Song Kang, Han So-hee thankful to fans as 'Nevertheless' ends run

JTBC's romance series “Nevertheless” aired its final episode on Saturday. Courtesy of JTBC

By Lee Gyu-lee

The cast members of JTBC's romance series “Nevertheless,” including leads Song Kang and Han So-hee, shared their gratitude to fans following the series finale, Saturday.

“It has been quite a journey during three months (of filming), filled with stirring and nervous moments,” Song said through his agency Namoo Actors, Sunday. “I've had so much fun working on this series. I hope you continue to enjoy Nevertheless even after its finale.”

Actress Han said: “I really thank everyone for loving the romance between the two lead characters. I hope Nevertheless gave you a good time and entertainment in this sweaty summer.”

The series, based on the popular webcomic of the same name, follows a push-and-pull romance between two art school students.

Yoo Na-bi (Han) grows skeptical about love after she catches her boyfriend cheating on her. On the day she breaks up with her boyfriend, she has a flirtatious encounter with handsome, broody Park Jae-eon (Song), who goes to the same school.

The brief fling leads to further development of their relationship from friends with benefits to a complex romance.

Posters for the series / Courtesy of JTBC

The 10-part drama whetted many fans' appetites for two rising stars ― Han from “The World of the Married” and Song from “Sweet Home” ― as the leads. But after premiering on June 19 with an initial 2.2 percent viewership rating, the series ratings dropped to 1 percent.

The series ended with a 1.7 percent rating for its final episode.

Despite its low ratings, “Nevertheless” has made it into the top 10 list of popular streaming shows on Netflix in Korea. It also topped the list in several regions this week, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, according to streaming analytic platform FlixPatrol.

Other cast members also shared reactions to the show's finale.

Chae Jong-hyeop who played Yang Do-hyeok, Na-bi's childhood friend, said “It feels bittersweet that the series is already ending. I am so grateful and honored to be loved and supported by so many viewers while playing Do-hyeok. The cast members got along so well, so we were able to have fun and shoot the series in such a friendly environment.”

Model-turned-actress Lee Ho-jung played Na-bi's friend Yoon Sol who develops romantic feelings for her best friend Suh Ji-wan (played by Yoon Seo-ah).

“It has been a blissful time playing the character of Sol. The more I studied my character, the more I was drawn to her. So I tried hard to bring her to life and portray the energy that makes her an attractive character,” she said. “I feel that this character gave me a turning point in my acting career.”