'Brave New World' finale hits 14.1% as Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun close with a happy ending

Brave New World (멋진 신세계) ended on SBS on June 20. The finale peaked at 14.1% viewership nationwide — a new series high — and averaged 11.8% across both the Seoul metro area and the national figure (Nielsen Korea).

The 2049 demographic hit an average of 4.5% and peaked at 5.6%, ranking first among all programs broadcast that week. It swept the same-time-slot, Saturday miniseries, and weekly miniseries rankings. Within its first week on Netflix, the drama had already reached No. 1 on the Global Top 10 Non-English Shows chart.

Lim Ji-yeon led the cast as Shin Seo-ri, a struggling actress possessed by the spirit of a legendary Joseon villainess (she also played the Joseon-era counterpart Kang Dan-sim). Heo Nam-jun played Cha Se-gye, a conglomerate heir described in the show as "a monster born of capitalism," with a dual role as Joseon prince Lee Hyeon. The drama framed their story as a romance-comedy waged as all-out war.

The finale delivered the happy ending the title promised. Seo-ri took an arrow meant for Hyeon and the two fell from a cliff together. They reunited on a snowy day and pledged lifelong companionship. Seo-ri proposed what the show called an eternal "contract" to Se-gye.

The closing narration, shared by Seo-ri and Se-gye: "One person's warmth, just one step of courage, ultimately makes life livable. I guarantee that if you just live through it, a wonderful new world will unfold. You can trust me."

Jang Seung-jo played dual roles as An Jong and Choi Moon-do. Kim Min-seok appeared as Baek Gwang-nam, Lee Se-hee as Yun Ji-hyo, and Chae Seo-an as Mo Tae-hee.

That same night: KBS 2TV's I Prescribe Love hit 15.1%, JTBC's New Employee Kang Chairman reached 8.8%, and MBC's 50 Percent landed at 4.8%.