'New Recruit 4: Sabotage' ends with record-high 5.2%, hints at Season 5 amid unit disbandment threat

Starts at 2.8% and reaches series-best finale with Episode 12, expanding its universe with three new recruits

ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'New Recruit 4: Sabotage', which opened a new chapter for realistic military dramas, ended on a strong note after setting a new ratings record.

According to ratings research firm Nielsen Korea, the final episode, which aired the previous day, posted a nationwide rating of '5.2%', the company said on the 30th. That was nearly double the '2.8%' recorded for the premiere and the highest ratings performance in the history of the 'New Recruit' franchise, which has run for four years since 2022.

The finale focused on the soldiers of 'Shinhwa Unit' as they faced the sweeping prospect of a military reorganization. Maj. 'Kim Ha-na' (played by Gong Min-jung), an inspector, heightened the tension by notifying the unit of the decision to consolidate it after conducting a meticulous inventory audit.

After the sudden news that the unit would be disbanded, its members toured the barracks, guard post and other spaces where they had shared the hardships of military life, swallowing their deep regret. Viewers, too, were drawn into the characters' emotional journeys, with many saying the episode left a lasting impression.

Yet even amid the crisis, the seeds of a new story began to emerge. The mood shifted when three unidentified new recruits were transferred into the unsettled 'Shinhwa Unit'. Cpl. 'Park Min-seok' (played by Kim Min-ho) offered the unfamiliar newcomers a pointed greeting: "Let's work well together from here on out." The moment fueled both strong curiosity and anticipation for the next season.

Armed with meticulous military detail and multidimensional characters, this season captured both strong ratings and widespread buzz, once again proving the stature of a well-crafted franchise.