Lim Ji-yeon has once again risen to the top spot.

She is continuing her streak of dominating the viewership ratings and buzz through her leading role in the drama ‘Madame Okssi Jeon’.

‘Madame Okssi Jeon’, which garnered attention for Lim Ji-yeon‘s re-challenge in a historical drama, started off with 4.2% (Nielsen Korea) on the 30th of last month and recorded its highest viewership rating of 8.5% in its 4th episode aired on the 15th. Although it was canceled once on the night of the 14th due to a special news report on the impeachment of the president, it has continued to rise regardless, drawing attention.

This can be interpreted as Lim Ji-yeon’s passionate acting, almost like a ‘one-man show’, raising the popularity of the drama.

In the drama that depicts the eventful life of Gu Deok-yi who forges her own path of destiny, Im Ji-yeon takes on the role of Ok Taek-yeong, a noblewoman who disguises her identity from the slave Gu Deok-yi.

She captured the attention of viewers by simultaneously acting out both rough and tough characters as well as elegant and classy characters, from the lowest class of slaves in the Joseon Dynasty to the first wife of a noblewoman.

Thanks to this, ‘Lady Ok‘s Story’ ranked first among all TV and OTT (online video service) contents in the recent topic rankings announced by Good Data Corporation, a topic research company.

This is the result of beating out all of the competing works that are airing in the same time slot, ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ and ‘Love on a Single-Log Bridge’.

Im Ji-yeon is the same. In a competition for buzz with Joo Ji-hoon, Jung Yu-mi, Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Cha Eun-woo, she confidently took the top spot with more than double the number (4.12%).

It has been two years since Lim Ji-yeon took first place in the survey in this category, following ‘The Glory’ in 2022, which led to her ‘second heyday’.


Reporter Lee Jeong-yeon annjoy@donga.com