The Legendary Korean Drama Finally Released on Netflix: First Episode Hits 29.1% Rating and Explodes in Popularity

A legendary drama has made a surprise appearance on Netflix, drawing widespread attention.

On December 12, the full series of SBS's 2005 drama 'Spring Day' was uploaded to the streaming platform, sparking renewed excitement. The drama is famous for its massive viewership, with the first episode recording an impressive 29.1% rating (based on the Seoul metropolitan area, according to Nielsen Media Research) when it first aired. The show attracted even more attention due to its significant historical context—Go Hyun-jung’s return to the small screen after a 10-year hiatus following her marriage and departure from the entertainment industry.

Spring Day is a poignant exploration of love’s essence and human emotions, focusing on the theme that while nothing lasts forever, the desire for everlasting love endures. The storyline revolves around a woman who becomes entangled with two brothers, experiencing love, heartache, and fate in a deeply emotional journey.

Go Hyun-jung plays the role of Seo Jeong-eun, a woman suffering from aphasia (loss of speech). Jeong-eun had originally dreamed of attending music school but, after multiple failures, she decided to pursue a career in the orchestra. One fateful day, she is involved in an accident while on her way to an audition. After moving to a quiet rural town to heal, she encounters a man who will eventually restore her speech and draw her into a whirlwind of fate.

Jo In-sung plays Go Eun-seop, the younger brother of Go Eun-ho. Eun-seop grew up in the shadow of his older brother, constantly compared to him, and ultimately pursued a career as a doctor to meet his mother’s expectations. Upon hearing that his brother, Eun-ho, is searching for a woman, Eun-seop finds himself falling in love with the same woman his brother once loved.

Ji Jin-hee portrays Go Eun-ho, the older brother who first meets Jeong-eun during his medical volunteer work. Their paths cross again when Jeong-eun suffers from aphasia, and Eun-ho returns to the island where Jeong-eun lives. A tragic car accident leads to the death of his mother, and Eun-ho loses his memory in the process.

The drama also features Han Go-eun as Kim Min-jeong, Eun-ho's childhood friend who secretly harbors feelings for him, and Lee So-yeon as Kim Kyung-a, a waitress who shares her life with Eun-seop. These characters add depth to the emotional and interpersonal conflicts within the story.

The 29.1% rating of Spring Day’s first episode remains one of the highest viewerships for a drama’s debut, ranking among the top 3 highest-rated first episodes in K-drama history at the time, following 'Taejo Wang Geon' and 'Empire of the Morning'. This remarkable figure reflected just how much anticipation there was for Go Hyun-jung's return to the screen.

The on-screen chemistry between lead actors Go Hyun-jung and Jo In-sung in Spring Day was so undeniable that it sparked a wave of dating rumors and scandals. However, these speculations were later addressed and firmly denied by Go Hyun-jung. In a January 2024 interview on the SBS Plus reality show, Go Hyun-jung clarified, saying, "We're actually just good friends. We met when Jo In-sung was 25, and he's a really nice and manly friend." Her comments put an end to the rumors, reaffirming their close, yet platonic relationship.

According to Nielsen Media Research, “In the 2000s, cable channels began to rise in prominence, and overall ratings for terrestrial networks declined. Despite that, for Spring Day to achieve a 29.1% rating on its first episode was an extraordinary achievement.”

However, while expectations were sky-high, the drama received criticism for plot inconsistencies and unfocused development after its initial success. Despite this, Go Hyun-jung’s outstanding performance, the emotional direction, and the dramatic themes continue to be discussed fondly, maintaining the show's legacy in the K-drama world.

With its arrival on Netflix, a new generation of viewers is now discovering this classic drama, revisiting its deep emotional impact and questioning how fate, love, and heartbreak continue to resonate through time.