The weekend K-drama lineup is about to get even more competitive. A new challenger to one of this year's highest-rated dramas is finally making its debut today.
The new series is KBS2's Saturday-Sunday drama 'The Husband,' starring Nam Goong Min. The crime thriller follows neurosurgeon Kang Tae Joo, who is forced into a desperate battle against dangerous criminals after his wife is kidnapped just before their divorce.
The drama is drawing major attention because it marks Nam Goong Min's first leading role in a KBS drama in seven years since 'Doctor Prisoner' in 2019. It also reunites the actor with the network where he previously delivered the hit drama 'Good Manager,' which reached a peak nationwide rating of 18.4%. Even before its premiere, many viewers had predicted that the performance could be worthy of the KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang).
'The Husband' premieres on July 4 at 9:20 PM KST.
The series also marks the return of KBS2's weekend miniseries slot following a hiatus that began after 'To My Beloved Thief' concluded in February. For KBS, the drama represents an opportunity to revive its weekend lineup.
However, the competition is fierce. Airing in the same time slot is SBS's 'Agent Kim Reactivated,' starring So Ji Sub, which has already established itself as a ratings powerhouse. The drama surpassed 15% nationwide ratings by its second episode and recorded a peak of 18.1%, making it one of the strongest performers in the current weekend drama landscape.
Interestingly, the matchup carries extra significance because of Nam Goong Min's own history. One of his signature KBS dramas is 'Agent Kim Reactivated.' During the press conference, the actor joked about the coincidence.
"My representative KBS drama was 'Agent Kim Reactivated,' and now So Ji Sub stars in 'Agent Kim Reactivated.' It sounds like his title outranks mine, so I felt a little bittersweet," he said with a laugh.
While made in jest, the comparison has fueled anticipation as Nam Goong Min's former 'Good Manager' success now faces off against the 'Agent Kim Reactivated.'
Despite its title, 'The Husband' is far from a conventional romance or family drama. Instead, it centers on an intense crime thriller.
Nam Goong Min plays Kang Tae Joo, the director of Woori Together Hospital and a respected neurosurgeon whose peaceful life falls apart after his wife, Go Se Yoon, is kidnapped.
Determined to save her himself, Kang Tae Joo launches his own investigation. But the situation spirals further out of control when he becomes not only a desperate husband but also the prime suspect in an alleged murder-for-hire case, placing him under police investigation.
The series combines kidnapping, pursuit, psychological warfare, and the unraveling of a troubled marriage. Rather than focusing solely on catching a criminal, the story gradually reveals the hidden truths behind what appeared to be an ordinary marriage and exposes each character's true motives.
Director Kim Jung Hyun explained, "Marriage brings together two completely different people, and many things can happen during that process. Although it sounds like a story about married life, I wanted viewers to expect something completely different."
Nam Goong Min expressed strong confidence in the project during the production presentation and shared, "I had a feeling the moment I read the script." He also revealed what convinced him to accept the role. He shared, "I've received so much love from viewers through my previous KBS projects, and I'm confident this drama will also deliver good results."
Reflecting on his previous work, the actor admitted he wanted to deliver a more satisfying experience this time. He shared, "The moment I read the script, I had a feeling. The first episode moved at an incredible pace, and I knew immediately that this was the project I wanted to do."
"I felt my previous project didn't fully entertain viewers. With this drama, I wanted to offer both comfort and excitement. It's not just an easy watch—it's a drama that keeps viewers completely immersed until the very end."
Nam Goong Min has built a reputation for leading successful dramas across multiple genres, including 'Stove League,' 'The Veil,' 'One Dollar Lawyer,' and 'My Dearest.' His performances in 'The Veil' and 'My Dearest' earned him the MBC Drama Awards Grand Prize, further raising expectations for his return to KBS.
While the drama is led by Nam Goong Min, the supporting cast plays an equally important role in building the mystery.
Lee Seol stars as Go Se Yoon, Kang Tae Joo's wife and chairwoman of Woori Together Hospital. As the central figure in the kidnapping case, she drives much of the mystery from the very beginning.
"My character's kidnapping early in the story raises many questions. I hope viewers keep wondering, 'How did things end up like this?' while enjoying the mystery," Lee Seol said.
The actress previously worked with Nam Goong Min on SBS's 'Our Movie,' and the actor noted that their previous collaboration made portraying a married couple feel natural.
Kim Dae Myung plays No Man Hee, a designated driver who kidnaps Go Se Yoon after encountering an intoxicated Kang Tae Joo, while Lee Sang Hee portrays the mysterious Kim Kyung Ae, whose sudden appearance adds another layer to the unfolding mystery.
Both actors carefully avoided revealing spoilers during the press conference.
Lee Sang Hee admitted, "I didn't expect there would be this much that I couldn't talk about," while Kim Dae Myung briefly described his character by saying, "He never hesitates to hide himself if it's necessary to achieve his goal."
Audience anticipation has been building steadily since the release of the teaser and promotional posters. Online reactions have included comments such as, "This looks like KBS Daesang material," "Namkoong Min never disappoints," "Can he recreate the 18.4% ratings miracle?" and "I'm excited for Namkoong Min and director Kim Jung Hyun's collaboration."
Nam Goong Min previously became one of KBS's biggest stars through 'Good Manager,' which peaked at 18.4% nationwide ratings in 2017. He later reinforced the network's reputation for successful thrillers with 'Doctor Prisoner.'
Now, 'The Husband' serves as both his long-awaited return to KBS and the network's biggest attempt to revive its weekend miniseries lineup. At the same time, it will go head-to-head with SBS's ratings hit 'Agent Kim Reactivated.'
Much will depend on the opening episode's ability to hook viewers. If the kidnapping case, chase sequences, and mounting suspicions surrounding Kang Tae Joo unfold at the fast pace promised, the drama could become a major new force in the weekend ratings battle.
'The Husband' premieres today at 9:20 PM KST on KBS2 and will also be available for streaming on Disney+. All eyes are now on whether Nam Goong Min can once again deliver another ratings success for KBS seven years after his last drama with the network.
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