There is a Korean drama that has sparked a renewed reaction simply from the news that it is being released on Netflix two years after its conclusion. It is tvN’s “Lovely Runner,” which created a buzz far hotter than its viewership ratings during its broadcast and plunged the entire nation into “Seonjae fever.”
According to Netflix Korea, ‘Lovely Runner’ is listed as a title scheduled for release on June 1st. The series premiered on April 8, 2024, and aired for 16 episodes until May 28. The final episode recorded a nationwide average viewership rating of 5.8% and a peak of 6.9%, breaking its own record.
What is interesting is the way this drama achieved success. While the numbers alone might not suggest a massive hit, the actual perceived popularity was quite different. As the broadcast continued, scene captures, dialogue, the OST, and interviews with the actors were constantly shared on online communities and social media. Therefore, this Netflix release is being viewed not merely as a simple additional service, but as a catalyst to reignite the fandom-driven success that had already exploded once before.
In particular, this series possesses the potential to appeal to a wider audience now than it did during its original broadcast. This is because the recent activities of Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon are drawing renewed attention, and a new distribution channel—the Netflix release—has been added. For those who have already seen it, there is a reason to rewatch it; for those who haven’t yet seen it, there is a justification to join in belatedly.
‘Lovely Runner’ was stronger than the ratings
“Lovely Runner” is a time-slip romance that tells the story of Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), an ardent fan who travels back in time to save her favorite group member, Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok).
Based solely on the premise, it appears to be a youth romance combining fan devotion with time travel. However, the series did not remain merely a simple fantasy romance. Im Sol’s desperation to save Sun-jae, Sun-jae’s growing affection for Sol, and the process of the two holding onto each other’s lives were intricately woven together in every episode.
While viewer ratings hovered in the 2–5% range, its buzz transcended the numbers. As the episodes progressed, viewers became deeply immersed in the character of Ryu Sun-jae, and the support for the relationship between Im Sol and Sun-jae exploded. The series topped various popularity surveys, proving its impact far beyond its ratings.
“Sun-jae fever” was not simply a phenomenon of liking the male lead. By combining emotional keywords such as first love, regret, salvation, and time, it compelled viewers to project their own memories onto the work. That is why ‘Lovely Runner’ became a drama that is not easily forgotten even after it ended.
It was the story that saved a potentially cliché subject.
It was not a project guaranteed success from the start. The combination of a school drama, a celebrity narrative, and a time-slip romance carried the risk of appearing predictable, precisely because it was a familiar trope. At the time, while Kim Hye-yoon, Byeon Woo-seok, and Song Geon-hee certainly had potential, they were not considered absolute guarantees of success that the public would immediately be certain of.
What filled that gap was the power of the story. ‘Lovely Runner’ is based on the popular web novel ‘Tomorrow’s Best’ by author Kim Bbang. Furthermore, with writer Lee Si-eun—who penned JTBC’s ‘True Beauty’—handling the adaptation, the dramatic emotional arc became even more distinct.
The most powerful element was the “mutual salvation narrative.” The structure in which Im Sol travels back in time to save Sun-jae appears on the surface to be a fan-driven salvation narrative, but as the story progresses, it expands into a relationship where the two hold onto each other’s lives. Because it was a structure where they saved each other rather than a story where one side unilaterally saved the other, the emotional intensity was distinct.
The setting of “nineteen and thirty-four” also enhanced the atmosphere of the work. While the original work had a structure that alternated between ages 18 and 23, the drama widened the time gap by distinguishing between ages 19 and 34. The OST, style, and setting, which evoked the sensibilities of 2008, simultaneously brought nostalgia and excitement to viewers.
Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon, the combination that made the work a ‘legend’
When discussing the success of ‘Lovely Runner’, one cannot leave out Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon. The two defied pre-release concerns and became the show’s most powerful weapon.
Byeon Woo-seok made a lasting impression on the public through the character of Ryu Sun-jae. He convincingly portrayed Sun-jae at different stages of his life—from a 19-year-old student and a fresh-faced 20-year-old college student to a 34-year-old top star—within a single character. As a result, the formula “Byeon Woo-seok = Ryu Sun-jae” was established.
In particular, he delicately expressed Sun-jae’s emotions as he gradually lost his luster in the early episodes, and brought out distinct atmospheres appropriate for each age group in scenes alternating between the past and the present. He heightened the character’s depth by revealing a youthful innocence in romantic scenes and simultaneously displaying emptiness and loneliness in his present-day state as a top star. At the time of the show’s conclusion, Byeon Woo-seok remarked, “It was a dream-like project for me.”
Kim Hye-yoon also ensured that the character of Im Sol would not be consumed as a mere zealous fan. She naturally portrayed the desperation to save someone, the pure emotions toward first love, and the wounds that accumulate as time repeats itself. The romantic chemistry created by the two was the greatest draw of ‘Lovely Runner’.
Although there were assessments that the lineup was weak prior to the show’s release, the result was the exact opposite. The visual combination created excitement, and the emotional acting drew viewers in. Thanks to this combination, ‘Lovely Runner’ was able to transcend a simple youth romance and become a drama that the fandom watches on repeat.
Netflix’s release to reignite the resurgence
The reason this Netflix release is drawing even more attention is that the buzz surrounding the work has not yet subsided. Byeon Woo-seok is currently expanding his public influence by playing the role of Grand Prince Yi An in the MBC Friday-Saturday drama ‘Perfect Crown’. As interest in the new project grows, his representative work, ‘Lovely Runner’, is also being brought up again.
In fact, ‘Lovely Runner’ has recently regained its presence on the TVING charts. As interest in Byeon Woo-seok exploded, the number of users looking to rewatch his representative work increased, creating a trend that led to the drama re-entering the rankings. The phenomenon of a concluded series climbing back up the charts is a signal that both the show’s fandom and the actor’s influence are still alive.
Kim Hye-yoon is also demonstrating a strong presence at the box office with the film ‘Salmokji: Whispering Water.’ ‘Salmokji’ has surpassed 2.6 million cumulative viewers, ranking among the top-grossing domestic horror films. With both leading actors receiving renewed attention in their respective fields, the release of ‘Lovely Runner’ on Netflix is bound to have an even greater impact.
For viewers who missed the series during its original broadcast, this provides a fresh opportunity to get started. For fans who were already captivated by “Sunjae fever,” it offers a compelling reason to binge-watch the entire series again. Above all, Netflix serves as a channel to expose the work to a wider audience, not just domestic viewers. This means there is a high probability that “Lovely Runner” will secure a new viewership base, surpassing the buzz generated during its original airing.
Ultimately, “Lovely Runner” is a drama that has not faded away even after its conclusion. With buzz extending beyond viewership ratings, the explosive growth of Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon, strong fan consumption, and the Netflix release all converging, the series stands once again at the threshold of a resurgence. Attention is focused on whether the series can revive the “Lovely Runner” following its release on June 1st.
