Heo Nam-jun and Lim Ji-yeon are posing. Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com/May 7, 2026 [Sportschosun Reporter Jo Ji-young] 'Brave New World,' which made viewers cry and laugh, has completed a perfect new world of romantic comedy.
In the final episode of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Brave New World' (written by Kang Hyun-joo, directed by Han Tae-seop and Kim Hyun-woo), which aired on the 20th, Shin Seo-ri (Im Ji-yeon) and Cha Se-gye (Heo Nam-jun) reversed their tragic fates from their past lives and reunited in the modern 21st century, completing a dazzling happy ending that will remain in everyone's hearts for a long time. 8% nationwide, achieving the feat of once again breaking its own highest viewership rating even at the very end. As a result, it demonstrated overwhelming dominance by sweeping the top spots not only in its time slot but also for Saturday and weekly miniseries.
6%, ranking first among all programs broadcast during the week and completing a beautiful conclusion. Thus, 'Brave New World' reached the pinnacle of a happy ending that transcends time and space through the story of Seori and Se-gye, who changed their tragic destinies and opened a new life of happiness for themselves. What has 'Brave New World,' which unfolded an unprecedented new world of romantic comedy, left behind? ▶ A New World of Success That Sweeped Global Buzz Throughout its run, 'Brave New World' swept both buzz and viewership ratings, sparking a 'Brave New World craze.
1% by the final episode and recorded the number one spot in its time slot for 10 consecutive episodes, proving itself to be the unrivaled strongest contender. Furthermore, it enjoyed immense popularity, ranking first in TV drama buzz for four consecutive weeks and topping the drama brand reputation rankings for June. Its popularity was not limited to the domestic market but was also strong globally.
"Brave New World" proved the high level of interest from global fans by taking the number one spot in the weekly viewership rankings for the "Global Top 10 Non-English Shows" on Netflix in its first week of release—the shortest timeframe for an SBS Friday-Saturday drama. Moreover, despite a rush of fierce competitors, it firmly maintained a spot in the Top 3 until its final week of broadcasting, imprinting the "Brave New World Syndrome" on the entire world. (Nielsen Korea/Fundex/Korea Corporate Reputation Institute/Toodoom) ▶ Shedding her dark character.
The power of Lim Ji-yeon's challenge in comedic acting Lim Ji-yeon, playing the role of Shin Seo-ri, redefined the definition of an "actor you can trust. " Despite it being her first full-fledged comedy role, she threw herself into the performance with such passion that she instantly captivated viewers, creating memorable scenes in every episode such as the Kang Hee-bin possession scene, the home shopping scene, and the electrocution scene. Freely traversing genres from comedy and action to melodrama, Lim Ji-yeon delivered a unique character performance comparable to playing four different roles, utilizing detailed acting that even involved changing her voice.
Shin Seo-ri, perfected only by Lim Ji-yeon, drew viewers into deep immersion in every episode, sparking a syndrome-level popularity and establishing herself as the "heroine of a lifetime" for many. ▶ Heo Nam-jun, annoying yet drawn to. A generational shift for rom-com male leads Heo Nam-jun's rom-com prowess awakened through 'Brave New World.
' Heo Nam-jun presented a fatal contrast, transforming from a notorious tycoon into a pure-hearted tycoon who realized the value of love after meeting a Joseon villainess, causing viewers to become infinitely devoted fans. In particular, he perfectly delivered distinctive lines such as "Time is Gold," "A woman like rat poison," "Let's have a heartbeat together," and "You're pretty~ You passed," infusing them with his own unique style and firmly establishing his true worth as the next-generation king of rom-coms. Furthermore, he seamlessly transitioned between the roles of the modern-day villainous chaebol 'Cha Se-gye' and the Grand Prince Lee Hyun of the Joseon Dynasty, raising the romantic tension of the drama to its peak.
This dazzling chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun completed the unprecedented villainous chemistry between Shin Seo-ri and Cha Se-gye, marking a significant milestone in the rom-com genre. ▶ The Birth of the 'Director-Director of 'Gamdasal' Who Unfolded a New World of Rom-Coms' Above all, Director Han Tae-seop and Writer Kang Hyun-joo exploded with fresh synergy, heralding the birth of a new 'Director-Director of 'Gamdasal'.
Director Han Tae-seop's detailed directing skills and Writer Kang Hyun-joo's solid writing combined to induce multiple viewings, sweeping the small screen into a "Brave New World fever. " Director Han Tae-seop maximized immersion by masterfully navigating between comedy and melodrama, and provided viewers with the fun of solving mysteries by placing Easter eggs throughout the series.
Writer Kang Hyun-joo made viewers laugh, cry, and flutter with enchanting lines packed with the charm of romantic comedy, and built the perfect worldview of 'Brave New World' through settings that cleverly twisted romantic comedy clichés. In addition, the passionate performances of lifelike characters—including Jang Seung-jo (as Choi Moon-do/An Jong), Kim Min-seok (as Baek Gwang-nam), Lee Se-hee (as Yoon Ji-hyo), Chae Seo-an (as Mo Tae-hee), Yoon Joo-sang (as Cha Dal-soo), Yoon Byung-hee (as Manager Son), Jung Young-joo (as Cha Ju-ran), Baek Eun-hye (as Cha Ju-mi), Baek Ji-won (as Hong Bu-seon), Park Jin-woo (as General Manager Gu), and Oh Min-ae (as Geum Bo-sal/Do Mu-nyeo)—raised the quality of the work and completed the irreplaceable charm unique to 'Brave New World'.
After the broadcast, comments on social media and various online communities included: "How will I live after this drama ends?", "Congratulations in advance to Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun for the Best Couple Award. Give them the Grand Prize," and "Seori from Loved the World.
" "May it last forever," "Please make a spin-off of 'Brave New World. ' I want to see more of Dansim and Hyun," "It's been so long since I've watched a drama live like this," "I'm so grateful for this drama that showed the beauty of life.
It has become my favorite drama of all time," "'Brave New World' was the most wonderful new world of my life," "The acting stunts right up to the end were insane," and other enthusiastic reactions poured in. Reporter Jo Ji-young soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
