Korean Designated Survivor celebrates tvN ratings success
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 29 August 2019

The Korean remake of US drama Designated Survivor has achieved record ratings on tvN, and is now streaming on Netflix.

Starring Ji Jin-hee and co-produced by South Korea’s Studio Dragon and eOne, the series Designated Survivor: 60 Days began airing on 1 July, and recorded the highest rating of this year’s tvN dramas which have aired on weekdays.

The last episode recorded an average rating of 6.2% and a peak rating of 7.9%. The average viewing time started at 28 minutes and increased by the end to a maximum of 40 minutes.

“While maintaining the basic structure of the original drama, we revised the characters and episodes according to the affairs of Korea. It will be a new and entertaining story with different charms from the original drama,” said a spokesperson from Studio Dragon.

The premise of the drama sees the main character Park Mu-jihn (Ji Jin-hee) become Acting President of South Korea and given a period of 60 days to find the mastermind behind a terrorist attack and save the country from crisis before the presidential election.

Huh Joon-ho plays Han Ju-seung, the Chief Presidential Secretary of the previous government, in a diversion from the original series, which starred Keifer Sutherland. The Korean series also stars Son Suk-ku, Choi Yoon-young, Lee Mu-saeng.

“The positive comments from the fans of the original Designated Survivor have encouraged us greatly in producing this drama. We believe that this remake has set an excellent example of a successful synergy between the original drama and localisation,” said Studio Dragon in a statement.

The studio, known for its productions Guardian: The Lonely And Great God, Mr. Sunshine, And Memories Of The Alhambra, plans to launch a total of 28 new dramas in 2019.