The April weekend drama lineup is drawing attention as three actors with very different strengths enter a competitive broadcast time slot, setting up a strong viewership battle.
Yoo Yeon Seok, Byeon Woo Seok, and Koo Kyo Hwan are each leading separate projects with unique genres and characters, raising expectations for intense competition.
Yoo Yeon Seok is currently leading SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘Phantom Lawyer’, which has helped revive the network’s weekend drama ratings.
After the previous drama ended in the 2 percent range, his series started at 6.3 percent and climbed to 10 percent, showing steady growth. The drama follows a lawyer who takes on ghost clients with unresolved stories, combining comedy and action.
His ability to portray different personalities through possession has been praised, with viewers noting the emotional stories “comfort the hearts of the audience”.
A production representative shared that the mix of ghost stories and fantasy elements “allows viewers to relate deeply,” adding that upcoming episodes will feature stories directly connected to the main character.
Byeon Woo Seok, who rose to top star status through ‘Lovely Runner,’ is taking on his first major lead role in MBC’s upcoming Friday-Saturday drama ‘Perfect Crown’, alongside IU. Even before its premiere on April 10, the drama ranked first in buzz, showing strong anticipation.
Set in a modern constitutional monarchy, the story follows a romance between a woman who has everything except status and a man who only has status.
Byeon Woo Seok’s visuals have already become a hot topic through teasers, but industry insiders note that the drama’s success will depend on how well he delivers his character.
A broadcast official stated that although the setting is unique, the “fateful romance will feel familiar to the public,” and highlighted that his character will show a “lonely and emotional side that brings out a new charm.”
Meanwhile, Koo Kyo Hwan is preparing for his first lead role in a TV drama through JTBC’s ‘We Are All Trying Here’, premiering on April 18.
Known mostly for films and OTT projects, he recently gained attention as a “melodrama king” following a successful romance film. The new drama, written by the creator of ‘My Mister’ and ‘My Liberation Notes,’ has already attracted interest for its strong storytelling.
The series follows individuals struggling with feelings of worthlessness as they search for peace, with Koo Kyo Hwan playing a film director who has been stagnant in his career for 20 years.
He described the script as feeling like “my diary had been exposed”, reflecting its realistic and honest tone. A representative noted that while TV dramas differ from film and OTT formats, viewers will see “the same Koo Kyo Hwan but with a new kind of charm.”
With rising ratings, pre-release buzz, and strong storytelling behind each project, all three dramas are expected to compete closely for viewers’ attention this April.
Source: [1]
