On July 6, the highly anticipated drama “The Auditors,” starring Shin Ha Kyun and Lee Jung Ha, premiered to top ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode scored an average nationwide rating of 3.5%, placing it first in its time slot across all cable channels.

This success comes as SBS’s “Connection” concluded with its highest viewership ratings ever, achieving an average nationwide rating of 14.2%. “Connection” also became the most-watched program of the week among viewers aged 20 to 49, earning an average rating of 4.8%. Meanwhile, MBC’s two-part drama “The Pork Cutlets,” airing at the same time, ended with a respectable nationwide average of 3.3%. JTBC’s “Miss Night and Day,” which hit a peak last Sunday, saw a dip to an average nationwide rating of 5.7% for its latest episode.

Episode 1 recap

The pilot episode of “The Auditors” captivated audiences with a gripping storyline. Shin Cha Il, played by Shin Ha Kyun, begins as the new audit team leader at JU Construction and immediately investigates a tower crane accident at the company’s construction site. The episode concluded with a tense encounter between Shin Cha Il and JU Construction’s vice president, Hwang Dae Woong, portrayed by Jin Goo.

Hwang Dae Woong tries to cover up the accident by labelling it a natural disaster, knowing that any corruption uncovered would implicate him. Undeterred, Shin Cha Il proceeds with his investigation despite Hwang Dae Woong’s attempts to thwart him. Newly released stills for the second episode hint at further confrontations as Shin Cha Il meets with JU Construction president Hwang Se Woong, a displeased Hwang Dae Woong, and Seo Gil Pyo to discuss his findings.

The promising debut of “The Auditors” has set the stage for a thrilling series, drawing viewers into its complex narrative and strong performances. It airs every Saturday and Sunday, 9:20 PM KST on tvN, and is expected to conclude at 12 episodes.