kim Ji-young), headed to Taeyang Trading Company, filled with the memories of his father's time.

Nevertheless, Tae-hoon had learned valuable lessons about making money through these whirlwind events. However, ominous signs still loomed. Pyo Baek-ho, having suffered a counterattack due to the unit miscalculation, was watching Tae-hoon closely. Revealing his ambition to take over Taeyang Trading Company, he mused, "I wonder what it feels like for a young man to lose things one by one?" with a meaningful smile. Furthermore, Jeong Cha-ran, well-versed in the international market, expressed curiosity, asking about 'Subak' with a puzzled look. Yet, under the office lights, Tae-hoon's determined gaze at the Subak safety shoes hinted at a passionate youth's narrative, preparing for another 'life-changing moment' amidst a hope that wouldn't be extinguished even by a fierce wind. 'King the Land' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM on tvN.

Netizens are praising Lee Jun-ho's performance and the drama's engaging plot twists. Comments include, "Lee Jun-ho's acting is incredible," "The satisfying plot developments are great," and "Can't wait for next week!"