[Spoiler Alert: Episode Summary]
This article contains plot points from 'Last Summer' Episodes 1–2.
The KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Last Summer,' starring Lee Jae Wook, Choi Sung Eun, and Kim Gun Woo, has fallen short of expectations, debuting with ratings in the 2% range and failing to recover over its first two episodes.
Low ratings start despite high expectations
According to Nielsen Korea on November 3, the second episode of 'Last Summer,' which aired on November 2, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 2.2%. This marks a 0.5% drop from the first episode’s 2.7% rating on November 1, signaling a downward trend as the show fell into the low 2% range within just two days. Amid a series of underperforming weekend dramas on KBS, Last Summer has also struggled to gain initial traction.
Notably, this figure falls below even the final 2.4% record of 'Twelve' (starring Ma Dong Seok), which previously held the lowest rating among KBS weekend miniseries. This has raised concerns about KBS’s overall drama programming strategy. Considering that its predecessor, 'Walking on Thin Ice' (starring Lee Young Ae and Kim Young Kwang), concluded with a 4.9% rating, the drop is significant.
Star-studded cast lineup and production team
As the third title in KBS’s weekend miniseries lineup, 'Last Summer' attempts a new direction with a classic romance storyline. It follows two childhood friends who reunite and confront the hidden truth behind their first love. The drama was written by Jeon Yoo Ri ('Kiss Sixth Sense,' 'Radio Romance') and directed by Min Yeon Hong ('The Impossible Heir,' 'Insider').
Lee Jae Wook plays dual roles as twin brothers Baek Do Ha, an architect, and Baek Do Young, taking on a new acting challenge. Choi Sung Eun stars as Song Ha Kyung, a civil servant entangled in a complex emotional history with Do Ha. Kim Gun Woo joins the cast as Seo Soo Hyuk, an appellate attorney who completes the love triangle.
Despite the strong cast lineup, the drama’s performance has been far from expectations. During the press conference, Lee Jae Wook made headlines when he said he hoped for “30% ratings,” but in reality, Last Summer hit a wall at just 2%. He admitted at the time, “Sometimes I’m not sure what viewers want these days. I’d be grateful even for 10%,” but that goal already seems out of reach.
Episode 2 plot points
Episode 2 delved deeper into the leads’ past and conflicting memories. It hinted that Baek Do Ha’s hidden secret is tied to his twin brother Baek Do Young, creating a tense, mysterious atmosphere. Meanwhile, Song Ha Kyung’s emotional turmoil intensified as she revisited their shared past and faced a conflict over the sale of the “peanut house.”
A particularly striking scene in the second episode showed Ha Kyung wading into a flooded basement during a heavy rainstorm to retrieve a mysterious box, putting her life in danger. When a name tag reading “Baek Do Young” was revealed inside, the mystery deepened — though some viewers felt the pacing of emotional shifts was too abrupt.
Viewer reviews
Among drama fans, common reactions included: “The acting and cinematography are great, but the story lacks a strong hook early on.” Many also noted that KBS’s recent transition from family dramas to miniseries has left its weekend programming without a clear target audience, contributing to stagnant ratings.
Nevertheless, 'Last Summer' continues to draw modest buzz online thanks to its cinematic visuals, poetic dialogue, and emotional performances by Lee Jae Wook and Choi Sung Eun. On social media and online communities, comments such as “The acting and atmosphere feel like a movie,” and “A quietly burning romance” suggest the potential for a gradual word-of-mouth rebound.
KBS’s weekend miniseries have recently faced a streak of disappointments with titles like 'Twelve' and 'Walking on Thin Ice.' Whether 'Last Summer' can reverse the trend and hold onto its audience in upcoming episodes remains to be seen.
Viewers who tuned in shared supportive comments such as, “I’m curious how Ha Kyung, who hates summer, and Do Ha, who loves it, will come to understand each other,” “It’s actually fun — the competition on weekends is just too strong,” and “I really like this writer; I hope it does well.”
'Last Summer' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM on KBS 2TV.
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