After Surpassing 'Lovely Runner' to Global No.1 in 109 Countries — This K-Drama Nailed Its Finale

tvN’s Monday-Tuesday drama 'My Dearest Nemesis' wrapped up its run in first place in its time slot, closing on a high note with strong viewership ratings.

According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode, which aired on March 24, recorded a nationwide average rating of 4.1%, peaking at 4.5%. The series also ranked No. 1 in its time slot across both cable and general programming channels. Among tvN’s key 20–49 demographic, it drew a nationwide average of 1.4%, with a peak of 1.7%.

'My Dearest Nemesis' tells the story of Baek Su-jeong (played by Mun Ka-young), a team leader still haunted by the embarrassing memories of her first love, and Ban Ju-yeon (played by Choi Hyun-wook), a third-generation chaebol executive secretly hiding his cringey "dark past" as an over-the-top anime fan. The series weaves their office romance with sharp humor and emotional growth.

In the finale, Su-jeong and Ju-yeon successfully complete a major renewal project for Yongseong Department Store. Su-jeong is promoted to head of strategic planning, while Ju-yeon becomes the store’s newly appointed executive director. Ju-yeon finally opens up to his grandmother Hyo-seon (played by veteran actress Ban Hyo-jung), the chairwoman of Yongseong Group, leading to a touching reconciliation.

Another couple, Seo Ha-jin (Im Se-mi) and Kim Shin-won (Kwak Si-yang), who had previously broken up due to real-life complications, also rekindled their romance after affirming their true feelings.

The final moments of the episode struck an emotional chord. Ju-yeon delivers a heartfelt love confession to Su-jeong, who silently nods in response. In a poignant scene echoing Su-jeong’s lonely high school days, Ju-yeon appears across the crosswalk calling out her name — a quiet but powerful gesture of connection. The pair then walk off side by side, their backs turned to the camera, symbolizing a hopeful future together.

Narration from Su-jeong closes the story:

“Fate turned us into people who can’t live without each other. I now know — fate is what we name it. Just like despair has another name, hope… the dark past I once ran from is now the love of my life.”

Based on a webtoon, the drama gained traction each week with witty writing by Kim Soo-yeon and a unique directorial flair. It consistently broke its own ratings record and captivated viewers not only in Korea but around the world.

According to global OTT platform Rakuten Viki, 'My Dearest Nemesis' topped weekly drama rankings in 109 countries, including across North America, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Oceania, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. It also ranked No. 1 in the Korean drama category on major local platforms such as Japan’s U-NEXT and Indonesia’s Vidio, solidifying its global popularity.

Up next in the same time slot is 'The Divorce Insurance', starring Lee Dong-wook and Lee Joo-bin. This new romantic comedy follows a product development team at an insurance company that creates a policy specifically for people anticipating — or recovering from — divorce.

A fresh take on post-breakup life, 'The Divorce Insurance' premieres on March 31 at 8:50 p.m. KST.