Despite Initial Ratings, Kim Hye-yoon Shines in 'Lovely Runner'

The initial viewership has been lackluster, but the anticipation hasn't waned. This is the case with "Lovely Runner," starring actress Kim Hye-yoon.

 

The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama "Lovely Runner" is a time-traveling redemption romance in which Ryu Sun-jae (Byun Woo-seok), a famous artist who saved his life when he gave up the will to live, and Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), a fan who despaired of his death, travel back in time to 2008 to save his best friend.

 

Lovely Runner (선재업고튀어)

 

"Lovely Runner" was highly anticipated before it aired, with Byun Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon playing the male and female leads, respectively. Kim Hye-yoon returned to tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama after more than three years since "Usa and Joy(어사와 조이)" as the main character.

 

Contrary to expectations before its premiere, "Lovely Runner" did not hit the ratings jackpot in its first week of broadcast. The ratings were 3.1% for the first episode and 2.7% for the second episode (Nielsen Korea national ratings, hereinafter referred to as the same). This was lower than the first-week ratings of its predecessor, "Wedding Impossible(웨딩 임파서블)," which was 4.0% in the first episode and 4.1% in the second episode.

 

Lovely Runner (선재업고튀어) Poster

 

Based on the ratings, "Lovely Runner" is not doing well, but it has a chance to rebound. In particular, the performance of Kim Hye-yoon, who plays the lead character Im Sol, stands out. Her cheerfulness and bubbly personality have the potential to turn the movie around and bring in more viewers.

 

In the first and second episodes of "Lovely Runner," Kim Hye-yoon broke away from the heavy atmosphere of her previous film "Snowdrop(설강화)" (JTBC). She is showing her energetic side that she showed in "A Day I Found(어쩌다 발견한 하루)" and "Usa and Joy". She has moved on from the drama "SKY Castle(스카이캐슬)," which raised her profile, and is now solidifying herself as an actress.

 

Lovely Runner (선재업고튀어)

 

In "Lovely Runner," Kim Hye-yoon returns to the past in 2008 and rewrites her life as a high school girl. She freely uses her facial expressions and emotions to enhance the refreshing atmosphere of the movie. Her chemistry with Byun Woo-seok is exciting. Along with this, she is also giving a comic and emotional performance that makes you laugh without any pollution.