Lee Jun Ho and Im Yoon Ah’s "King the Land" Achieves Highest Ratings

On the 1st of July, JTBC weekend drama King the Land aired its 5th episode, where Gu Won (played by Lee Jun Ho) and Cheon Sa Rang (played by Im Yoon Ah) deepened their connection by enjoying various activities from exchanging heartfelt gifts to having a dinner date. Their affectionate smiles brought sweet excitement not only to the characters but also to the viewers. The 5th episode of King the Land recorded a viewership rating of 10.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 9.7% nationwide, with a peak rating of 12.4% per minute (provided by Nielsen Korea, based on paid households).

Gu Won, who had been searching for traces of his missing mother throughout King Hotel, only found himself reawakening old traumas without any progress. In the park, while seeking solace, he encountered Cheon Sa Rang, who was deeply hurt by Gong Yoo Nam (played by Ahn Woo Yeon) as she stood alone in the rain, shedding tears. Witnessing Cheon Sa Rang, who used to smile no matter what, in such a vulnerable state, Gu Won's heart melted as he offered her warm comfort, albeit unfamiliar with the situation.

Aware of Cheon Sa Rang's birthday, Gu Won prepared clothes and shoes as gifts and took her to a restaurant for their first dinner together. The two of them, wearing a couple of outfits carefully selected by Gu Won after much consideration, appeared to be a perfect pair, fooling the waiter with their coordinated attire. Gu Won stepped closer to Cheon Sa Rang, making her heart flutter, saying, "Tell me everything you like."

Although grateful for Gu Won's meticulousness in taking care of her birthday under the pretext of employee welfare, Cheon Sa Rang pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "I don't care about birthdays." It was because she didn't want to expect anything and risk getting disappointed by someone again. However, Gu Won's attention to detail and ability to grasp her inner thoughts gradually attracted Cheon Sa Rang.

Even after parting ways, Gu Won and Cheon Sa Rang continued to exchange casual text messages, keeping their feelings of excitement alive. Gu Won would initiate the conversation, and Cheon Sa Rang would hesitate before responding, contemplating each word she wrote. Their interactions reminded viewers of the curiosity and interest shared by two people who want to get to know each other better. The subtle tension between them, somewhere between affection and curiosity, stirred the hearts of those watching.

Grateful for past events, Cheon Sa Rang invited Guwon to a special occasion at a Korean barbecue restaurant called "Cheolpan Gooi," promising to go there only on special days. Despite her complaining tone, Gu Won genuinely enjoyed the invitation, which brought a smile to Cheon Sa Rang's lips. While still bickering as usual, their gaze revealed different emotions compared to before.

Due to their different perspectives, a misunderstanding occurred between Gu Won, the head of King Hotel, and Cheon Sa Rang, a hotelier. Gu Won misunderstood Cheon Sa Rang's action of calling a VIP customer in an attempt to gain incentives. As a result, following Guhwaran's instructions, Gu Won decided to send all the King's Land employees, including Cheon Sa Rang, to the entire area where King Hotel's business partners were located at the cost of a day's allowance.

Gu Won's decision led to a significant butterfly effect. Cheon Sa Rang, who ended up in the most dangerous place where King's Land employees needed to go, went missing in the mountains. To make matters worse, heavy rain poured down, making the rescue operation even more challenging. However, Gu Won, who arrived by helicopter, shocked the onlookers by jumping below the cliff where Cheon Sa Rang was believed to be. The situation left everyone wondering whether the two would be safely rescued from below the cliff.

The fate of Lee Jun Ho and Im Yoon Ah, who were driven to the edge of a cliff, will be revealed in the 6th episode of King the Land, aired tonight at 10:30 PM  KST.

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