Actor Lee Jun Ho continues to captivate audiences with his commanding presence in tvN’s latest hit drama, Typhoon Company.
Since its October 11 premiere, the show has been on a steady ratings climb. It debuted at 5.9% and has consistently broken its own records, reaching an impressive 9.1% by its eighth episode. Surpassing the critical 5% benchmark from the start, the series has firmly established itself as one of this season’s standout successes.
The last Sunday episode delivered a shocking cliffhanger as Sales Manager Lee Chang Hoon was arrested by Thai police, leaving viewers anxiously waiting to see how the crisis-solving duo — played by Lee Jun Ho and Kim Min Ha — will handle the fallout.
According to Nielsen Korea, the episode achieved an average nationwide rating of 9.1%, with a peak of 9.6%. In the Seoul metropolitan area, it averaged 9% with a high of 9.7%, marking a new series record and dominating its time slot across both cable and general programming. Among viewers aged 20 to 49, the episode earned nationwide averages of 2.5% (peaking at 2.9%) and metropolitan averages of 2.1% (peaking at 2.6%), ranking first among all networks, including major broadcasters.
The return of Go Ma Jin (Lee Chang Hoon) breathed new life into Typhoon Company. After successfully negotiating with a helmet manufacturer, the team secured much-needed supplies and regained momentum. The next challenge was identifying a promising market in an industry dominated by major competitors.
Their choice — Thailand, the first country hit by the IMF crisis — puzzled many. However, the decision was made after a meticulous analysis of market data and news clippings. The insight wasn’t about profit margins, but rather consumer behavior: Thailand boasts the highest number of department stores, ranks second only to Germany in luxury car sales, and has the strongest purchasing power in Southeast Asia. With new motorcycle helmet laws and an upcoming visit from Korea’s baseball dream team led by Chan Ho Park, the team anticipated a surge in demand.
Ma Jin, through his cousin, who has operated Sawadi Trading in Thailand for more than 15 years, proposed a realistic plan. But tensions simmered before the trip. Oh Mi Seon (Kim Min Ha), recently transferred from accounting to sales, clashed with Ma Jin, who insisted that sales was not for the faint of heart. Mi Seon, eager to prove herself, vowed to win clients through trust and results — even as frustration mounted.
The team’s first business trip to Thailand didn’t go as smoothly as planned. During introductions, Ma Jin awkwardly downplayed Mi Seon’s role, and when Typhoon himself served soup at dinner, the tension was palpable. Later, Ma Jin refused Mi Seon’s request to visit Laem Chabang port, saying it was reserved for senior staff. His dismissive attitude toward her abilities only worsened the strain.
At the port, conflict boiled over. To expedite customs, Ma Jin offered a Thai officer Korean cigarettes and $50 for lunch — a gesture Mi Seon called outright bribery. Ma Jin dismissed her concerns as naivety, insisting it was standard practice in sales. His condescending tone left her on the verge of tears.
In an attempt to ease the tension, Tae Poong — finally asserting his authority as company president — organized a team outing at a local club. There, they met Nichada (Davika Hoorne), the youngest daughter of the Nihakham Group and a potential client for their helmet exports. The scene turned memorable when Nichada invited Tae Poong to sing. He serenaded the crowd with a heartfelt rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, winning over everyone in the room.
Still, Mi Seon couldn’t shake her doubts, wondering if the trip had been worth the cost. Her scuffed shoes and exhaustion mirrored her growing unease. Outside the club, Tae Poong offered quiet reassurance, telling her not to worry and that he recognized her hard work.
But the brief calm quickly shattered. That night, Thai police raided their hotel, detaining the team. Mi Seon’s basic Thai skills helped her piece together what was happening — the $50 gift had been flagged as a bribe, and CCTV footage backed up the claim. After reviewing the evidence, police arrested Ma Jin, leaving Typhoon and Mi Seon stranded in a foreign country to face the crisis alone.
