'Hyena' Character Hotspot, Trusted Kim Hye-soo X Joo Ji-hoon... Sets New Personal Best Ratings Before Bittersweet Finale

SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Hyena' ended with its highest-ever rating of 18.3%. Photo by 'Hyena' capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hyesoo] SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama 'Hyena' ended on a high note by breaking its own highest viewership ratings.

In the final episode of 'Hyena' aired on the 11th, Jung Geumja (Kim Hyesoo) and Yoon Heejae (Joo Jihoon) uncovered the true identity of Song Piljoong (Lee Kyungyoung), the CEO of Song & Kim, who stood at the pinnacle of the cartel of evil in the legal world. It was revealed that Song Piljoong was the real culprit behind the murder of Seo Jeonghwa (Lee Jooyeon), which brought down Ha Chanho (Ji Hyunjoon), the heir of Ism Group, and eventually led to the downfall of Ism Group itself, thus resolving all the incidents.

Yoon Heejae proved his innocence in Ha Chanho’s second trial by presenting hotel corridor CCTV footage from the day Seo Jeonghwa died as evidence. At the same time, Jung Geumja, who had gone to the Ism Group shareholders’ meeting, orchestrated a grand spectacle by setting a trap that led to Song Piljoong’s arrest for corpse concealment. This was a brilliant finale created by the efforts of Yoon Heejae, Jung Geumja, and Team H. Following this, the two lawyers persuaded Son Bongwoo (Kim Jonggu), chairman of SS Group, to add murder charges to Song Piljoong’s list of crimes.

Photo by 'Hyena' capture

After Song Piljoong’s arrest, the disciplinary actions against Jung Geumja and Yoon Heejae imposed by the Bar Association were also withdrawn. Starting anew as lawyers at the law firm Jungui, the two looked at the building where Jung Geumja began her career and vowed, "Let’s try being building owners once."

The unresolved story of the two lawyers, who will continue to walk together, left a deep impression.

'Hyena' initially aimed to be a character-driven drama and succeeded in captivating viewers with a parade of compelling characters. Especially, the strong lawyer Jung Geumja, who grabs a knife with bare hands to survive and does not hesitate to threaten with her own life at stake, and Yoon Heejae, who grew up walking only the elite path like a greenhouse flower, left a strong impression on the home audience with their growth story. Additionally, each member of Team H, who worked alongside them, proudly showcased their unique personalities, completing a character-rich ensemble.

Photo by 'Hyena' capture

Of course, the relationship between Jung Geumja and Yoon Heejae was also special. Their story, which started as lovers, turned into snarling enemies, and eventually evolved into partners who completely trust and rely on each other, was solidly and intricately portrayed. The process of two people from completely different worlds opening their hearts and blending into each other was convincing enough for viewers.

Above all, Kim Hyesoo and Joo Jihoon once again proved their titles as "actors you can trust." Kim Hyesoo’s expressive performance, skillfully portraying Jung Geumja’s cheerful and charismatic variations, gave viewers thrilling enjoyment. Meanwhile, Joo Jihoon’s sincere melodramatic acting created memorable scenes and lines in every episode, making viewers’ hearts flutter.

Photo by 'Hyena' capture

These special characters and relationships were created by writer Kim Ruri’s solid script. Despite being a rookie writer, she not only created each attractive character but also tightly connected each episode to complete the big picture, demonstrating her potential. Moreover, director Jang Taeyu, who returned to Korean drama after four years, contributed to vividly bringing the story in the script to life with his stylish direction.

The final episode of 'Hyena,' which worked hard, fought, and loved, recorded viewership ratings of 12.4% (Part 1) and 16.5% (Part 2) based on the metropolitan area (Nielsen Korea, paid broadcasting standard), breaking its own highest ratings. It also ended with a peak rating of 18.3%, surpassing its previous highest record.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.