11.9% viewership: 'Encounter' off to a good start

tvN's new series “Encounter” topped the ratings. Courtesy of tvN

By Dong Sun-hwa

“Encounter,” tvN's new romance-drama starring top actors Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum, has topped the ratings among all programs aired in the same time slot since its premiere on Wednesday.

The 16-part drama's second episode, in particular, garnered the highest viewership of 11.9 percent, according to Nielsen Korea.

“Encounter” is the romantic story of Cha Soo-hyun, the daughter of a politician and former daughter-in-law of a chaebol family, played by Song, and Kim Jin-hyuk, a free-spirited young man played by Park.

In Thursday's episode, Cha and Kim reunited in Korea after their fateful encounter in Cuba. Kim joined the hotel owned by Cha as a new employee.

The drama has received mixed responses, with some people saying the acting styles and scripts fall short of expectations. “Encounter” was one of the most long-awaited TV series for fans, thanks to its star cast members. However, satisfied viewers seem to outnumber those who are not.

Song, one of the leading hallyu celebrities, starred in the drama "Descendants of the Sun" in 2016 with Song Joong-ki, whom she married in 2017.

Park was catapulted to stardom after starring in the drama "Reply 1988" and "Love in the Moonlight."