KBS' “Gaksital” keeps No. 1 spot, SBS' “Phantom” ends with moderate ratings

Actor Joo Won (left) and actress Han Chae-ah (right) in KBS' Wednesday and Thurday series "Gaksital" aired on August 9, 2012. [KBS]

Actress Lee Yeon-hee (left) and actor So Ji-sub (right) pose for the poster to TV series "Phantom" which aired from May 30 to August 9, 2012. [SBS]

KBS’ “Gaksital” reigned supreme atop Wednesday and Thursday primetime ratings chart this week, while SBS’ cyber crime TV series “Phantom” ended its two-month run.

Starring Joo Won and actress Jin Se-yeon, “Gaksital” topped the ratings chart during the second week of August after attracting 19.3 percent and 20.6 percent of total viewers on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, according to data compiled by TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) Friday.

Since making its premiere on May 30, the drama continued to fare well and saw its ratings rise slowly with each episode on the primetime lineup.

The action-packed series has excited the audience by portraying a Korean hero that fights against Japanese imperialistic conquerors.

Meanwhile, SBS' series "Phantom" sat in the runner up spot after closing its curtains since finishing up its ten week run during the same time frame.

Intertwining social issues and cyber crimes, the So Ji-sub's starrer earned ratings of 13.3 percent on its 19th episode and ratings of 13.7 percent on its finale.

"Phantom" has put up a thrilling battle against "Gaksital" to top the Wednesday and Thursday primetime charts, recording steady figures in the two-digit range since its first episode which aired on May 30.

On the AGB Nielson Media Research's poll, “Gaksital” maintained its position as the top seed with the support of ratings of 18.3 percent and 19.5 percent on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

SBS' “Phantom” followed behind in second place by earning 12.9 percent and 12.2 percent ratings during the same time frame.

Meanwhile, SBS will now fill its Wednesday and Thursday time slot with new series "For You In Full Blossom," which is set to hit airwaves on August 15.

The forthcoming series goes around the story of Goo Jae-hee (played by f(x)'s Sulli) disguising herself as a guy in order to enter an all boy high school where Kang Tae-joon (played by SHINee's Minho) attends.

Meanwhile, major broadcaster MBC, which has aired various games for the ongoing 2012 London Olympics, will premiere its new series “Arangsattojeon” (in Romanized Korean) on August 15 as well.

Starring actor Lee Joon-gi, the fantasy drama will focus on the romance between a female ghost named Arang (played by Shin Mina) and a district magistrate in the Joseon Dynasty (played by Lee Joon-gi).

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