The fantasy legal drama Phantom Lawyer, starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Esom, has reached a major milestone as its viewership ratings officially entered double digits, marking a new personal best since the series premiered.
According to data released by ratings research agency Nielsen Korea on March 21, the drama recorded an average nationwide rating of 10.0 percent, making it the most-watched miniseries across all channels in its time slot for the week. The achievement reflects growing audience engagement as the storyline gains momentum.
The drama also performed strongly among the key demographic of viewers aged 20 to 49, securing the top position across all programs this week with an average rating of 3.5 percent in that category. This demographic is widely regarded as a critical indicator of commercial success and long-term popularity in the television industry.
In comparison, competing dramas in the same time slot reported more modest numbers. The MBC series In Your Radiant Season, which is approaching its finale, posted an average nationwide rating of 2.5 percent. Meanwhile, JTBC’s romance drama The Practical Guide to Love maintained a steady performance with 4.0 percent as it entered the final two weeks of its broadcast run.
Elsewhere, the thriller series Mad Concrete Dreams experienced a slight dip, recording 2.6 percent for its fifth episode. The medical drama Doctor Shin on TV Chosun followed with a nationwide rating of 0.9 percent for the night.
On the weekend front, family drama Recipe for Love continued its strong streak as the most-watched show of Saturday, achieving an average nationwide rating of 13.2 percent. Its consistent performance highlights the enduring popularity of traditional weekend programming among Korean viewers.
With its ratings now surpassing the symbolic double-digit threshold, Phantom Lawyer appears to be entering a new phase of popularity. Industry observers suggest that if the current momentum continues, the drama could maintain its upward trajectory as it approaches its later episodes.
