Actor Choo Young-woo has launched a four-game hit with ‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’.
The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama ‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ (directed by Kim Yong-wan, written by Yang Ji-hoon, planned by CJ ENM, produced by Studio Dragon, Dexter Pictures, and Eo Content Group), which premiered on the 23rd, is based on the webtoon of the same name and tells the story of a boy destined to die and a MZ shaman girl trying to prevent it, capturing the unrestrained first love rescue romance of eighteen-year-olds.
‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ is Choo Young-woo's fourth project this year, following a series of hits that established him as a leading actor with works like JTBC’s ‘Mrs. Ok’s Story’, Netflix’s ‘Severe Trauma Center’, and ‘Square’, garnering significant attention even before its airing.
That anticipation translated directly into viewership ratings. The first episode recorded a rating of 4.3% (based on Nielsen Korea nationwide), easily surpassing the final episode rating of the previous show ‘Please Take Care of My Alcohol’ at 3.6%, marking a strong start. The target demographic rating for tvN, men and women aged 20-49, reached a nationwide high of 2.0%, ranking first among all channels, including terrestrial broadcasts. This is the highest figure for a tvN Monday-Tuesday drama premiere in 2025.
Considering that ‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ features a unique blend of high school romance and occult elements, this result exceeds expectations.
As an occult genre drama based on a webtoon featuring shamans and ghosts, there was much curiosity from viewers about the scene direction. ‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ captivated viewers with its sensuous colors and direction in the scenes featuring the MZ shaman Park Seong-ah (played by Joy Hyun) in her shaman attire and rituals. The ghost appearances were also depicted with chilling background music and eerie visuals, enhancing the immersion.
In particular, in the climactic scene at the end of the first episode where Baek Gyeon-woo (played by Choo Young-woo) is caught by a water ghost and choked, Choo Young-woo delivered a detailed performance, showing his eyes reddening as he struggled to breathe, completing the climax of the first episode.
Viewer reactions have been enthusiastic. Netizens have left positive comments on various communities and social media, saying, “The first episode is thrilling. I’ve read the original, but there are so many new elements that make it enjoyable, and even similar scenes are more immersive in video form,” “The direction of the scene where Gyeon-woo first appears upside down and faces Seong-ah was excellent,” “I was worried about the ghost direction since it’s based on a webtoon, but it was implemented better than expected,” and “The chemistry between Choo Young-woo and Joy Hyun is legendary.”
‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ has made a smooth start from the first episode, showcasing the actors' chemistry, intriguing settings, and raising expectations for the next story. It remains to be seen whether ‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’, which has fired a pleasant signal flare, can maintain its upward momentum and whether Choo Young-woo can continue his successful career.
‘The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’ airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
