'Minister Kim,' surpassing 'Young-woo' and 'The Glory'... K-dad syndrome continues

*This content was translated by AI.

SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Minister Kim' proved itself as the representative blockbuster drama of 2026 by setting new records until the final moments.

The final episode, aired on the 25th, recorded a viewership rating of 23.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 23.0% nationwide based on Nielsen Korea, with a peak instantaneous rating of 27.1%. Notably, the peak instantaneous rating of 27.1% is its own highest record, demonstrating 'Minister Kim's' powerful box office momentum that remained unbroken until the very end. It secured first place across all channels in the same time slot for 10 consecutive episodes and maintained the highest viewership record for mini-series in 2026 throughout its run, achieving a historic feat by ranking second among all SBS Friday-Saturday dramas in terms of viewership ratings.

In addition, the cumulative number of viewers during the broadcast period reached 25.638593 million. With nearly half of South Korea's population choosing 'Minister Kim,' it once again proved its status as a 'national drama' that spans all generations.

Beyond domestic borders, it also demonstrated an unparalleled global presence. After securing first place for three consecutive weeks in Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows category, according to the latest rankings released by Netflix's official tally site Tudum on the 29th, 'Minister Kim' recorded a cumulative global viewing time of approximately 270 million hours within just five weeks of its release. This stands as the highest cumulative viewing time for any TV mini-series with 12 episodes or less released on Netflix, once again affirming its status as a representative global blockbuster of K-dramas. Its differentiated theme of 'K-dad action' and narratives filled with laughter, tears, and action resonated warmly with viewers worldwide, transcending national boundaries.

Its buzz was also unparalleled. Based on Good Data Corporation's FUNdex, it recorded first place in TV drama buzz for four consecutive weeks. Actors including Song Ji-seob, who ranked first, swept the top tiers of actor buzz, driving the work's popularity. Notably, in Korea Gallup's survey titled 'Broadcast and Video Programs Preferred by Koreans,' it achieved a preference rating of 18.9%, securing first place overall. This is the highest record for the drama genre since the survey began in 2013, marking a meaningful achievement that surpasses previous mega hits such as 'The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family,' 'Lawyer Young-woo,' 'The Glory,' and 'Queen of Tears.'

The production team stated, "Thanks to the passionate love from our viewers who stayed with 'Minister Kim' until the end, we were able to conclude an unforgettable journey. We hope this story filled with laughter, action, and sincere devotion toward family will remain a warm memory for a long time. We encourage everyone to enjoy another side of the story that could not be fully conveyed in the main broadcast through our special program."

Meanwhile, 'Minister Kim' has prepared a special gift to ease the regret of its conclusion. In response to the passionate support from viewers, the world-expansion special program 'Minister Kim: The Universe' will air on August 1 at 9:50 p.m.

'Minister Kim: The Universe' will not only delve deeper into the hidden stories and relationships of characters that were not fully explored in the main broadcast but also openly share vivid behind-the-scenes footage from the intense filming process. Additionally, actors including Song Ji-seob, Choi Tae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho will provide commentaries on iconic scenes, offer sincere interviews, and reveal behind-the-scenes stories of the production team up to the completion of the work, promising to create another special memory for viewers who loved 'Minister Kim.'

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*This content was translated by AI.