‘Confidence Man KR’ has changed its broadcast time.
On the 15th, TV Chosun announced, “'Confidence Man KR' has changed its broadcast time from the original Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM to 10:30 PM.”
This change in scheduling at the point where it has aired four episodes since its premiere on the 6th is drawing attention as an unusual case.
‘Confidence Man KR’ is a heist drama featuring three versatile con artists seeking revenge against the villains of this era. It has garnered anticipation for its intriguing narrative that cleverly exploits the flaws in the social system and for heralding the arrival of a 'K-caper' that playfully twists the conventions of the existing crime genre. It has also been noted as Amazon Prime Video's first original work in Korea.
However, the viewership ratings have not met expectations. It started with a rating of 1.1% (Nielsen Korea, based on paid households) for the first episode, slightly rising to 1.5% for the second episode, but then falling to 1% for the third and 0.9% for the fourth.
This work is the first new drama presented by TV Chosun in a year since the conclusion of 'DNA Lover' last October, but it is struggling in competition with tvN's weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' airing at the same time.
‘The Tyrant's Chef’, which premiered on the 23rd of last month, recorded 4.9% for its first episode, followed by 6.6% for the second, 7.6% for the third, and 11.1% for the fourth, showing a steep upward trend. Notably, the eighth episode aired on the 14th recorded 15.4%, setting a new record for its highest viewership rating.
Park Min-young proved her acting prowess with stable performances in 'Marry My Husband' after the controversy surrounding her ex-boyfriend. However, there are reviews stating that she did not show a strong presence in this work. While there is no disagreement among viewers regarding Park Min-young's acting skills, there have been criticisms that the development of the plot and character settings did not meet expectations.
While 'The Tyrant's Chef' airs on Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM, 'Confidence Man KR' has moved its schedule to 10:30 PM right after the conclusion of that program.
Although they have avoided direct competition, it remains uncertain whether a turnaround is possible. Considering the recent viewing habits where viewers switch channels if their attention is not captured early on, it seems challenging for the ratings to reverse.
However, if fresh developments and solid storytelling between characters unfold in the mid to later parts of the drama, there remains a possibility for word-of-mouth to change the atmosphere. It will be interesting to see whether 'Confidence Man KR', which has taken the bold step of changing its schedule, can overcome its slump and achieve a turnaround.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
