SBS new Wed-Thu drama ‘Kiss For No Reason!’

‘Kiss For No Reason!’ Jang Ki-Yong held onto Ahn Eun-Jin.

According to ratings agency Nielsen Korea on December 11, episode 9 of the SBS Wed-Thu drama ‘Kiss For No Reason!’ (written by Ha Yoon-A, Tae Kyung-Min/ directed by Kim Jae-Hyun, Kim Hyun-Woo/ produced by Studio S, Samhwa Networks), which aired on December 10, recorded nationwide 6.4%-Seoul Capital Area 6.3%, ranking No. 1 among all channels in its time slot. In addition, it continued an overwhelming record by ranking No. 1 among all weekday dramas across all channels for five consecutive weeks. The peak minute rating reached 7.5%. The 2049 rating, a key indicator of channel competitiveness, also soared to 1.8%-peak 2.2%, placing No. 1 among all Wednesday broadcasts. Having risen to Netflix global TOP1 for two consecutive weeks and proven powerful overseas popularity, ‘Kiss For No Reason!’ is also continuing an unchanging box-office run at home.

On this day's broadcast, after learning all the secrets of Go Da-Rim (played by Ahn Eun-Jin)that she is neither a married woman nor a motherGong Ji-Hyeok (played by Jang Ki-Yong) decided, after much thought, to begin a straight-ahead romance toward her. The ending, in which Gong Ji-Hyeok held onto Go Da-Rim saying “Do not go. I do not want to let you go” and kissed her, delivered unprecedented thrills and sent dopamine soaring.

Earlier, ahead of his engagement ceremony with Yoo Ha-Young (played by Woo Da-Bi), Gong Ji-Hyeok learned Go Da-Rim's secret. Go Da-Rim was neither the wife of Kim Sun-Woo (played by Kim Mu-Jun) nor a mother. Although confused, Gong Ji-Hyeok entered the engagement hall thinking of his mother Kim In-Ae (played by Nam Gi-Ae). However, during the ceremony, Kim In-Ae collapsed. Startled, Gong Ji-Hyeok hurriedly looked after her. In fact, Kim In-Ae, who wanted her son to be happy with the person he loves, was pretending to have collapsed.

The next day, Gong Ji-Hyeok went to work with a complicated heart and became even more unsettled when he saw Go Da-Rim. Thinking his discomfort was due to the health of his mother and the postponement of the engagement ceremony, Go Da-Rim was consumed by worry alone. At that moment, Yoo Ha-Young appeared. Seeing Gong Ji-Hyeok make a gesture to cover the mouth of Yoo Ha-Young, Go Da-Rim misunderstood it as the two about to kiss. In that instant, Go Da-Rim felt a thud of pain in her chest.

Meanwhile, Gong Ji-Hyeok kept bringing up ‘sincerity’ with Go Da-Rim and continued to challenge her. He was giving her a chance to confess, but Go Da-Rim did not realize it. In the end, Gong Ji-Hyeok asked her directly, “Who are you? Are you the wife of Kim Sun-Woo?” Startled, Go Da-Rim bowed her head and said, “I am truly sorry.” However, for Gong Ji-Hyeok, who had been agonizing in silence all this time, the disappointment and hurt he felt toward her did not easily fade.

That night, Go Da-Rim went to see Gong Ji-Hyeok. Gong Ji-Hyeok stood before her as Go Da-Rim waited in the rain. In the end, Go Da-Rim told Gong Ji-Hyeok everything: why she disappeared without a word in Jeju, why she went undercover as a mother to get a job, and more. Gong Ji-Hyeok sent her back as she was, and Go Da-Rim shed tears in front of Kim Sun-Woo, saying, “It is all over.”

In response, Kim Sun-Woo confessed his feelings for Go Da-Rim. It was a difficult night for Go Da-Rim, who received the confession; for Kim Sun-Woo, who made it; and for Gong Ji-Hyeok, who could not easily let go of his feelings for her. The next day, seeing Go Da-Rim still smile and help those in need, Gong Ji-Hyeok recalled the moment he first fell for her. Using a field visit with Go Da-Rim as a pretext, he kept approaching her while pretending otherwise.

Meanwhile, Gong Ji-Hyeok and Kim Sun-Woo ended up doing an interview together. With Go Da-Rim in between, the two men engaged in a childish yet cute war of nerves. Afterward, Gong Ji-Hyeok learned that Kim Sun-Woo had confessed to Go Da-Rim. Feeling uneasy, Gong Ji-Hyeok was on pins and needles, worried that Go Da-Rim might go to Kim Sun-Woo. Finally, he grabbed Go Da-Rim as she turned to leave and poured out the true feelings he had kept pressed down, saying, “Do not go. I do not want to let you go.” And he kissed her.

Having taken the long way around, Gong Ji-Hyeok resolved to go straight toward love for Go Da-Rim. It was a thrilling kiss ending that captured his desperate love as it was. For viewers who had watched the two struggle inwardly all along, it was an ending that drew screams of admiration. Actors Jang Ki-Yong, Ahn Eun-Jin, Kim Mu-Jun, and Woo Da-Bi heightened immersion in the drama by capturing each character's emotional arc sometimes in a sprightly and lovely way, and at other times in a tender and delicate way.

Meanwhile, the episode was bolstered by special appearances from Namgoong Min and Kim Ji-Eun, who worked with director Kim Jae-Hyun on SBS ‘One-Thousand-Won Lawyer’. The two appeared as Cheon Ji-Hoon and Baek Ma-Ri, characters from ‘One-Thousand-Won Lawyer’, and shared the screen with Jang Ki-Yong and Nam Gi-Ae. Boasting top-notch chemistry, Namgoong Min and Kim Ji-Eun delivered a delightful scene highlighted by their tiki-taka. It was an enjoyable time for viewers of ‘Kiss For No Reason!’ as well as fans of ‘One-Thousand-Won Lawyer’.

Episode 10 of the SBS Wed-Thu drama ‘Kiss For No Reason!’, which raises expectations for an even more electrifying, dopamine-surge romance with the kiss of Gong Ji-Hyeok and Go Da-Rim, airs at 9 p.m. tonight, Thursday, December 11.