Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon’s ‘Lovely Runner’ Amasses Popularity After Debut

Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon's new drama "Lovely Runner" garners explosive popularity after its pilot week.

'Lovely Runner' Steals Hearts During Pilot Week

tvN's new weekday series "Lovely Runner" has immediately become the talk of the town after its release.

The drama, starring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon, has captivated the viewers with its surprising twists and the main protagonists' strong chemistry.

On April 8, "Lovely Runner" finally hit the small screen giving viewers a refreshing show every Monday and Tuesday.

According to a report, Episodes 1 and 2 became a real-time trend and the drama ranked second in the OTT data analysis by Kino Lights.

The rom-com series also ranked first in Rankie Pie's domestic drama program trend index as of April 12, demonstrating the high interest of domestic and foreign fans toward "Lovely Runner."

It has been said that the most popular factor is the heartbreaking yet sweet romance between Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok) and Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon).

Byeon Woo Seok & Kim Hye Yoon's 'Lovely Runner' Immediately Generates Buzz

At the beginning of the drama, Im Sol, a passionate fan, stimulated the viewers' interest when she traveled back in 2008 as a high school student to save his favorite idol, Ryu Sun Jae.

In Episode 2, the twist that Ryu Sun Jae fell first to Im Sol was revealed, causing excitement to the audience. The romance, which was thought to be one-sided, where in fact Sun Jae already had feelings for Im Sol made the viewers more invested in the series.

It has been said that the story's writer Lee Si Eun added new twists that were not in the original work, such as a swimmer Sun Jae, and Im Sol's old favorite idol, Kim Tae Sung (Song Geon Hee) to further increase immersion.

ALSO READ: 'Lovely Runner' Episode 2: Kim Hye Yoon Tries to Change Byeon Woo Seok's Fate

Accordingly, various communities are immersed in the fun development of the story, such as rewatching the first episode after the reveal of Sun Jae's first love in episode 2, and the audience looking back on the romance narrative of the two.

Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon's Acting & Chemistry Add to 'Lovely Runner's' Expanding Popularity

The lead stars' excellent performances also added a major difference to the drama's popularity. Kim Hye Yoon goes from a 34-year-old fanatic who regains her will to live thanks to Ryu Sun Jae's words to a 19-year-old high school girl who goes against her fate to save her idol's life.

She perfectly brought Im Sol's character to life. Byeon Woo Seok plays the role of a 19-year-old high school student who fell in love with Im Sol first, to a 34-year-old genius idol, making viewers anticipate more of their progress.

"Lovely Runner" also made viewers feel nostalgic as the drama travels to the past. As such, attention is focused on how the two-way romance between Ryu Sun Jae and Im Sol will unfold and whether Im Sol can change Sun Jae's future.

It is expected that the rom-com series will receive more popularity in the upcoming weeks.

Catch Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. (KST) on tvN and Viu.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Byeon Woo Seok's Real Age Surprises Many: 'He Looks Really Young'

What can you say about Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon's new drama? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.