Combined across public broadcasters including SBC, as well as general programming and cable channels, the highest viewership rating ever recorded for a one-act drama was 5.8%. It was a figure achieved by an MBS one-act about five years ago, and due to rising popularity, the one-act writer had penned one additional episode for an extra broadcast.
It had been an absolute frenzy at the time.
After all, a one-act drama recording ratings that would be considered decent even for a miniseries or morning drama was remarkable. One-act dramas usually posted figures around 2%, and if they did well, they were in the 3% range.
The 5% range was the magic wall for ratings.
Excluding the one-act drama from five years ago, no other one-act had ever come close to 5%. One-acts were, after all, non-mainstream in the drama market. But then, a one-act drama appeared that smashed that long-standing record and the very atmosphere.
"One-Act Legend Written, Records 'First-Ever Rating' at 21.9%!"
It was *Rental Lover*.
Scoffing at the magic wall of the 5% range, it had recorded a whopping 21.9% viewership rating. This was the highest, first-ever rating for a one-act drama.
"[Hot Issue] 'Rental Lover' Rating 21.9%, Surpassing First-Ever One-Act Record and Crushing All Miniseries and Morning Dramas"
It was a level that lightly trampled the ratings of numerous other dramas airing recently.
"The Power of a Well-Made One-Act! Writer Rojun of 'Rental Lover' Properly Proves Ability / Photo"
"Choi Rina, Rojun and Others Beam with Joy... One-Act 'Rental Lover' Flips the Drama Market Upside Down with 21.9% Rating!"
Could there ever be a one-act drama in the future that surpasses *Rental Lover* into the 20% range? Probably. No, it was almost certainly close to impossible. A 20% range rating was already considered a mega-hit or a miracle outside of miniseries and morning dramas. Moreover, this *Rental Lover* was the result of several forces coming together.
First and foremost, Kang Rojun.
"[Issue Talk] 'Rojun Magic' Strikes Again, Nothing Lacking in Writer, Actor, or OST"
Along with the controversies and buzz Kang Rojun carried everywhere, the unprecedented picture of an idol being a screenwriter drew in countless viewers. Of course, word-of-mouth from Rojun's fans also played a part, and the snowball grew as top-tier actress Choi Rina and other stellar actors participated in the one-act.
Above all, PD Jung Suryeong's skill in strategically and contractually rolling that snowball well had greatly contributed.
Praise was pouring down on PD Jung Suryeong.
"Wow— PD Jung!! Congratulations!!! You pulled off a fearsome rating!!"
"Huh...... 21.9% rating??! Is this for real?!"
"A one-act doing something even a miniseries packed with top stars struggles to do?? That's insane, insane. PD Jung!! You've really written a legend in the drama industry!!"
The SBC Drama Department was in an uproar.
The department head and fellow PDs' admiration and exclamations were ceaseless. Naturally, the *Rental Lover* team members besides the assistant directors and key staff were also going wild.
"Uwaa!! We broke 20%??!!"
"Hahaha, PD-nim!! We did it! We did it!!"
"......Unbelievable. I've never seen ratings in the 20% range before."
"And it's not even a miniseries, but a one-act that pulled it off!!"
At the center of it all was PD Jung Suryeong, letting out a deep sigh of relief. Jung Suryeong herself, scratching her dry brown hair, seemed to be in shock too.
*Honestly, the goal was to reach the 10% range. Of course, I thought even that was somewhat unrealistic. But 21.9%?? Oh my god.*
In that moment, the day she had selected *Rental Lover* from the competition, the day she had met Kang Rojun, and the entire story up to now flashed through her mind. Soon, Jung Suryeong smiled subtly.
*What would have happened if I hadn't selected "Rental Lover" back then?*
Soon, PD Jung Suryeong gave a double thumbs-up to the *Rental Lover* team and said.
"It's thanks to all of you and Writer Rojun, who isn't here. Everyone, you've worked hard."
The key staff jumped up and down.
"Isn't this just the beginning!!"
"Aah, we have to send our congratulations to Writer Rojun!"
"Keu— A debut work with a 21.9% rating."
In the chaotic situation, the bald department head leaned in close to Jung Suryeong and whispered, his words tickling her ear.
"Jung Producer, you've added another big medal to your collection, huh?"
"That medal isn't mine, it's Writer Rojun's."
"Yes, yes, Writer Rojun's power was tremendous. So? You have to do the next one with Writer Rojun too, right?"
