ENA’s Monday-Tuesday drama “The Defects” is set to air its final episode soon, concluding a provocative series centered around gene manipulation and human trafficking. Despite its daring subject matter, the show has struggled to break past a modest 2.0% viewership rating.
“The Defects” tells the harrowing story of children abandoned by foster parents who narrowly escape death and fight for survival and revenge. The plot revolves around a doctor illegally creating children with superior genetics and the illicit adoption cartel trading these children.
Based on the award-winning Kakao webtoon of the same name, “The Defects” earned the Grand Prize for Creativity at the 2017 SPP International Content Market Webtoon Awards.
The series shocked audiences by tackling the taboo topic of buying and selling children through an illegal adoption cartel, a subject rarely explored on Korean TV. Praised for its intricate plot and powerful message, the drama offered viewers a fresh and intense experience.
ENA aired a 15+ rated version, while streaming platform TVING presented a 19+ version, adding depth to the narrative. Director Oh Ki-hwan explained, “The 19+ version contains everything I envisioned. Watching both versions provides a multilayered experience.”
Starting with a 1.7% rating, “ The Defects ” maintained around 2.0% viewership throughout its run. Though the numbers seem low, they are considered respectable given the channel’s niche audience. For comparison, the previous ENA drama “Salon de Holmes” started at 1.3% and peaked at 3.6% (Nielsen Korea).
In terms of buzz, “The Defects” has been a runaway success. It topped TV and OTT drama search rankings in the fourth week of July and dominated cast-related keyword searches, with actors Kim Jin-young, Lee Na-eun, Won Jin-ah, Choi Young-jun, Yeom Jung-ah, Ahn Ji-ho , and Oh Seung-joon occupying the top seven spots.
The drama’s final episode airs on August 12 at 10 PM KST on ENA, with the 19+ version available on TVING.
Sources: 다음 – TV리포트
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