Park Seo-joon Becomes Guardian for Ex-Girlfriend Won Jin-ah in 'Waiting for My Name,' Drama Hits New Ratings High

Actor Park Seo-joon has stepped up as a steadfast guardian for his former flame, played by Won Jin-ah, in the JTBC drama 'Waiting for My Name' (also known as 'My Name' or 'The Whirlwind').

The fourth episode, aired on the 14th, saw Park Seo-joon's character, Lee Kyung-do, becoming a reliable shield for Seo Ji-woo (Won Jin-ah), eliciting heart-fluttering moments for viewers. This pivotal episode propelled the drama to a new personal best in viewership ratings, achieving 3.9% nationwide and 3.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area, according to Nielsen Korea (paid household ratings).

Recovering from a difficult situation, Seo Ji-woo felt ashamed and frustrated for causing trouble for Lee Kyung-do again. Despite her prickly attitude, Lee Kyung-do meticulously discarded all the alcohol from her home, showering her with worried advice. He resolved to help Seo Ji-woo live a better life, much like how he overcame his own struggles in the past with the help of his mother, Jo Nam-sook (Kim Mi-kyung), and his fellow club members, Park Se-young (Lee Joo-young), Cha Woo-sik (Kang Ki-doong), and Lee Jung-min (Jo Min-guk).

Though he claimed his actions were driven by 'humanity' rather than love, his profound kindness deeply resonated with Seo Ji-woo. However, this decision raised concerns among his friends. Park Se-young and Lee Jung-min, in particular, confronted Lee Kyung-do about his entanglement with Seo Ji-woo, which jeopardized his promising overseas study opportunity in Chicago. Lee Jung-min pointedly advised him, "You need to stop getting involved with Seo Ji-woo."

Meanwhile, Seo Ji-woo, observing Lee Kyung-do's persistent presence as her self-appointed guardian, found herself reminiscing about happier times with him. This longing for the past ultimately led her to decide to return to England.

Complicating matters, Seo Ji-woo's ex-husband, Jo Jin-eon (Oh Dong-min), made an unexpected appearance, demanding reconciliation and cruelly referring to her as "Cinderella after midnight." Seo Ji-woo, keenly aware of her vulnerable position, was left speechless by his blatant insults.

In that critical moment, Lee Kyung-do arrived with luggage, standing resolutely by Seo Ji-woo's side. To the bewilderment of both Seo Ji-woo and Jo Jin-eon, he declared, "We're flirting. Doing our best." His unexpected intervention, positioning himself as a shield against Jo Jin-eon, has sparked intense curiosity about his true intentions. The episode also revisited the painful memory of their first breakup, caused by their differing ways of expressing love, leaving viewers with a poignant sense of unresolved conflict and anticipation for how this past trauma will shape their future.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, with comments like, "Park Seo-joon is so cool!" "Won Jin-ah is pitiful but so captivating," "I'm so curious about their past!" and "How can I wait for the next episode?" showing high engagement with the drama's plot and characters.