"I Hear Your Voice," the drama starring Lee Jong Suk, Lee Bo Young and Yoon Sang Hyun, has achieved the status of a runaway hit. Yesterday the drama passed the 20 percent mark, achieving 22.8 percent of the ratings. That's a 0.7 percent increase from the last episode. And the ever-increasing popularity of the show has prompted producers to add two more episodes to the originally planned 16 episodes.
"Talks of a possible extension were brought up after the first episode aired and the response from the viewers was good," said a representative from the production company.
But ultimately the decision to extend the story was up to the writer, who would have to make the plot work for two episodes longer.
"We spoke with writer Park Hye Ryun and decided on a two episode extension," said the production company representative.
Netizen reaction to the additional episodes was positive. Viewers said they were enjoying the show so much and had become so fond of the characters that they did not want it to end.
Part of the series' appeal is its neatly constructed puzzle of a plot and its complex multidimensional characters. One netizen summed it up well by describing Lee Bo Young's character Jang Hye Sung as a mixture of selfishness and courage. She's tough but softhearted, cruel but kind and however callous she appears, she will stand up for what she believes in.
But for actor Jung Woong In, who plays the show's villain, Min Joon Kook, much of the credit should go to Lee Jong Suk, who plays the mind-reading Park Soo Ha. He compared the young actor's ability to that of Joo Won, with whom he worked on "Ojakgyo Brothers."
"I feel like I did when I was acting with Joo Won," said Jung. "Lee Jong Suk is very smart. He knows how to capture feelings right away. He has so much potential."
Netizens agreed, saying Lee Jong Suk's acting in this drama is superb. The young actor, who appeared in "Prosecutor Princess" and "Secret Garden" never overacts or is awkward. And he's endearingly charming.
When asked about Lee Jong Suk's looks, however, Jung Woong In was not as impressed as the young actor's fans. He commented on Lee Jong Suk's small face and long thin frame.
"He's an alien," Jung said jokingly.
In comparison to the runaway ratings of "I Hear Your Voice," the other shows in the time slot did not stand a chance. MBC's "The Queen's Classroom" about a tyrannical teacher" only reached 8.9 percent and the KBS Romeo and Juliet saeguk "The Blade and the Petal" only reached 5.3 percent.