The next project had already been discussed with Kang Rojun, and the script was already in Jung Suryeong's possession, but revealing all that here would make the broadcasting station take Rojun lightly. Thus, PD Jung Suryeong merely shrugged her shoulders lightly.
"Well, it's natural we'd try to push for it— but as you know, Writer Rojun belongs to 'Culture Drawer.' *Rental Lover* was our competition, so we managed it well, but from the next work onward, it's war."
"Indeed. A writer who broke through 20% ratings with a one-act...... they'll be dozens of times more expensive from now on."
"Is that all?? If you snag Writer Rojun, you solve the script, actors, and OST all at once. Broadcasting stations and production companies will cling to him like crazy."
"Still, man, you and Writer Rojun have a deep connection, so wouldn't our side have the advantage?"
"Maybe so, but anyway, we'll try to fight for it, so don't bother pinching pennies for no reason. He'll get snatched away in the blink of an eye."
The department head nodded repeatedly with utter conviction and patted Jung Suryeong's shoulder a couple of times.
"The president praised you immensely. If you keep this up, you're definitely the next department head."
Jung Suryeong snorted.
"If they make me department head, I'll quit. The desk job is no fun."
She answered with an attitude of complete disinterest.
"I don't know about CP, but I'm going to direct for life."
At the same time.
Tremendous congratulations were pouring in for Kang Rojun, who was on campus. From the nine participants, of course.
"Insane!! Hyung!! You broke 21% in ratings??!!"
"Wow— you're dominating even as a writer!!"
"Isn't the flood of casting offers just starting?! You've shown such presence as both a writer and actor, right?!!"
Woo Hanseok, Jung Suryeong, Song Mingeun and other judges, as well as Choi Rina and the actors from *Rental Lover*, all sent texts or KakaoTalk messages. Naturally, the "Culture Drawer" side was the same. In particular, Writer Han Seoryeong even called to lavish praise without holding back.
With attention pouring in from all directions, Rojun was slightly dumbfounded.
*To think that "Rental Lover," which I dismissed as trash writing, would hit 21% ratings—*
Heh, Rojun first apologized to *Rental Lover* and his other works that he had called trash writing. Then, starting from YouTube,
\-Edited "Rental Lover" Rojun's Entrance Scene for Myself!!! | Hayeon's Daily Life
\-Views: 1,784,421
He scoured SNS and various communities, checking the public's reactions. The reactions were exploding without cease.
\-The cut where Rojun appears in Rental Lover could go in a legendary entrance scene compilation... seriously screamed the moment I saw it
\-Wtf my jaw drops every time I watch it again
\-Rojun with a sophisticated decadent beauty was freaking sexy, agreed?
\-How can someone look like that, I can't believe he's human no matter how many times I look
\-Rental Lover is freaking awesome and the OST Rojun sang is ear-melting... release the OST track quickly!!!
\-The top 3 entrance scenes has changed lolololol
\-I'm not even his fan but Rojun's aura is truly different hahaha
\-Ha... how many times have I repeated just this video....
Thus, the weekend was spent with *The 100%* and...
"'The 100%' Showing Final Judgment Stage, Full-Scale Final Voting Underway"
...completely plastered with *Rental Lover* or Kang Rojun.
"'Rental Lover' Mega-Hit! 'The 100%' Rojun, Beyond Rising Star to Box Office Guarantee?"
It passed by in an instant.
In the meantime, Kang Rojun's fanbase had grown thicker. It was a situation where, in addition to *The 100%*, those who normally had no particular interest in *The 100%* but had watched *Rental Lover* were combined.
It was a situation more than sufficient for the "AI Simulation" app to send Rojun gifts.
-[Hidden Mission "Live is No Problem Either!" achieved! Gift of 20 coins has been awarded.]
-[Hidden Mission "Revealing Your First Work to the World as a Writer!" achieved! Gift of 10 coins has been awarded.]
On the bright Monday that came again, episode 16 of *The 100%* was uploaded to Japan as well. Furthermore, the nuclear-bomb-level situation of *Rental Lover* in Korea crossed over to Japan too.
"Japanese Fans Endlessly Talking About 'The 100%' Final Judgment Stage on SNS / Photo"
"[Overseas Topic] Japanese Fans Who Heard of 21% Rating Making Uproar Demanding 'Rental Lover' Release Quickly"
Japan had also completed loading its nuclear bomb.
Meanwhile.
Around Monday lunchtime, the location was a rather spacious meeting room at Culture Drawer. Visible in the meeting room were Director Yoo Jiheon, who had a ruddy face and was master-class level, friendly-looking Team Manager Jang Hakseon, and a few employees. In other words, the BG Pictures side had come to Culture Drawer.
