KBS’s highly anticipated weekend series Twelve has stumbled in the ratings, falling well behind tvN’s Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, led by YoonA.
According to Nielsen Korea, the August 31st broadcast of Twelve recorded just 3.1% nationwide viewership. In the same time slot, tvN’s Bon Appétit, Your Majesty hit 11.1%, marking its highest numbers to date.
The matchup was closely watched before airing, as KBS attempted a new strategy by stacking its traditional weekend drama with a Saturday-Sunday miniseries. Twelve drew major buzz as Ma Dong Seok’s first small-screen project in nearly a decade, backed by a star-studded cast including Park Hyung Sik, Seo In Guk, Sung Dong Il, and Lee Joo Been. Its premiere on August 23rd landed at 8.1%, compared to Bon Appétit’s modest 4.9% debut, suggesting KBS’s gamble might pay off.
But momentum shifted quickly. Twelve tumbled to 5.9% by episode 2, then 4.2% and finally 3.1% by episode 4, weighed down by lukewarm reviews. Meanwhile, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty surged upward: 6.6% (episode 2), 7.6% (episode 3), and 11.1% (episode 4), crossing into double digits in just two weeks and widening the gap dramatically.
Adding to KBS’s woes, Twelve also lagged behind SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama The Winning Try, which wrapped August 30th at 6.4%. Its upcoming replacement, Queen Mantis, starring Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon, premieres September 5th, signaling even tougher competition ahead.
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