ENA’s Monday-Tuesday K-drama, ‘Dream to You,’ delivered a long-awaited romantic reunion between its lead characters in Episode 7, yet surprisingly recorded its lowest viewership to date. This dramatic contrast has fans buzzing about the future of the series.
According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 7 garnered a nationwide household rating of 2.0%, a dip of 0.3 percentage points from the previous episode’s 2.3%. While the numbers reflect a challenge, the episode itself was packed with emotional breakthroughs.
A Love Story Rekindled Amidst New Threats
The latest installment saw Woo Soo Bin (played by Hwang In Youp) and Joo Yi Jae (played by Hyeri) finally confront their suppressed feelings, igniting a powerful rekindling of their romance. However, their newfound bliss was immediately threatened by fresh conflicts surrounding their film, ‘Gyeongseong Love Song.’
To safeguard Joo Yi Jae’s directorial dreams, Woo Soo Bin made a difficult sacrifice. He reluctantly agreed to cast Shim Yoo Geon (Baek Sung Chul) as the film’s lead after producer Ahn Soo Hee (Park Ji Young) applied immense pressure, threatening to remove Joo Yi Jae from the director’s chair otherwise.
Fearing Joo Yi Jae would blame herself, Woo Soo Bin initially asked Shim Yoo Geon to keep the tough decision under wraps. But Shim Yoo Geon, who profoundly understood Joo Yi Jae’s aspirations, chose to reveal the truth himself.
Upon learning the depth of Woo Soo Bin’s sacrifice, Joo Yi Jae resolved to let go of the past. She confessed, “I loved you when I was 18 and 19, and I think it’s still love now.”
With those heartfelt words, she fully embraced her feelings, then accepted Woo Soo Bin’s heart by telling him, “Don’t stop.” The two sealed their reconciliation with a passionate kiss, delivering one of the drama’s most swoon-worthy moments yet. Post-reunion, Joo Yi Jae returned to the set of ‘Gyeongseong Love Song’ alongside Woo Soo Bin, confidently resuming her directorial dream with a resolute, “Ready, action!”
Beyond the Main Couple: Shifting Dynamics
Meanwhile, other characters also navigated significant turning points. Oh Ha Na (Lee Yul Eum) bravely decided to break free from her mother Ahn Soo Hee’s domineering control, expressing her fierce determination to pursue her own acting career by joining ‘Gyeongseong Love Song.’ Recognizing her genuine passion, Woo Soo Bin cast her in a role.
In a stark contrast, Shim Yoo Geon pushed Oh Ha Na away in a heartbreaking attempt to protect his own career. Bound by the strict terms of his exclusive contract with Ahn Soo Hee, he tragically hid his true feelings, coldly telling her that “there was never anything between us,” leaving Oh Ha Na utterly devastated. Their complicated, tragic relationship is poised to become a pivotal storyline in the upcoming episodes.
Hyeri & Hwang In Youp: Chemistry Praised Despite Viewership Woes
Despite the viewership challenges, Hyeri and Hwang In Youp’s undeniable chemistry continues to win widespread praise from fans. ‘Dream to You’ is a romantic comedy centered on genius film director Woo Soo Bin (Hwang In Youp), who returns after achieving his dreams, and struggling reporter Joo Yi Jae (Hyeri), who had long abandoned hers. The series generated considerable buzz before its premiere, with viewers eagerly anticipating the on-screen pairing of these two beloved actors.
Despite these high expectations, the ratings have remained undeniably underwhelming. Through seven episodes, the drama has now dipped to a series-low 2.0% and has yet to build any significant upward momentum.
Viewer reactions, however, tell a different story, with many fans showering the drama with praise, commenting that it “feels like a movie” and highlighting its deeply emotional storytelling.
Director Yoo Sun Dong also emphasized that the series is about more than just romance, hinting at deeper narratives at play.
“Once I entered my thirties, words like dreams and love began to lose their meaning for me. But after reading the script and completing this project, those emotions became exciting again. I hope viewers can experience that same feeling.”
Hyeri’s Enduring Appeal and Relatable Portrayal
Hyeri, a fan favorite, returns to another youth-focused romance, reminding audiences of her unique charm. She remains best known for her iconic role in the smash-hit drama ‘Reply 1988,’ which soared to a staggering 19% viewership and solidified her immense popularity. Since then, she has cultivated a diverse acting career through acclaimed dramas including ‘Two Cops,’ ‘Miss Lee,’ ‘My Roommate Is a Gumiho,’ ‘Moonshine,’ and ‘Friendly Rivalry.’
In ‘Dream to You,’ Hyeri masterfully portrays Joo Yi Jae, a hardworking reporter whose youthful dreams were crushed by harsh reality before she finds the renewed courage to dream once more.
The character beautifully showcases Hyeri’s greatest strengths as an actress: relatable and authentic performances, effortless comedic timing, profound emotional sincerity, and natural portrayals of everyday people. Her remarkable ability to seamlessly balance humor with heartfelt emotional scenes has become one of the drama’s undeniable highlights. Director Yoo Sun Dong himself revealed that Hyeri was his first and only choice for this pivotal role, a testament to her suitability.
“After reading the script, I wanted Hyeri without hesitation. I believed she was the only actress who could portray Joo Yi Jae’s realistic struggles while also delivering the character’s positive energy.”
Hwang In Youp Shines as the Devoted Director
Hwang In Youp’s portrayal of Woo Soo Bin introduces us to a gifted film director who returns to fulfill a deeply personal promise he made to his first love, Joo Yi Jae. Having spent his youth diligently following the path his parents had laid out for him, he discovered both love and his own true dream only after meeting her. Ultimately achieving immense success, he returns 15 years later, driven by the desire to help her rediscover her own lost aspirations.
Hwang In Youp described his character, Woo Soo Bin, as someone who initially lived solely according to his parents’ expectations but began chasing his own dream after meeting his first love, eventually returning years later to help give that dream back to her.
Though Joo Yi Jae and Woo Soo Bin possess vastly different personalities, Episode 7 finally brought them together emotionally after years of lingering misunderstandings, culminating in their long-awaited reconciliation.
What’s Next for ‘Dream to You’?
The remaining question on everyone’s minds is whether ‘Dream to You’ can recover from its disappointing ratings and conclude its run on a much stronger, more positive note.
Earlier, the cast had made a fun promise: if the drama surpassed 7% viewership, they would work as concession stand employees at a movie theater for a day and hold a special free-hug event for their devoted fans.
Episode 8 of ‘Dream to You’ is set to air on August 4 at 10 PM KST on ENA and will also be available for streaming via KT Genie TV and TVING. Don’t miss out on what promises to be another impactful episode!
