tvN has cemented its reputation as a powerhouse in historical dramas, delivering back-to-back hits with Mr. Queen, Under the Queen’s Umbrella, and most recently Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. Strong performances, layered storytelling, and just the right amount of humor have proven to be the winning formula for capturing viewers’ hearts.
On September 14, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty recorded its highest ratings yet at 18.1% nationwide (Nielsen Korea), topping its timeslot. Among tvN’s core demographic of viewers aged 20–49, the show reached a peak of 6.7% nationwide. The drama’s leads, Im YoonA and Lee Chae-min, continue to dominate Good Data Corporation’s buzz rankings, holding the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for three consecutive weeks.
The drama follows modern-day chef Yeon Ji-young (Im YoonA), who time-slips into the Joseon era and meets a tyrant with an extraordinary palate (Lee Chae-min). While time travel is a familiar trope, the series brings freshness through a bold, witty female lead and YoonA’s captivating dual-era performance. Her ability to balance comedy with intensity has been praised as a key driver of the show’s success.
In 2022, tvN’s Under the Queen’s Umbrella achieved a peak of 18.8% with an average of 16.9%. The drama topped buzz rankings for four straight weeks, with lead actress Kim Hye-soo also securing No. 1 in actor buzz rankings for the same period. Portraying a queen who abandoned her regal composure to fiercely protect her children, Kim offered a refreshing take on a character often depicted passively in traditional historical dramas.
Going further back, 2020’s Mr. Queen became one of tvN’s all-time top-rated dramas. Its finale drew an average of 18.6% and a peak of 20.5% in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking fifth in tvN’s history at the time. Starring Shin Hye-sun, the series blended comedy, fantasy, and historical intrigue by telling the story of a modern-day chef whose soul is trapped in the body of a Joseon queen. Shin’s dynamic, near one-man-show performance, paired with slapstick comedy, captivated audiences.
Industry insiders credit tvN’s ongoing success to more than just star casting. “Viewers today prefer historical dramas that reflect modern sensibilities rather than purely traditional storytelling,” one broadcast official explained. “tvN has reinterpreted the historical drama genre with meticulous scripts, nuanced character psychology, and direction that balances tension with humor, making historical stories resonate with contemporary audiences.”
Sources: Daum
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