Choo Young-woo’s “Head Over Heels” Debuts at No.1, Marks Ratings Comeback for tvN
According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode garnered an average rating of 4.7% in the Seoul area (peaking at 5.6%) and 4.3% nationwide (peaking at 5.2%), making it the highest-rated premiere for a tvN Monday-Tuesday drama in 2025. Among viewers aged 20–49, it peaked at 2.0% nationwide—marking a significant rebound after a string of underwhelming series.
This ratings success is especially welcome news for tvN, which previously stumbled with big-budget failures like When the Stars Gossip (ending at 2.6% despite a ₩50 billion KRW budget), followed by low-performing titles like The Potato Lab and The Divorce Insurance, both stuck in the 1% range.
Head Over Heels stars Jo yi hyun as Park Seong-ah, a high schooler secretly living as a revered shaman known as “Celestial Fairy.” Longing for a normal teenage life, her fate changes when she dreams of a man walking upside down into her shrine—a shamanic omen of imminent death.
That man turns out to be Bae Gyeon-woo, played by Choo Young-woo, who soon transfers to Seong-ah’s school. Struck by his tragic destiny and reluctant charm, she becomes determined to break his death curse—even as Gyeon-woo, traumatized by past experiences with shamans, pushes her away.
The episode’s climax delivered a blend of supernatural tension and emotional punch. A vengeful water spirit haunts the boys’ restroom, intent on killing Gyeon-woo. In a suspenseful scene, Seong-ah exorcises the ghost using a water cannon, but her attempt to reveal her identity is met with Gyeon-woo’s cold rejection. As she yells “I was protecting you”, her voice is drowned out by the water—closing the premiere on a dramatic note.
Viewers praised the episode’s fusion of fantasy, romance, and comedy, along with Jo Yi-hyun and Choo Young-woo’s palpable chemistry. Many commented on the compelling storyline, creative visuals, and well-paced tension.
With momentum on its side, Head Over Heels could mark a turning point not only for tvN’s weekday lineup but also for Choo Young-woo, whose role is already being hailed as a career highlight. Episode 2 airs tonight, June 24 at 8:50 PM KST, as fans eagerly await the next twist in this magical love story.
