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Weekend K-Drama Ratings Report (August 9, 2026): Netflix Global Trends, The Husband’s Finale, and A Bona Fide Killer’s Explosive Rise
Last updated: August 9, 2026 | Source: Nielsen Korea
Weekend K-dramas delivered a wild ride across the ratings charts this August. From tvN’s occult rom-com maintaining a global grip despite a domestic dip, to KBS’s thriller heading into its finale on a career-high note, here’s the full breakdown of how this week’s biggest Korean dramas are performing — and where to stream the next episode.
Quick Stats: This Week’s K-Drama Ratings at a Glance
| Drama | Network | Latest Episode | Nationwide Rating | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bona Fide Killer | MBC | Ep. 4 | 9.4% | Rising (new personal best) |
| The Husband | KBS2 | Ep. 11 | 7.5% | Matched personal best |
| Flex X Cop 2 | SBS | Ep. 2 | 5.8% | Slight dip from premiere |
| Spooky in Love | tvN | Ep. 7 | 4.9% | Down from Ep. 6’s series high |
| The Apartment Job | JTBC | Ep. 9 | 4.7% | Down from Ep. 8 |
A Bona Fide Killer Hits a New All-Time High — MBC’s Sleeper Hit of the Summer
MBC’s assassin-meets-suburban-mom thriller A Bona Fide Killer, starring Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Joon-won, and Lee Sang-yi, is proving to be the summer’s biggest sleeper hit. After premiering at a strong 7.4% nationwide (peaking at 9.4% in the moment), the series has climbed nearly every episode since — hitting 8.0% for Episode 2, 8.3% for Episode 3, and a new personal record of 9.4% for Episode 4, which aired August 8.
The series has held the No. 1 spot in its Friday–Saturday timeslot across all channels since premiere, fending off direct competition from SBS’s newly launched Flex X Cop 2. It’s also performing well internationally, topping charts on Wavve and Coupang Play in South Korea and building steady momentum on Rakuten Viki abroad.
- Episode 5 Air Date: Friday, August 14
- Where to Stream: Rakuten Viki, Kocowa
The Husband Matches Its Personal Best Ahead of Sunday’s Grand Finale
KBS2’s romantic thriller The Husband, starring Namgoong Min, Lee Seol, and Kim Dae-myung, enters its Sunday finale on a high. After steadily climbing through direct competition from both SBS’s Agent Kim Reactivated and tvN’s Spooky in Love, Episode 11 (aired August 8) matched the show’s previous personal best of 7.5% nationwide — a strong signal heading into the last broadcast.
The series has also topped Disney+’s “Top 10 Series in Korea Today” chart multiple times during its run.
- Episode 12 (Finale) Air Date: Sunday, August 9
- Where to Stream: Disney+
Flex X Cop 2 Premieres Bigger Than Season 1, Cools Slightly in Episode 2
SBS’s fan-favorite “satisfaction universe” franchise is officially back. Flex X Cop 2 kicked off with a 6.1% nationwide rating for its Episode 1 premiere on August 7 — actually higher than Season 1’s 5.7% debut — before easing to 5.8% for Episode 2, still a healthy start for the returning franchise.
The new season follows chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo (Ahn Bo-hyun), fresh out of formal police academy training, teaming up with tough new team leader Ju Hye-ra (Jung Eun-chae) to take on higher-stakes cases than ever.
- Episode 3 Air Date: Friday, August 14
- Where to Stream: Disney+, Hulu
Spooky in Love Dips After Series-High Episode 6, But Global Streaming Numbers Stay Strong
tvN’s occult rom-com Spooky in Love, starring Park Eun-bin, Yang Se-jong, and Ong Seong-wu, has been one of the summer’s steadiest climbers — rising from a 3.0% premiere to a series-high 6.0% for Episode 6 (its highest rating yet, per Nielsen Korea). Episode 7, which aired August 8 opposite the finale stretch of competing dramas, cooled to 4.9% nationwide — a normal correction after a record high, not a multi-episode decline.
Domestic ratings aside, its international footprint remains a real strength: the series entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 for non-English TV at #8 for the week of July 27–August 2, and it’s been trending across dozens of countries since its July 18 premiere.
- Episode 8 Air Date: Sunday, August 9
- Where to Stream: Netflix
The Apartment Job Holds Steady on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Despite a Ratings Slip
JTBC’s crime-comedy The Apartment Job, led by Ji Sung, saw nationwide ratings ease to 4.7% for Episode 9 (August 8), continuing a gradual slide from its Episode 2 peak of 5.4% nationwide (5.8% in Seoul). Despite the domestic softening, the Ji Sung-led series has been one of this summer’s stronger global performers — it actually outranked Spooky in Love on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for non-English TV, landing at #5 with 3.3 million viewers for the week of July 27–August 2, driven especially by strong viewership across Asian markets.
- Episode 10 Air Date: Sunday, August 9
- Where to Stream: Netflix
FAQ: This Week’s K-Drama Ratings
Which K-drama had the highest domestic rating this week?
A Bona Fide Killer led the pack with a 9.4% nationwide rating for Episode 4 on August 8, its highest rating to date.
Which K-drama is performing best internationally?
The Apartment Job currently outranks Spooky in Love on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for non-English TV, sitting at #5 versus #8, for the week of July 27–August 2.
When does The Husband’s finale air?
The Husband’s Episode 12 finale airs Sunday, August 9, 2026, on KBS2, streaming shortly after on Disney+.
Ratings are based on Nielsen Korea nationwide household data. Figures may be revised as networks report finalized numbers.
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