Im Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-joon’s Romance Lands… “Brave New World” Ends on a Happy Note with 11.8%

A rescue narrative that transcends time and space, capped with a dazzling 11.8% ending

The 'tender romance' that blossomed after overcoming the tragedy of a past life fully took control of living-room viewers. SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Brave New World' wrapped up with a spectacular finale alongside an explosive achievement of double-digit ratings.

According to Nielsen Korea’s ratings report released on the 21st, the series finale (episode 14), aired on the 20th, scored its own highest rating of '11.8%' nationwide, sealing a decisive win in the end.

On that day’s broadcast, the story of Shin Seori (played by Im Ji-yeon) and Cha Sesye (played by Heo Nam-joon), who broke free from the harsh web of fate and dramatically reunited in the present, delivered a heavy, lingering emotional impact.

To save Cha Sesye, Shin Seori threw herself into the Joseon era and endured a sacrifice of taking arrows in place of his past-life self, 'Cheongheondae-gun'. As a result, Shin Seori in modern times fell into a coma, but Cha Sesye kept moving through a brutal waiting period while awakening to the fact that every fragment of the past had truly been real, through the diary that remained behind.

Drifting through an endless void of nothingness, Shin Seori made the 'earnest voice' from Cha Sesye, calling her, her turning point and pulled off the miracle of returning to the 21st century. The two people, who finally judged Choi Moon-do (played by Jang Seung-jo), the source of all evil, swore to 'eternal love' that transcends time and space and completed a flawless happy ending.

Through this work, Im Ji-yeon, who threw her hat into the ring for a fresh genre as a bona fide 'comedy performer', turned public expectations into perfect praise. His outstanding acting—freely moving through eras and genres—maximized the show’s immersion.

On top of that, Heo Nam-joon’s 'turnaround charm', showing a three-dimensional transformation from a cold-blooded conglomerate heir into a devoted romantic lead, added even more. The overwhelming synergy created by the two actors sparked enthusiastic positive responses from viewers.

The upward curve of the ratings indicator is also remarkable. 'Brave New World', which began at 4.3%, settled into the 9% to 10% range with a tightly plotted unfolding and its gripping pull, and in the final episode it hit a peak of 11.8%, proving popularity on a syndrome level.

Global achievements beyond South Korea also stand out. Not only did the show top 'No. 1 in the Netflix Non-English TV Show category' within its first week of release, but throughout the airing period it stayed firmly in the global top three, setting a new benchmark for 'K-drama'.