"Yong Pal" recently experienced a brief dip with viewership, but ratings continued to rise with its August 27 episode. According to Nielsen Korea, the SBS medical drama recorded 20.5 percent for its eighth episode, the highest rating for the program since it premiered on August 5. Ratings for the episode exceeded 20.4 percent, which was the highest record for the series.
"Yong Pal" continues to have higher viewership than any other weeknight K-Drama since the 2014 supernatural hit, "My Love from the Star," which concluded with ratings of 28.1 percent.
Episode eight explored the growing love line of gangster surgeon Kim Tae Hyun (Joo Won) and former-sleeping beauty, Han Yeo Jin. Yeo Jin expressed her trust and gratitude for Tae Hyun, after learning the true cost of his sacrifices from Shin Sa A (Stephanie Lee).
While the plot to kill Yeo Jin appeared to be easily resolved by removing her from the hospital, Nurse Hwang (Baek Hye Sun) met a less fortunate fate.
The episode also provided the history of the events which led to placing Yeo Jin in a chemically-induced coma. Lee Chae Young (Chae Jung Un) told Tae Hyun the tale of Yeo Jin and her unending love for her dead fiance.
"Yong Pal" is dominated by action and medical horror, but the episode concluded with a sweet-natured kiss between Tae Hyun and Yeo Jin.
"Scholar Who Walks the Night" recorded 6.8 percent. Episode 16 marked a turning point within the series, as the motivations of Hye Ryeong (Kim So Eun) and Crown Prince Lee Yoon (TVXQ's Changmin) were revealed.
Jo Yang Sun prepared to offer herself as a sacrifice to Gwi (Lee Soo Hyuk), as Kim Seung Yeol (Lee Joon Gi) attempted to stop her.
Meanwhile, the KBS2 series, "Assembly recorded 5.6 percent in viewership.
