“My Royal Nemesis” Soars to Record Ratings as Stars and Superfans Push K-Drama and K-Pop Momentum

SBS’s My Royal Nemesis is heading into its final week on its highest viewership numbers yet, while adjacent entertainment headlines underscore how quickly South Korea’s drama and music ecosystems are accelerating—from record-breaking online megahits to celebrity rumor-management that can spread just as fast as fandom enthusiasm.

According to Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of My Royal Nemesis re-entered the double-digit range on June 13, posting an average nationwide rating of 10.5%—a new personal best for the series as it prepares to close out its run. On the same day, JTBC’s new Saturday drama Reborn Rookie also hit a fresh benchmark of its own, delivering its highest ratings to date for a Saturday airing.

“My Royal Nemesis” hits a new high with final-week momentum

The latest Nielsen Korea figures mark a notable surge for My Royal Nemesis, which has now climbed to its strongest performance yet as it approaches its conclusion. The update suggests the series’ final stretch is capturing broader audience attention—an inflection point that often comes late in South Korean dramas, when plot resolutions and character arcs drive higher viewer retention.

In parallel with the SBS programming, the competitive Saturday lineup also delivered solid results. MBC’s Fifties Professionals, which airs in the same time slot as My Royal Nemesis, recorded an average nationwide rating of 4.9% ahead of its final two weeks. Meanwhile, KBS 2TV’s Recipe for Love remained Saturday’s top program overall, finishing with an average nationwide rating of 13.7%.

Taken together, the numbers place My Royal Nemesis among the most closely watched titles in a crowded weekend schedule—especially as it nears its climax. For networks and advertisers, final-week audience growth can be particularly consequential, since late peaks often influence how shows are evaluated for awards, streaming promotions, and potential overseas distribution packages.

Rumor response: actress Hong Yi Seol denies dating claims

While My Royal Nemesis gains attention for on-screen results, its cast continues to draw public scrutiny off-screen. In the same news cycle, actress Hong Yi Seol addressed dating rumors involving co-star Heo Nam Jun.

In an Instagram Stories statement posted June 13, Hong Yi Seol denied that she is romantically involved with Heo Nam Jun. She said they are “merely colleagues” who became close while attending classes together in college at Sungkyunkwan University, and she urged the public to refrain from further speculation. Hong Yi Seol also said she initially hesitated to speak up, partly because she worried her words could create additional misunderstandings—and ultimately clarified that the rumors were “completely untrue,” including claims related to the drama itself.

For actors working in high-visibility productions, such statements are increasingly common in an era when online discourse can spike immediately after fan interpretations, social media posts, or perceived connections to acquaintances. In this case, the rumor narrative appears tied to the actors’ associations rather than any direct confirmation, which is why the denial was framed as a clarification of their background and relationship history.

Meanwhile in K-pop: TREASURE’s “IF I” hits 100 million views

Across the broader entertainment landscape, K-pop fandom momentum provided another headline-driven example of how quickly engagement translates into measurable milestones. TREASURE’s music video for the title track “IF I” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in under two weeks.

YG Entertainment reported that the video reached the milestone on June 13 at around 4:49 p.m. KST. Released on June 1 at 6 p.m. KST, the clip required just 11 days, 22 hours, and 49 minutes to hit the century mark, making it the fastest K-pop music video of 2026 to achieve 100 million views. The achievement also positioned “IF I” as TREASURE’s fastest MV to pass 100 million, and the group’s fourth official music video to reach the feat—following “BOY,” “I LOVE YOU,” and “JIKJIN.”

From a business perspective, record-view speed matters because it reflects not only fan support but also early algorithmic traction and international shareability. Such milestones can boost search interest, increase playlist placement, and support further promotional scheduling—effects that often feed back into the visibility of the artists’ wider media presence.

What these streaks suggest for the weekend spotlight

Individually, the stories are about different formats: a drama’s late-run ratings jump, an actress’s direct response to personal rumors, and a music video breaking an online record. But together they reveal the same underlying pattern—Korean entertainment is increasingly dominated by fast-moving audience attention, where viewership peaks and digital milestones can rise in parallel.

My Royal Nemesis now enters its final week with a stronger-than-ever audience base, which may shape how much viewers stay through the last episodes. At the same time, Hong Yi Seol’s denial highlights how off-screen narratives can escalate quickly when audiences are already primed to closely follow co-stars. And in K-pop, TREASURE’s “IF I” demonstrates how quickly fandom activity can translate into global traction measurable in hours and minutes.

What to watch next

With My Royal Nemesis nearing its finale, viewers will likely focus on whether the show can sustain—or even build further on—its newly recorded 10.5% average nationwide rating as the plot reaches its endgame. Competing weekend programs will also matter: the outcome may influence which series captures the most favorable final-week narrative momentum and media attention.

On the K-pop front, the next step for TREASURE is whether “IF I” continues climbing toward even higher view totals and whether the performance translates into broader charting and engagement beyond YouTube. For the cast, the next watch item may be how rumor discourse evolves as audiences approach the drama’s conclusion—whether further clarifications are needed or if the final episodes shift the conversation primarily back to the storyline.