“Forehands” Song Kang, publicly confesses to instigating Lee Joon-young’s kidnapping 9 years ago… peaks at 9.9% [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

The dam of emotions between Song Kang and Lee Joon-young has finally broken.

According to Nielsen Korea, the ratings survey company, the 11th episode of tvN’s weekend drama “Forehands” (screenplay by Shin Yi-won / directed by Park Hyun-seok), which aired on the 3rd, recorded a national average rating of 8.7% and a peak of 9.9%, while achieving a metropolitan area average of 9% and a peak of 10.6%. This marked a new record for the series’ highest viewership. It ranked first in the same time slot across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, both nationally and in the metropolitan area. On a national basis, it maintained its position as number one among cable and pay-TV channels in the same time slot for 11 consecutive episodes. In the 2049 male and female demographic targeted by tvN, it also ranked first in the same time slot across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, both nationally and in the metropolitan area (based on paid platforms integrating cable, IPTV, and satellite).

On this day, despite long-standing misunderstandings and conflicts, the sincere feelings Kang Bi-o (played by Song Kang) and Choi Jung-yo (played by Lee Joon-young) held for each other were revealed, delivering a profound emotional impact.

Kang Bi-o, who had been stripped of the soloist position in the piano concerto “Nemesis” by Choi Jung-yo, sought out Choi Jung-yo and asked for another chance. Kang Bi-o pointed out the feelings Choi Jung-yo had embedded in the piece toward himself, appealing that only his performance could make the composition complete, thereby shaking the heart of composer Choi Jung-yo.

Kang Bi-o’s words churned through Choi Jung-yo’s mind, leading him to seek an answer from world-renowned conductor Kang Seung-un (played by Jeong Jin-young) by asking, “Does a flawed artist lack the qualification to create art, or should art and the artist’s life be viewed separately?” In response, Kang Seung-un offered the weighty remark that “the only thing to guard against is evil deeds under the guise of art; judging flawed artists is not our role,” which stirred turmoil within Choi Jung-yo, who was torn between revenge and music.

In addition, Kang Bi-o judged that showing a changed performance directly would be more effective than a hundred words of persuasion, and made a bold move by performing “Nemesis” while fully embodying the emotion Choi Jung-yo had desired. Kang Bi-o’s melody precisely fulfilled what Choi Jung-yo had wanted in “Nemesis,” and ultimately, Choi Jung-yo decided to entrust the premiere to Kang Bi-o, following his desire as a composer to perfectly realize his piece rather than his revenge.

On the day of the performance that followed, Kang Bi-o and Choi Jung-yo demonstrated unparalleled synergy. As Kang Bi-o’s performance, fully immersed in the music, concluded, a standing ovation erupted from the audience, and Choi Jung-yo, who had created the piece, also wore a satisfied smile. The premiere of “Nemesis,” born from the perfect collaboration of the two, left behind intense shivers and deep lingering resonance.

Amidst the cheers, Kang Bi-o returned to the stage holding a microphone and began to share an unexpected story along with words of glory. He publicly confessed that he was the one who had instigated Choi Jung-yo’s kidnapping nine years ago. Kang Bi-o was immediately taken into police custody, and as his impulsive action caused the revenge that had been prepared for a long time to collapse in an instant, Choi Jung-yo could not hide his despair and anger.

Another truth struck the already confused Choi Jung-yo in succession. This was because Kang Bi-o’s mother, Kang Ji-hye (played by Yoon Se-ah), later sought out Choi Jung-yo to confess that she was the true culprit and apologize. Additionally, Vogel (played by Ko Chang-seok), the partner who had once searched for Choi Jung-yo’s whereabouts with Kang Bi-o, appeared and handed over a recording file from when Kang Bi-o had been furious at the kidnapper upon hearing news of Choi Jung-yo’s death. Consequently, Choi Jung-yo realized that his long-held misunderstanding toward Kang Bi-o was mistaken.

Subsequently, as Choi Jung-yo provided additional statements to the police station, the tangled case quickly returned to its proper course. As all truths were revealed, Kang Bi-o was also cleared of suspicion and released, and Choi Jung-yo went to see him, asking why he had been left to misunderstand. Kang Bi-o candidly confessed that while it was not an act he had carried out, he could not say there was no sense of inferiority or misguided feelings toward Choi Jung-yo.

Although the misunderstanding has been resolved, time is needed to reverse the deepened emotional rift and the distance between them. Attention is focused on whether Kang Bi-o, who more than anyone wanted Choi Jung-yo to return, and Choi Jung-yo, who was greatly shaken by Kang Bi-o bearing all the guilt alone, will once again be able to look at each other and smile in their final story.

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*This content was translated by AI.