After 10 Years, Finally... ‘38.8% Nationwide Audience Rating’ Return of the Lead Actor of the Nation’s Drama → Korean Drama (‘Love Cloud’) that Took Aim at Public Sentiment

[TV Report = Reporter Heo Jang-won] Actor Song Joong-ki is returning to a KBS drama after about 10 years. The project is the romantic comedy 'Love Cloud'.

Song Joong-ki, who caused a sensation with KBS 2TV's 'Descendants of the Sun' in 2016 by recording a peak viewership rating of 38.8%, is drawing attention with news that he will return to KBS's home theater. Expectations from fans are also growing as it is reported that filming has recently begun along with the confirmation of its schedule.

10 years after 'Descendants of the Sun'... Song Joong-ki returns with a KBS rom-com

According to the entertainment industry on the 13th, the new drama 'Love Cloud,' starring Song Joong-ki and Park Ji-hyun, has confirmed a KBS 2TV broadcast slot for the first half of next year. The drama is scheduled to air as the follow-up to the big-budget 'Moonmu'. A drama industry insider told Star News, "Actor Song Joong-ki is making a comeback with 'Love Cloud'." Earlier, there had been talk since the end of last year that he was positively reviewing an appearance, and it has now been reported that full-scale filming has also begun.

A KBS official also explained, "'Love Cloud' is scheduled for KBS in the first half of next year," adding, "The specific broadcast time has not yet been decided." This will be Song Joong-ki's first appearance in a KBS drama since 'Descendants of the Sun'. At the time, 'Descendants of the Sun' recorded a nationwide peak viewership rating of 38.8% (Nielsen Korea), and its metropolitan-area rating reached 41.6%, while the Seoul area climbed to 44.2%, receiving an explosive response.

Playing the role of soldier Yoo Si-jin in 'Descendants of the Sun', Song Joong-ki led the Korean Wave not only in Korea but across Asia. He even won the KBS Drama Award for that work, establishing himself as a representative Hallyu star. Since he had a long hiatus from KBS dramas afterward, this comeback is being met with reactions describing it as a return to his "home base."

Rom-com set against the Jeju sky... reunion chemistry with Park Ji-hyun previewed

'Love Cloud' tells the story of former flight instructor Kang Woo-joo and prospective pilot Ahn Ha-neul, who reunite in Jeju seven years later. In the drama, Song Joong-ki plays Kang Woo-joo, a former flight instructor and current air traffic controller. His counterpart, Ahn Ha-neul, is played by actor Park Ji-hyun.

With a reunion romance set in Jeju combined with an aviation backdrop, interest is also building in the show's overall mood. A light, romantic-comedy sensibility is expected to be added to a narrative centered on the sky, weather, and flying. The production team is said to be unfolding the story around the serene scenery of Jeju and the changing relationship between the two characters.

In particular, the pairing of Song Joong-ki and Park Ji-hyun is also drawing attention. The two previously appeared together in JTBC's 'Reborn Rich' in 2022. At that time, Song Joong-ki played Jin Do-joon, while Park Ji-hyun left a strong impression as Mo Hyun-min. As they reunite this time as leads in a traditional romantic comedy, expectations for their new chemistry have grown.

Park Ji-hyun has recently been active across both films and dramas. In 2024, she received the Best Supporting Actress award at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards for the film 'Hidden Face,' and in the Netflix series 'The Eun-joong and Sang-yeon Story,' she showcased a wide acting range. At the same time, she further raised her profile by winning the Excellence Award for Actress at the '2024 SBS Drama Awards' for SBS's 'Flex x Cop'.

'Youth of May' director joins... anticipation rises for Song Joong-ki rom-com

The production will be directed by Song Min-yeop, the director behind KBS 2TV's 'Youth of May' and 'Doctor Prisoner'. As he has been praised for a directing style that delicately handles emotions and narrative, attention is continuing on what kind of atmosphere he will create in this romantic comedy as well. The script is being handled by the rookie writing team Mad Rabbit.

Song Joong-ki has continued working across a variety of genres. Through 'Vincenzo' and 'Reborn Rich,' he presented powerful characters, and in last year's JTBC drama 'My Youth,' he paired up romantically with Chun Woo-hee. In the film 'Bogota: City of the Lost,' he also appeared on the big screen as Guk-hee, who heads to Bogota, Colombia after the IMF crisis.

The reason this project is drawing even more attention is that romantic comedy is one of Song Joong-ki's strongest genres. Through works such as 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' and 'Descendants of the Sun,' he has shown both bright, cheerful characters and melodramatic sensibilities. This is why fans are already calling it the "return of the rom-com king."

His private life continues to attract attention as well. Song Joong-ki married Katy Louise Saunders in 2023 and has one son and one daughter. Last month, the couple attended a concert commemorating the Day of Persons with Disabilities and took part as narrators. They took the stage after directly expressing their intention to donate their talents, and drew attention by reading a message to their son in both English and Korean.

Interest is focused on whether Song Joong-ki, returning to a KBS drama after about 10 years, can once again set a box-office record. While the 38.8% record left by 'Descendants of the Sun' is still widely discussed, expectations continue to build over what kind of romance this Jeju-set work will present to captivate viewers. KBS 2TV's 'Love Cloud' will meet viewers in the first half of next year.

Reporter Heo Jang-won / Photo = KBS 2TV's 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal', KBS 2TV's 'Descendants of the Sun', TV Report DB