When the first episode was released on April 8, 2024, “Lovely Runner” took over the hearts of Korean drama fans. Based on the web novel Tomorrow's Best, “Lovely Runner” now airs every Monday and Tuesday, currently running Episode 14 of 16 episodes. Compared to previous dramas of this year such as Queen of Tears and Doctor Slump, “Lovely Runner” has had less advertising and thus less coverage over news sources and social media.

However, as each episode is released, never letting up on fans and viewers, “Lovely Runner” is now the most popular Korean drama in the world, achieving record-breaking ratings and peaking at number one in a viewership of over 4.7 percent. What is “Lovely Runner”, the Korean drama that has captured the hearts of viewers around the world, and why should you join in on the fun?

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Who are the cast of “Lovely Runner”?

Byeon Woo-Seok, acting as the Korean celebrity, Ryu Sun-Jae, in “Lovely Runner”, has acted in several Korean dramas before, although this is his first with the main character role. He has acted in widely popular dramas such as “Strong Girl Nam-Soon” and “Record of Youth”, where he played the main antagonist, and the best friend of the main character respectively. His popularity grew exponentially with each drama, with now over eight million followers on Instagram.

Kim Hye-Yoon, acting as Sun-Jae's fan, Im Sol, was the main character in the record-breaking 2019 series, "Extraordinary You", as well as one of the leads in the iconic psychological thriller “SKY Castle”. Other members of the cast include Lee Seung-Hyub and Song Geon-Hee, who acted in SKY Castle as well. Due to the diversity and excellent acting by each of the actors, “Lovely Runner" is now the most popular drama in Korea.

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What is “Lovely Runner” about?

“Lovely Runner” revolves around a Korean pop idol, Ryu Sun-Jae (played by Byeon Woo-Seok), and his biggest fan, Im Sol (played by Kim Hye-Yoon). As a child, Im Sol experienced a tragic accident that left her paralyzed and unable to walk. She finds solace in listening to Ryu Sun-Jae's music and his voice, becoming a passionate fan when his music brings her out of her anger at the world for the accident.

After several years, Im Sol finally gets the tickets to Ryu Sun-Jae's concert and is ecstatic to listen to him perform live. However, Ryu Sun-Jae is not the happy idol she pictured, but frustrated and angry, wanting to end his music career. When Im Sol returns to her home that night, she receives news that Ryu Sun-Jae was found dead in a swimming pool, with reports of his suffering from depression. Im Sol breaks down and, while she is reaching toward her watch, accidentally touches a button, teleporting her back to 2008. 2008, when she could still walk and Ryu Sun-Jae was still alive.

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Why is “Lovely Runner” so popular?

Although “Lovely Runner” is Byeon Woo-Seok's first starring role, he has played his character extremely well and, with Kim Hye-Yoon, carries the two star-stuck lovers into one of the greatest love stories of all time. The chemistry between the two leads is electrifying and captivating to watch. Their scenes will inevitably draw you in and, without a doubt, you will be entirely invested in the story.

Combining a perfect blend of romance, comedy, thrill, and fantasy, this masterpiece contains beautiful writing and stellar acting. According to a user on Quora, what makes “Lovely Runner” so great is the “mix of comedy and real emotions. Both characters are relatable but I love that Ryu Sun-Jae is not your typical male lead… He doesn't pretend he doesn't like [Im Sol] when he does. Sun [Jae] is corny and mushy and completely in love with our female lead." The chemistry between the two characters leads to one of the most popular dramas of 2024.

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What records have “Lovely Runner” broken?

The national ratings across Korea of “Lovely Runner” are peaking at an impressive 4.5 percent, increasing by 1.1 percent from the previous episode. With Episode 9, “Lovely Runner” broke its own record again with 4.8 percent nationwide viewership ratings. Byeon Woo-Seok is climbing the ranks of celebrity popularity due to “Lovely Runner”'s widespread approval, putting him at the top of Rankify's trend list with over 130,000 points. Overtaking the sweeping sensation, Queen of Tears, the “Lovely Runner” couple has replaced the Queen of Tears couple, Baek Hyun-Woo and Hong Hae-In, as the most popular K-Drama couple in Korea.

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With a diverse and handpicked array of characters, “Lovely Runner” has everything you need in a Korean drama. The intense and magical chemistry between Byeon Woo-Seok and Kim Hye-Yoon will keep your heart on the edge as you binge-watch through the episodes. The uniqueness of the storyline and the character personalities will hook you in along with hundreds of thousands of viewers around the world. Let's dive into this world of “Lovely Runner” together!