[First Ratings] Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin’s ‘Liar’ Opens on a Disappointing 1.9%… A Day of Conflicting Truths

A bold transformation for the ‘Dr. Romantic’ couple, in a fierce psychological battle over conflicting truths

MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Liar,’ starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin, got off to a somewhat disappointing start with a rating in the 1% range. Nielsen Korea reported on Oct. 31 that the first episode, which aired the previous day, posted a nationwide rating of 1.9%. The figure fell short of expectations for a reunion of two actors recognized for their strong performances.

The premiere quickly unfolded after what seemed like a perfect first date, as Min Jun-ho (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) and Kang Ji-seon (played by Seo Hyun-jin) clashed over sharply conflicting memories. Min Jun-ho, a cardiac surgeon, and Kang Ji-seon, a school librarian at the elementary school his son attends, enjoyed their first date, each feeling positively about the other.

But the next morning, their situations had taken a starkly different turn. Min Jun-ho began his day looking happy and in love, while Kang Ji-seon woke up in tears and reported him to the police on suspicion of sexual assault. Taken into custody, Min Jun-ho vehemently insisted that the encounter had not been forced, but Kang Ji-seon flatly refuted his account, leaving viewers with a gripping mystery.

The series drew considerable attention before its premiere as a psychological thriller reuniting the two actors 10 years after the 2016 SBS drama ‘Dr. Romantic’. The intense courtroom battle and psychological duel unfolding at the boundary between truth and lies are expected to be key to a ratings rebound.