The reason was a meeting regarding a film screenplay.
However, the Culture Drawer personnel were not yet visible in the meeting room. Soon, Team Manager Jang Hakseon, who had passed the screenplay to Director Yoo Jiheon,
\-Swish.
tapped the film screenplay written by Rojun on the desk with his index finger.
"I didn't expect the director to want a meeting so immediately like this. Well, the screenplay certainly came out well."
Director Yoo Jiheon, who had a small stature, let out a wry laugh and answered in a gravelly voice.
"It's breathtaking. The more I read, the more I get sucked in."
"Hmm, the content is one thing, but the pacing and screenplay writing technique were good too. Probably— no, almost certainly a star-class writer belonging to this 'Culture Drawer' wrote it."
Director Yoo Jiheon nodded and acknowledged this as well.
"That must be it. Or else a big-shot screenwriter wrote it. From the feel of the screenplay, several figures come to mind."
Around this time, one male employee from BG Pictures who had come with them joined the conversation while looking at his phone.
"By the way, *The 100%* and *Rental Lover* are going crazy. Articles are updating every second."
Director Yoo Jiheon, turning his attention, replied.
"That one-act called *Rental Lover,* I haven't seen it, but I heard the ratings exceeded 21%?"
"Yes, it's insane. A one-act surpassing 21%. Ah! That kid called Rojun who wrote *Rental Lover* is also under 'Culture Drawer,' isn't he? I saw an article recently."
"Oh ho— really? That friend is quite hot these days, I hear?"
"These days, he's gone beyond just being hot."
Then, evaluations from the BG Pictures employees followed.
"I watched *Rental Lover,* and while it was fun, it wasn't to the extent that reactions would surge like this. Somewhat...... it feels like a rookie writer got lucky and had one work blow up?"
"Oh, I thought so too. The work was good, but the reaction seemed a bit over the top."
"His writing ability is average. The idol fandom got involved and inflated things a bit."
Team Manager Jang Hakseon of BG Pictures, arms crossed, asked the employees back.
"Why do you judge it that way?"
"Uh— well, Rojun is mainly an idol rather than a writer, isn't he? Looking at the articles, he's an idol, writer, actor, and does many things. It can't all be perfect."
Director Yoo Jiheon pointed out the evaluation that had been spat out.
"Just writing a script amidst a packed schedule is impressive. I, who have written screenplays, know this well. Are film company employees looking through colored glasses from the very beginning?"
"......S-sorry."
"Whether it's a drama script or a film screenplay, writing isn't something done in a day or two. The friend called Rojun would be the same."
Team Manager Jang Hakseon, shaking his head at the employees as if disappointed, agreed.
"That's right. That kid Rojun probably wrote his bones out for several months from the early filming days of *The 100%* to complete *Rental Lover.*"
Director Yoo Jiheon, letting out a sigh, pointed at the screenplay on the desk.
"Enough, let's worry about this screenplay."
"It suddenly struck me— could it be Writer Han Seoryeong?"
"Writer Han? Didn't she say she's going into a new drama this time?"
"Ah— did she?"
At that moment.
\-Knock knock.
A knock sounded in the meeting room, and Culture Drawer staff entered. Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, who had tied up her long permed hair, and several team members. It was Management Team 1, which had been assigned to exclusively manage Kang Rojun. After greeting politely, Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa passed out business cards to the BG Pictures side.
"Hello, I am Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa."
Perhaps everyone had already seen her before, so the introductions ended quickly. Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa sat across from Director Yoo Jiheon, and Team Manager Jang Hakseon of BG Pictures was the first to speak.
"As I mentioned on the phone, Director Yoo Jiheon has taken an interest in this screenplay."
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa smiled faintly and met Director Yoo Jiheon's gaze.
"Did you like the screenplay?"
"Hmm."
Director Yoo Jiheon, letting out a grunt, answered refreshingly without hiding anything.
"It was the best screenplay I've seen recently, and it's the style I want too. I thought the writer who wrote it must be no ordinary person, but... if it's from the 'Culture Drawer' side, I somewhat understand. The heavyweights have gathered here, after all. So, who wrote this screenplay? Is it someone you can't tell me?"
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa maintained her smile and opened her mouth as if that were not the case at all.
"'Writer Rojun' wrote it."
"......"
Director Yoo Jiheon's face turned slightly blank; wondering if he had misheard, he blinked his eyes.
"...What? Who?"