[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] “The Dating Expert” wrapped up its run with its highest-ever viewership ratings.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 11th, the 12th and final episode of ENA’s “Love Doctor,” which aired on the 10th, recorded a nationwide household viewership rating of 3.5%, setting a new series high. “Love Doctor” had previously set a series high with a 2.9% rating in its 11th episode, but this latest episode surpassed that record.
In that episode, Park Min-jae (played by Choo Young-woo) and Im Yu-jin (played by Kim So-hyun) cleared up their misunderstandings and confirmed their true feelings for one another. For the first time, Park Min-jae honestly opened up about his anxieties and fears, and Im Yu-jin came to understand his pain. However, after visiting the hospital, Park Min-jae was told that a nodule had been found in his lung during a chest X-ray and that a biopsy was necessary. As health issues continued to arise one after another, his anxiety grew once again, and he pushed Im Yu-jin away once more. Park Min-jae said, “I think this is as far as we go. I really regret hurting you, and I promised I’d do better, but what can we do if this is our fate?” He blamed himself, saying, “I’m not worthy. I’m not the kind of person who deserves to be with you,” but Im Yu-jin refused to give up on him so easily. Im Yu-jin revealed her true feelings, saying, “Who decides if you’re worthy? I do. Didn’t I tell you it’s okay to like and love me?”
The two went to the hospital together to hear the test results, and the nodule found in his lung was confirmed to be cancerous. The disease had recurred, and surgery was necessary. Park Min-jae acted as if nothing were wrong and stopped by a supermarket to do some grocery shopping, and Im Yu-jin stayed by his side the whole time.
Having promised to spend their lives together, the couple set a date for their parents’ meeting and took one step at a time toward their future.
“Love Doctor” follows Min-jae, a doctoral student who was a high school swimmer but lost one leg to illness, and Yoo-jin, a master’s student who, after losing her sense of direction, has embarked on a new path. The drama depicts the spicy, bitter, and sweet romance that blossoms between these two young people in a robotics lab. It garnered attention as the final work of the late Director Ahn Pan-seok, who directed “White Tower,” “Secret Affair,” “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food,” “Spring Night,” and “Graduation.” “Dr. Romance” won the hearts of fans thanks to Director Ahn Pan-seok’s signature emotional direction, the realistic yet heartfelt romance between the two young protagonists, and the actors’ outstanding performances.
Following “The Love Doctor,” “Crash 2: Road of Rage” will air. Premiering on the 16th at 10 p.m., “Crash 2” depicts the no-holds-barred investigations of a traffic crime investigation team as they take down villains on the road who wield steering wheels instead of knives. It returns for Season 2, building on the popularity of Season 1, which aired in 2024.