Love Sparks and Record Ratings: Weekend K-Drama Champion Breaks Its Own Ratings Record Again

Weekend dramas are heating up across both TV networks and OTT platforms, and tvN's 'Resident Playbook' is leading the way. In the latest episode aired on April 26, Go Youn-jung’s character, Oh Yi-young, took a heartfelt step closer to Goo Do-won, played by Jung Jun-won.

Episode 5 delivered an emotional punch as Oh Yi-young opened up about her personal loss to comfort a young guardian facing the world’s saddest goodbye. Her confession deeply moved viewers.

The episode achieved its highest ratings yet, scoring an average of 6.1% and peaking at 7.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area. Nationwide, it recorded an average of 5.6% and a peak of 6.5%. Among tvN's key 20-49 demographic, it ranked No. 1 across all channels, including major networks, with a metropolitan average of 2.7% and a peak of 3.4%, according to Nielsen Korea’s paid platform data.

In the story, two patients under Oh Yi-young’s care were mothers of 10-year-old daughters. The contrasting tales—one mother who passed away after a long battle with cancer, and another who survived surgery—highlighted the pain of loss. Watching a daughter refuse to accept her mother’s death was heartbreaking. Sharing her own experience of losing her mother at a young age, Oh Yi-young offered sincere comfort to the young girl. Scenes of her crying quietly, longing for her mother, left many viewers in tears. Meanwhile, the warmth and kindness shown by Ahn Jung-won (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) provided much-needed support for the grieving daughter.

Another character, Eom Jae-il (Kang You-seok), faced his own growing pains. Constantly seeking confirmation from his seniors during ultrasound exams, he finally received a tough but necessary wake-up call from Goo Do-won. Now, viewers are curious to see whether this marks a turning point in Jae-il’s growth as a doctor.

On a more romantic note, Oh Yi-young’s feelings for Goo Do-won took a major leap forward. As a birthday wish, she asked him to say "yes" to anything she said until they reached his home. She suggested having dinner and watching a movie together, to which Goo Do-won replied "yes," though he tried to maintain his distance with added conditions.

As they neared his home, Oh Yi-young, growing increasingly anxious, finally asked, "Is it okay if I like you?" After a brief hesitation, Goo Do-won answered "yes," but quickly drew a line, saying, "Only if you want things to get awkward between us."

Viewers were charmed by the nuanced relationship between Oh Yi-young and Goo Do-won, leaving comments like, "I love how he’s strict and sharp at the hospital but still polite and kind at home," "Go Youn-jung is so stunning, I can’t help but be drawn in," and "Poor Jae-il! I hope he matures into a great doctor soon."

In Episode 6 of 'Resident Playbook,' aired on the evening of April 27, Oh Yi-young (Go Youn-jung), Pyo Nam-kyung (Shin Si-a), Eom Jae-il (Kang You-seok), and Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji) managed to overcome conflicts and personal challenges. The episode scored an impressive nationwide average rating of 5.5%, clinching the No. 1 spot among cable and satellite channels during its time slot. This also set a new record for the drama’s highest ratings yet.

After her bold confession, Oh Yi-young found herself in an awkward and distant relationship with her senior resident Goo Do-won. Meanwhile, during a research project they were working on together, fellow doctor Myung Eun-won (Kim Hye-in) continually pushed all the workload onto Goo Do-won and ultimately claimed sole credit for the paper they had painstakingly prepared. To make matters worse, Myung Eun-won tried to brush off her betrayal as a mere "mistake," sparking even greater frustration.

While quietly witnessing the conversation, Oh Yi-young couldn’t stand by and watch Goo Do-won’s hard work go unrecognized. She stepped up and confronted Myung Eun-won, demanding a proper apology on his behalf. Goo Do-won’s gaze toward Oh Yi-young, who had stood up for him so fiercely, was filled with new, undeniable emotion, adding a flutter of excitement for what’s to come between the two.

With 'Resident Playbook' continuing to break its own viewership records, fans are eagerly watching to see just how far the drama will go.

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