Song Kang and Lee Jun-young reunite after nine years... 'Four Hands' sets new all-time viewership record at '7.3%'

*This content was translated by AI.

The bond between Song Kang and Lee Jun-young has reconnected once again.

In the sixth episode of tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama "Four Hands" (script by Shin Yi-won, directed by Park Hyun-seok), which aired on the 13th, Kang Bi-o (played by Song Kang), who had been searching alone for Choi Jeong-yo (played by Lee Jun-young) — who suddenly disappeared at an international competition nine years prior — was stunned to discover Choi Jeong-yo participating in a conducting competition.

According to viewership research company Nielsen Korea, the sixth episode achieved a national average of 7.3%, with a peak of 7.9%, and a Seoul metropolitan area average of 7.4%, peaking at 8%, setting a new all-time record for the series. Furthermore, it ranked first across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, both nationally and in the Seoul metropolitan area. Nationally, it maintained its position as the top-rated program in the same time slot on cable and general entertainment channels for six consecutive episodes. In terms of viewership among the 20-49 male and female demographic targeted by tvN, it also secured first place across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, in both national and Seoul metropolitan area ratings (based on paid platforms integrating cable, IPTV, and satellite).

Now twenty-seven years old, Kang Bi-o has established himself as a unique pianist whose concerts consistently sell out every seat. Yet he remains caught in the aftermath of Choi Jeong-yo's disappearance. Not only did rumors filled with suspicion toward Kang Bi-o — who had been Choi Jeong-yo's fierce rival at the time — never cease, but questions related to Choi Jeong-yo invariably followed him during media interviews as well.

Kang Bi-o himself could not easily let go of past events. While outwardly maintaining a calm demeanor and continuing his daily life as if nothing had happened, he secretly pursued clues about Choi Jeong-yo's whereabouts alongside Vogel (played by Ko Chang-seok), an overseas helper.

Amidst a flood of false information, Kang Bi-o learned from Vogel that the suspect who had kidnapped Choi Jeong-yo had completed his prison sentence and been released. Finally facing the key figure in the case, the suspect, upon seeing a photo of Choi Jeong-yo, confessed to having kidnapped him during the Harmony Competition. He admitted he had intended to release Choi Jeong-yo in exchange for money from someone, but ultimately killed him after Choi Jeong-yo fiercely resisted.

Once it became certain that Choi Jeong-yo was dead, Kang Bi-o stopped his long pursuit and tried to return to his own life. However, he began experiencing unexpected aftermath symptoms as visions of Choi Jeong-yo kept appearing before his eyes. Eventually, during a performance, Kang Bi-o spotted Choi Jeong-yo's apparition in the audience, unable to continue playing properly. Afterward, even sitting at the piano became a struggle, plunging him into the greatest slump of his pianist career.

As his life as a pianist crumbled, Kang Bi-o found himself increasingly trapped in the slump. Guided by advice from his lover Hong Jae-in (played by Jang Gyu-ri) to find a way out on his own and by a doctor's diagnosis that he needed proper time for mourning, he headed alone to the Czech Republic, the host country of the international competition they had once entered together with Choi Jeong-yo.

While wandering aimlessly through the Czech Republic, Kang Bi-o froze instantly when he heard a familiar melody at the Bruno Conducting Competition. The "Dance of Death," which he and Choi Jeong-yo had once performed together as "Four Hands," echoed through the orchestra. Shocked, Kang Bi-o realized that the conductor's identity was none other than Choi Jeong-yo, whom he had believed to be dead.

Not only did an old friend who once played piano with him and shared his dream of becoming a pianist return alive after nine years of disappearance, but he also appeared on stage as a conductor. Questions are rising: What kind of experiences did Choi Jeong-yo endure over the past nine years? And why did he end up holding a baton instead of playing the piano?

Meanwhile, "Four Hands" airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.