Only 4 Episodes In—This Korean Drama Is Already No.1 in 136 Countries

A new Korean drama is taking the world by storm, following in the footsteps of Squid Game 2. With a record-breaking No.1 ranking in 136 countries and a staggering 9.7/10 rating, its global success is undeniable.

The drama in question is tvN’s latest Monday-Tuesday series My Dearest Nemesis, which premiered on February 17 as the follow-up to The Queen Who Crowns. Starring Moon Ga-young and Choi Hyun-wook, the series tells the story of Baek Soo-jung, a “corporate killer” team leader haunted by her first love, and Ban Ju-yeon, a third-generation chaebol hiding his inner geek persona. Their sealed-off office romance begins to unravel in unexpected ways.

According to global streaming platform Rakuten Viki, My Dearest Nemesis has topped the charts in major markets including the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, the UK, France, India, and the UAE, securing the No.1 spot in 136 countries within its first week. The show also boasts an impressive 9.7/10 rating from international viewers.

In Japan, the drama is making waves on the streaming service U-NEXT, ranking No.1 in the "Korean & Asian Drama" category and securing a spot in the overall Top 10 dramas. It has also achieved a perfect 5.0/5 rating. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, it ranks as the No.1 Korean drama and No.2 overall on leading OTT platform Vidio.

A spokesperson from Vidio noted, “The locally tailored social media content we created for the show is generating incredible engagement,” further proving My Dearest Nemesis’s massive international appeal.

A key driver of this global success is the star power of Moon Ga-young, whose international recognition has significantly boosted the show’s anticipation and sales even before its premiere. Moon gained widespread popularity with tvN’s True Beauty (with co-star Cha Eun-woo) in 2020, which continues to be a fan-favorite on global OTT platforms, solidifying her as a new wave Hallyu icon.

The drama is also making waves domestically. The latest episode (Episode 4) recorded an average nationwide rating of 4.0%, peaking at 4.7%, securing the No.1 spot across all cable and general programming channels in its timeslot. In the Seoul metropolitan area, ratings soared to an average of 4.2% with a peak of 5.0%. Among tvN’s target demographic (ages 20-49), the drama also dominated, reaching a peak rating of 1.9%.

Online engagement is equally impressive. From January 6 to February 16, My Dearest Nemesis amassed over 62.6 million views across YouTube, TikTok, Naver TV, Instagram, and Facebook—setting the highest online buzz record for a tvN Monday-Tuesday drama since The Uncanny Counter 2.

Romance, Secrets, and Growing Tension

Episode 4 delved deeper into Ban Ju-yeon’s tragic past, revealing how he lost his parents in a car accident and was raised by his strict grandmother (played by Ban Hyo-jung). Growing up suppressing his true self to meet his grandmother’s expectations, Ju-yeon created a secret “room” to escape his loneliness. The first person to step into this hidden space? Baek Soo-jung.

As their romance begins to blossom, Ju-yeon finds himself drawn to Soo-jung, slowly opening up his heart. However, Soo-jung struggles with lingering memories of her first love, My Dearest Nemesis, creating a mix of emotions in her growing connection with Ju-yeon.

Towards the episode’s end, tension builds as their relationship faces a turning point. During an arcade date, Ju-yeon kneels to tie Soo-jung’s shoelaces, creating an intimate moment—only to be interrupted by a call from Ha-jin (played by Lim Se-mi), stirring a sense of impending conflict. With Ha-jin’s growing interest in their relationship, viewers are left eager to see how the love triangle unfolds.

With its skyrocketing popularity and increasing intrigue, My Dearest Nemesis is proving to be 2025’s first major K-drama sensation. Catch new episodes every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM KST on tvN.

Viewership Ratings Trend (Nielsen Korea, Nationwide)

Episode 1 (02.17): 3.5%

Episode 2 (02.18): 3.5%

Episode 3 (02.24): 4.5%

Episode 4 (02.25): 4.0%