[Credit: tvN] A tvN weekend drama has soared in popularity, nearing double-digit ratings just six episodes into its run. Dominating multiple buzzworthy indexes, the series has quickly emerged as one of the biggest hits of the latter half of the year. A scene from the drama Typhoon Company. The sixth episode, aired on October 26, recorded a nationwide Nielsen Korea rating of 8.9%. Starting at 5.9% with its premiere on October 11, the show steadily climbed to 6.8% and 7.4%, hitting 9.0% by the fourth episode. Although it briefly dipped to 7.1% in episode five, the series bounced back to 8.9% in episode six, now just shy of reaching double digits. In terms of buzz, the drama achieved outstanding results—lead actor Lee Jun Ho ranked first and co-star Kim Min Ha fourth in Fundex’s fourth-week October TV·OTT integrated popularity chart. The show itself secured first place in TV drama buzz and second overall across TV and OTT content. From its premiere, Typhoon Company topped all time slots across terrestrial and cable networks, setting the highest first-episode rating among tvN weekend dramas in 2025.
[Credit: tvN] Lead actors Kim Min Ha and Lee Jun Ho in Typhoon Company. Set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF financial crisis, the drama follows a young man’s struggle as he becomes the penniless president of a trading company. Praised for its detailed directing, the characters’ growth, and its immersive storytelling, the series continues to earn acclaim with each episode. Lee Jun Ho’s character, Kang Tae Poong, transforms from a carefree youth in Apgujeong into a responsible company leader who values people over profit, guided by his father’s belief that people are more precious than money. Meanwhile, Kim Min Ha’s character, Oh Mi Seon, abandons her college dreams to work, showcasing determination and intellect as she secures a safety shoe contract through an English pitch. The dynamic between Tae Poong’s action-driven spirit and Mi Seon’s logical approach—clashing yet complementing each other—has resonated deeply with viewers.
[Credit: tvN] Lee Jun Ho and Kim Min Ha in Typhoon Company. Director Lee Na Jung shared that she wanted to capture how ordinary people of that era worked and overcame hardships through a warm and humorous lens. To ensure authenticity, the team conducted field research with real office workers and sourced era-accurate props from museums. Sets based on real locations such as Apgujeong Hyundai Apartments, Euljiro office streets, and Rodeo Street were praised for perfectly recreating the atmosphere of 1997. Screenwriter Jang Hyun focused on the Korean concept of jeong—the emotional bond of empathy and solidarity. Despite the despair of the IMF crisis, the characters embody connection over defeat, supporting one another and rekindling hope amid failure. Music director Dalparan’s soundtrack blends analog nostalgia with modern refinement, evoking memories of the late 1990s while delivering sophisticated emotional depth. Viewers have responded passionately, saying the drama “creates memories that never existed” and “brings the past back to life.”
[Credit: tvN] The rising-hit drama Typhoon Company continues to gain momentum in both ratings and storytelling. Episode two featured Kang Tae Poong blocking a delivery truck and lying on the ground in protest, vividly portraying his desperation and boldness. In episode three, moments of camaraderie shone as he shared birthday seaweed soup with colleagues while repairing a fabric warehouse, blending humor with heartfelt solidarity. Scenes like exploiting a yard–meter mix-up to outsmart competitors and launching an all-or-nothing video marketing pitch offered viewers thrilling catharsis. In particular, Tae Poong’s palm-stamp ending, where he defiantly marked his handprint in front of ruthless loan shark Ryu Hee Gyu (played by Lee Jae Kyun), became an instant crowd favorite for embodying pure passion and grit. Riding this wave of popularity, the lead cast announced a viewership pledge during a YouTube live on Channel Fifteen Nights on October 27. Lee Jun Ho vowed that if they speak their wishes, maybe they will come true, promising to hand out flowers in the subway if ratings surpass 15 percent and to sing Did You See The Rainbow? while doing so if the show exceeds 20 percent. The cast, including Kim Min Ha, pledged to fulfill the promise on Line 1 for 15 percent and Line 2 for 20 percent.
[Credit: tvN] Set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF financial crisis, Typhoon Company is directed by Lee Na Jung and Kim Dong Hwi, with the script written by Jang Hyun. The drama stars Lee Jun Ho, Kim Min Ha, Kim Min Seok, Kwon Han Sol, Lee Chang Hoon, Kim Jae Hwa, Kim Song Il, Lee Sang Jin, Kim Ji Young, Kim Sang Ho, Moo Jin Sung, Kim Young Ok, Park Sung Yeon, Kwon Eun Sung, Sung Dong Il, Jin Sun Kyu, and Kim Hye Eun. Typhoon Company airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:15 p.m. and is available for streaming on TVING and Netflix.
