tvN‘s entertainment show ‘You Quiz on the Block’ continued its streak of being number one in its time slot with conversations between actor Lee Min-ho, national rehabilitation trainers, and those who achieved a miracle relay with a 1% chance of survival after being struck by lightning.

In the 274th episode of ‘You Quiz on the Block (directed by Lee Ki-yeon, Lee Jong-hyuk, written by Lee Un-joo)’ that aired on Wednesday the 25th, ‘Miracles Do Exist’, former national rehabilitation trainer Professor Hong Jeong-gi, high school teacher Kim Kwan-hang who survived the brink of death after being struck by lightning, emergency medicine professor Yong-soo Cho who created a miracle, and actor Lee Min-ho came together for an exciting talk.

The broadcast that day achieved first place in its time slot across all channels including terrestrial channels with an average of 6.2% and a peak of 7.9% based on households in the metropolitan area, and first place in its time slot across all cable channels with an average of 5.9% and a peak of 7.0% based on households nationwide. tvN also ranked first in viewership ratings for men and women in their 20s and 49s, the target demographic, in both the metropolitan area and nationwide, including terrestrial channels, in the same time slot. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid platforms)

Professor Hong Jeong-gi, a former national team rehabilitation trainer, caught everyone’s attention by revealing an anecdote about helping Ki Sung-yong with his rehabilitation treatment and the special training method of skeleton gold medalist Yun Song-bin. In particular, he shared an exciting episode about flying to England after receiving a love call from Ki Sung-yong, who was playing for Newcastle, England, and the story of how he focused on strengthening his foot muscles instead of his knees, which had severe pain. The exercise methods that can be easily followed in daily life also caught our eyes and ears. Professor Hong Jeong-gi, who diagnosed Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho‘s gait, captivated viewers by teaching them the correct way to walk by opening their rib cages, swinging their arms, and looking forward, and by revealing a super-simple method to prevent blood sugar spikes and an exercise method to escape turtle neck.

On that day’s broadcast, the relay surrounding the main character who miraculously survived a lightning strike was revealed, conveying a deep resonance. Teacher Kim Gwan-haeng, who went to receive training on the Chosun University campus and collapsed after being struck by lightning, suffered 40 minutes of cardiac arrest and was transferred to the emergency medicine department of Chonnam National University, the only place in the country that offers ECMO treatment, where he miraculously survived. Attention was focused on the testimony of the teaching assistants who discovered him and attempted CPR, the 119 rescue workers, and his family who were more desperate than anyone else. Professor Cho Yong-soo of the emergency medicine department, who was on the broadcast that day, conveyed his sense of mission that he could not give up on the patient even in a situation where he had to prepare himself mentally within 2 hours, with a survival rate of only 1%. Along with the good deeds of teacher Kim Kwan-hang, who donated 10 million won to Chonnam National University Hospital after being discharged, the story of the late Professor Yoon Han-deok, who devoted himself to providing proper treatment to emergency patients, also touched the hearts of viewers.

Lee Min-ho, who appeared on his first talk show since his debut, showed off his cheerful wit that drew Yoo Jae-suk‘s seal applause throughout the broadcast. He shared a variety of talks, focusing on his surprising debut story of going from the days of being the kingka of Daebang-dong to working as ‘Lee Min’ instead of Lee Min-ho, his rookie days when he had to take an unexpected hiatus due to an unexpected car accident, and his 18-year acting career from ‘Boys Over Flowers’, which brought him to stardom, to ‘The Heirs’, and ‘Pachinko’.

Among them, the behind-the-scenes story of the fateful drama ‘Boys Over Flowers’ really immersed viewers. Lee Min-ho, who played the role of the second-generation chaebol Gu Jun-pyo in ‘Boys Over Flowers’, garnered attention by revealing a surprising story that was glamorous but completely opposite in reality. His story is that his family was in such dire straits that they had to live apart, and his mother shouldered the role of the head of the household on her own. Lee Min-ho confessed his family history by saying, “Acting was my job”, and also conveyed his deep affection for his mother by saying, ”My mother is the one who fills my heart. She is the one who keeps me centered and the one I love the most”.

Lee Min-ho, who established himself as a Hallyu star through ‘Boys Over Flowers’, which was a symbol of desperation, has been ranked as the number one Korean actor loved by people all over the world for 11 consecutive years. However, actor Lee Min-ho’s conviction to not rest on his popularity and to look inside himself also left a deep impression. Lee Min-ho, who chose ‘subject identification’ and ‘self-objectification’ as his favorite words, confessed that when he looks back on himself in his 30s, he felt like he was going through puberty and that he is finally having time to find himself and what kind of energy he should have for the next 10 years. His serious story drew deep sympathy from Yoo Jae-suk. Regarding his first entertainment show appearance in 16 years, he showed off his wit by saying, “’You Quiz’ is comfortable. I came here as if I came to have a cup of tea”, and made the set burst into laughter when Yoo Jae-suk closed the show with “Is it over already?”.

Next week‘s broadcast will feature the story of the Antarctic wintering research team in an extreme environment of -80 degrees Celsius and actress Song Hye-kyo appearing on a talk show for the first time in 23 years, raising expectations. ‘You Quiz on the Block’ airs every Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. on tvN.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com reporter jhj@donga.com