[CW: Spoiler for final episode ahead.]
The once-highly anticipated Korean drama wrapped up its run with disappointing ratings, despite a star-studded lineup. Top actress Lee Young Ae returned to KBS after 26 years, joining acclaimed actors Kim Young Kwang and Park Yong Woo, yet the show failed to surpass a 5% viewership mark in its finale.
KBS2’s weekend drama 'Walking On Thin Ice' concluded on October 26 with a nationwide rating of 4.9%, according to Nielsen Korea. While this was an increase of 1.2 percentage points from the previous episode, it fell short of the show’s own peak of 5.1% reached in episode five.
The drama generated significant attention even before its premiere, as it marks Lee Young Ae's return to KBS after 26 years since the 1999 drama 'Invitation.' KBS had also invested heavily, creating a new weekend time slot at 9:20 p.m., following the 8 p.m. drama. However, like Ma Dong Seok’s 'Twelve' (which peaked at 8.1% but ended at 2.4%), Walking On Thin Ice struggled to draw high ratings.
The drama centered on ordinary mother Kang Eun Soo (portrayed by Lee Young Ae) and mysterious teacher Lee Kyung (Kim Young Kwang), whose lives collide after they stumble upon a bag of drugs. Veteran detective Jang Tae Goo (Park Yong Woo) begins a tense pursuit, turning the series into a gripping crime thriller.
In the finale, Eun Soo’s husband Park Do Jin (played by Bae Soo Bin) sacrifices his life to protect her, taking a bullet intended for her. Tae Goo attempts to shoot again, but with no ammunition left, he flees into the darkness, ominously warning, “From now on, living will be hell. Just like me.” Eun Soo, arrested by the police after her husband’s funeral, faces trial.
During police questioning, Lee Kyung claims full responsibility, stating he initiated the drug deal as a final act to protect Eun Soo. Detective Kyung Do (Kwon Ji Woo), seeing through his lie, proposes working together to capture Tae Goo.
Tae Goo, now a wanted criminal, plans an illegal escape using cash and drugs taken from Eun Soo, even lingering near his son’s school. When he sees a video message hinting at his son’s abduction, he spirals into madness and goes after Eun Soo again. In a climactic chase, Tae Goo attempts to escape with Eun Soo as a hostage, causing a car crash. He is shot by Kyung, falls into a river, and is found a year later as skeletal remains, marking a tragic end.
Eun Soo, imprisoned, writes letters to her estranged daughter as an act of atonement. A year later, upon her release, she visits Kyung, who is serving time, and they share a poignant conversation about choices, regrets, and loyalty. Kyung uses collected evidence to bring down the Kang Hwi Rim family, exposing a major financial scandal that leads to arrests. Eun Soo, living modestly, learns of Kyung’s success from the news. When Kyung returns a bag of proceeds from stock sales, Eun Soo expresses relief and gratitude, and the two part ways, wishing each other happiness.
While preparing to move, Eun Soo learns of Tae Goo’s skeletal discovery, showing a brief smile. A voiceover muses, “Gretel pushed the witch into the oven—but were they really okay?” Tension escalates as Eun Soo discovers hidden drugs in her home, leaving her once again conflicted.
Despite completing his revenge, Kyung faces lingering family betrayal, learning that his father settled with the Kang Hwi Rim family years ago, leaving him bitter and disillusioned.
The final scenes intercut Kyung dropping the last drugs in his pocket and Eun Soo flushing the remaining stash down the toilet, smiling faintly. Eun Soo’s closing monologue—“Can someone who has crossed the line once resist crossing it again in the same situation?”—leaves a lingering reflection on human morality. The moment Eun Soo flushed the drugs recorded the show recorded its peak minute rating of 6.2%, highlighting viewers’ intense engagement.
'Walking On Thin Ice' explored the destructive power of greed and desire, portraying the tragic consequences of human ambition and the struggle for atonement. Lee Young Ae, Kim Young Kwang, and Park Yong Woo delivered powerful performances under Song Hyun Wook’s meticulous direction and Jeon Young Shin’s tightly woven script, creating a weighty, resonant drama.
Although ratings were low, audience reactions were mixed but passionate. Some praised it as the “best drama of the year,” while others commented on its emotional depth and the actors’ compelling performances. The finale drew particular attention, with viewers appreciating its cold, calculated resolution and the bittersweet closure for the main characters.
KBS has announced that the drama’s successor, 'Last Summer,' starring Lee Jae Wook and Choi Sung Eun, will premiere on November 1.
SEE ALSO: What to Watch This Month: K-Drama Lineup for November 2025
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