KBS 2TV’s crime thriller The Husband has reached another personal best as viewer interest continues to grow.

According to Nielsen Korea, episode 9, which aired on August 1, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 7.6 percent. Its highest rating per minute rose to 8.9 percent, setting a new record for the drama.

The series initially premiered with a nationwide rating of 4.4 percent while competing against SBS’s successful drama Agent Kim Reactivated. However, The Husband has continued to increase its ratings through strong performances and a fast-moving mystery.

Episode 9 followed Kang Tae Joo, played by Namgoong Min, as he continued investigating suspicious events connected to a hospital clinical trial. After returning to work, he discovered evidence suggesting that the selection process may have favored major hospital donors instead of qualified applicants.

Realizing what may have happened, Tae Joo said, “Hope was not the standard. Money was.”

He later informed Kim Kyung Ae that her past record was not included in her application, raising new questions about why she was rejected and who may have misled her.

Meanwhile, Noh Man Hee, played by Kim Dae Myung, continued carrying out a secret plan after receiving a message that read, “Continue with the original plan.” His increasingly unpredictable actions added more tension as he moved closer to Tae Joo’s family.

The episode also revealed that junior doctor Cha Myung Hee may know more about the case than she previously admitted. Investigators found evidence of earlier communication between her and Kim Kyung Ae, leading to further questions about her possible involvement.

The final moments placed Tae Joo’s wife, Go Se Yoon, in unexpected danger as Noh Man Hee appeared near her, setting up another major confrontation without revealing what happens next.

The Husband follows a man who enters a dangerous battle against a ruthless criminal while trying to rescue his wife, who was taken shortly before their divorce.

With its nationwide rating rising from 4.4 percent at its premiere to a new high of 7.6 percent, attention is now focused on whether Namgoong Min and Kim Dae Myung’s thriller can continue its steady growth in the remaining episodes.