[생방송 스타뉴스] [질투의 화신] vs [공항가는 길] vs [쇼핑왕 루이] 신 수목극 대결, 승자는?

With the Wednesday-Thursday dramas W and Uncontrollably Fond concluding one after another, a new war for Wednesday-Thursday dramas has begun. This new showdown offers the fun of choosing from a variety of genres, ranging from romantic comedies to traditional melodramas! We took a look to see who might emerge as the winner. Who will claim the throne of Wednesday-Thursday dramas vacated by *W*? The drama that seized the upper hand first is Jealousy Incarnate*, which had been the subject of much buzz. *Jealousy Incarnate recorded a viewership rating of 12.3%, a 2.2 percentage point increase, rising to first place in its time slot. [Soundbite: Jo Jung-suk] "I'm acting while thinking a lot, 'Wow, they're doing so well, so well,' and (I'm really excited) I think you can look forward to it." It was a moment that proved Gong Hyo-jin's confident remarks at a press conference held ahead of the new Wednesday-Thursday drama battle, where she said, "There is still more than half of the story left to tell, but I think we will definitely win." However, it is still too early to guarantee the throne of Wednesday-Thursday dramas. The landscape for the new Wednesday-Thursday slot has only just begun to take shape. [Soundbite: Gong Hyo-jin] It seems like everyone is fiercely competing to see who can do better, so I think we might see some amazing synergy that we never even imagined. What weapons have the new dramas [On the Way to the Airport] and [Shopping King Louie] prepared to challenge [Jealousy Incarnate]? [On the Way to the Airport] is a drama garnering anticipation as Kim Ha-neul, who has been active as the 'Rom-Com Queen' from [My Tutor Friend] to [A Gentleman's Dignity], makes her long-awaited return to a traditional melodrama. In fact, Kim Ha-neul is an actress known as the queen of melodrama just as much as she is of romantic comedy. [On-site sound: Kim Ha-neul] It feels really good. It feels great. When I do romantic acting, I get those kinds of descriptors attached to me, and when I do melodramatic acting, I get those kinds of descriptors. I think it means the audience and viewers appreciate my diverse acting, so honestly, I hope those descriptors continue to stick with me. The meeting of the returning 'Queen of Melodrama,' Kim Ha-neul, and Lee Sang-yoon, an actor perfectly suited for melodrama, is the biggest strength of the drama [On the Way to the Airport]. [On-site sound: Lee Sang-yoon] I think we will be differentiated by the unique color of our drama and the color of our characters. So, while competing works tend to have a brighter, more bubbly vibe, we intend to compete with naturalness, warmth, and innocence. Also, the fact that the flight attendant uniform worn by Kim Ha-neul, who appears as a stewardess in the drama, is 'red' also foreshadows the success of [On the Way to the Airport]. [On-site sound: Kim Ha-neul] What made me feel good was that, just like with *A Gentleman's Dignity*, whenever I wore 'red,' the ratings were always good and the response to my projects was very positive. Since our flight attendant uniform is 'red,' I personally have a positive outlook and believe our drama will do well. *On the Way to the Airport*, a heart-wrenching melodrama about two men and women going through a second adolescence! Will it resonate with viewers in the small screen as we stand on the threshold of autumn? [On-site sound: Lee Sang-yoon] An emotional feeling? I am focusing most on expressing those kinds of emotions. So, I am trying to show a more profound side of myself compared to my previous works. Seo In-guk, an actor with a thousand faces. The news of his casting has further heightened expectations for *Shopping King Louie*. The character played by Seo In-guk in the drama is [Soundbite: Seo In-guk] I played the role of 'Louis' in [Shopping King Louie]. He knew nothing but shopping and couldn't do anything but shop. He lived in a greenhouse until he lost his memory. The events that unfold after Seo In-guk, having lost his memory, transforms from the pampered grandson of the 'Golden Group' chairman into a 'flower beggar' with only his face intact, are the key points of anticipation for [Shopping King Louie]. [Soundbite: Seo In-guk] That was the biggest charm point of 'Louis.' The fact that he became a beggar—should I say I welcomed the beggar disguise? And I also enjoyed it very much. Of course, the romance between a third-generation chaebol heir with amnesia and a mountain girl is one of the common clichés of romantic comedies. However, [Shopping King Louie] is different. Viewers who watched the first broadcast felt the familiar scent of [Fantasy Couple] in the unfamiliar [Shopping King Louie]. There is cautious speculation that this might become the male version of the drama *Fantasy Couple*, which wrote a new chapter in the history of romantic comedies with its "absurd comedy." [Soundbite: Seo In-guk] That was the element I found most appealing. In fact, the se...