KBS 2TV’s weekend drama 'To My Beloved Thief' has quickly become a breakout hit, rising to No. 1 on Netflix Korea after just four episodes.
According to Netflix’s 'Today’s Top 10 in South Korea' rankings on January 13, 'To My Beloved Thief' claimed the top spot in the series category. The achievement is particularly notable as it surpassed tvN’s 'Pro Bono,' which wrapped up on January 11 with a personal best rating of 10%, and SBS’s 'Taxi Driver 3,' which recorded a peak minute rating of 16.6% during its finale on January 10.
Nielsen Korea reported that Episode 4 of 'To My Beloved Thief,' which aired on January 11, posted a nationwide viewership rating of 6.3%. The drama has shown steady growth since its premiere, which began at 4.3%, followed by 4.5% for Episode 2 and 5.3% for Episode 3, crossing the 6% mark by its fourth broadcast.
'To My Beloved Thief' is a romance historical drama centered on Hong Eun Jo (played by Nam Ji Hyun), a woman who unexpectedly becomes the greatest thief in the land, and Prince Lee Yeol (played by Moon Sang Min), the royal nobleman pursuing her. When their souls are mysteriously swapped, the two not only save each other but also ultimately fight to protect the people.
Episode 4 marked the true turning point of the series, launching both the central romance and the core “soul-swap” premise. As Hong Eun Jo prepared for a marriage arranged with the household of Senior Secretary Im Sa Hyeong (Choi Won Young), she found herself drawn to Lee Yeol but tried to distance herself, aware of the limits imposed by her social status. She pushed Lee Yeol away by falsely claiming to have a fiancé. Meanwhile, Im Jae Yi (Hong Min Gi), pretending to be that fiancé, treated her rudely and referred to her as an “eolnyeo,” a derogatory term for the daughter of a concubine born to a slave.
After experiencing his first heartbreak, Lee Yeol resolved to stop the wedding. On the rainy wedding day, he tenderly covered Hong Eun Jo’s straw shoes with a lotus-leaf umbrella, left behind a pair of floral shoes, and silently confessed his feelings. Hong Eun Jo, carrying Lee Yeol’s unspoken affection in her heart, proceeded with the wedding—only for her groom to suddenly die, turning her into a widow overnight.
Misfortune continued when rumors spread that Gil Dong had murdered the Chief Inspector. Disguised in Gil Dong’s clothes to investigate the situation, Hong Eun Jo fell from a rooftop. When she regained consciousness, she discovered she was now in Lee Yeol’s body, while Lee Yeol had swapped into hers, officially kicking off the full-scale soul-switch storyline.
The drama’s success is also drawing attention as a potential turning point for KBS’s weekend dramas, which have struggled in recent years. KBS previously aired titles such as 'Twelve,' 'Walking On Thin Ice,' and 'Last Summer,' all of which failed to meet expectations. After a hiatus of about a month, 'To My Beloved Thief' was launched as KBS’s first weekend drama of the year, raising hopes that it could break the network’s recent slump in the time slot.
One key factor behind the drama’s popularity is its distinctive dual-identity narrative. By day, the leads are a physician and a prince drawn to each other; by night, they become a righteous thief and a royal officer locked in pursuit. The dynamic setup, combined with a love triangle involving Im Jae Yi, long-standing grudges between the characters’ fathers, and sibling conflict between King Lee Gyu (Ha Seok Jin) and Lee Yeol, has driven a fast-paced and engaging storyline.
Nam Ji Hyun’s performance has also been widely praised. The actress returns to the sageuk genre for the first time in nearly eight years since tvN’s '100 Days My Prince' in 2018. “It’s exciting and nerve-wracking to return to a historical drama after so long,” she said. “Even though the gap became longer than intended, I’m happy to come back with a great project. This is a work filled with sincerity and dedication from many people, so I hope viewers will show it lots of love.”
Moon Sang Min, who stars opposite her, shared that his interest in historical dramas grew after his appearance in tvN’s 'Under the Queen’s Umbrella.' “I wanted to try a romance sageuk where the focus is on emotions and relationships,” he explained. “'To My Beloved Thief' stood out for its lighthearted tone while still making it easy to follow the characters’ emotional journeys. Lee Yeol is a character with many sides I wanted to explore.”
With its solid storytelling, strong performances, and visually striking cinematography, 'To My Beloved Thief' has already earned a reputation as a “well-made” drama in its early run. Attention is now focused on whether it can maintain its upward momentum in the weeks ahead.
'To My Beloved Thief' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM on KBS 2TV and is also available on Netflix following its broadcast.
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