The second season of the hit SBS drama ‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2’ has concluded, achieving its highest viewership ratings and surpassing the peak ratings of its first season. The series, starring Ahn Bo-hyun and Jung Yu-mi, captivated audiences with its blend of thrilling crime-solving and compelling character arcs, solidifying its status as a fan favorite.
Record-Breaking Viewership for ‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2’
The grand finale of ‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2’, which aired on March 19th, drew in an impressive 14.1% of viewers nationwide, with a 11.8% national average and 11.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area. These figures not only marked a personal best for the season but also exceeded the highest rating achieved by the first season. The drama dominated its timeslot, ranking first among all Saturday mini-series and securing the top spot for overall Saturday programming with a 4.5% rating among the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49, averaging 3.5%.
A Climax of Confrontation and Justice
The season finale saw detective Jin Yi-soo (Ahn Bo-hyun) and the powerful Kangryuk 1 Team confront the psychopathic serial killer Yoo Seong-won (Yoo Jae-myung). The intense showdown unfolded as Jin Yi-soo narrowly escaped death during an operation at Yoo Seong-won’s underground workshop, thanks to the timely intervention of Captain Park Gwa-jang (Lee Do-yeop) and his team. Despite surviving surgery, Jin Yi-soo remained unconscious, blaming himself for the escalating crisis.
Adding to the complexity, crucial evidence of Yoo Seong-won’s crimes was destroyed in a fire, leaving the team with limited options. Undeterred, Kangryuk 1 Team members Park Joon-young (Kang Sang-joon) and Choi Kyung-jin (Kim Shin-bi) pursued Jung Tae-sun (Kim Hye-eun), who was harboring Jin Yi-soo. They followed a lead to Han Jong-hyun (Moon Jin-seung), whose information, coupled with that of Jin Yi-soo’s secret contacts, helped accelerate the investigation.
However, Jung Tae-sun harbored a sinister plan, intending to use Han Jong-hyun to assassinate her son, Yoo Seong-won, and stage it as an accident to end the case prematurely. Yoo Seong-won, realizing the plot while in Han Jong-hyun’s car, killed Han Jong-hyun and escaped. He then led the pursuing vehicles of Park Joon-young and Choi Kyung-jin off a cliff, escalating his violent rampage.
The Final Showdown: A Masterful Trap
With Jin Yi-soo and the entire Kangryuk 1 Team facing imminent danger, team leader Joo Hye-ra (Jung Yu-mi) devised a final, desperate plan. She approached Jung Tae-sun, revealing Han Jong-hyun’s death and warning her that Yoo Seong-won would soon come for her. Joo Hye-ra proposed a deal: protection in exchange for cooperation with the investigation. Jung Tae-sun initially refused, but Joo Hye-ra’s stern warning—that failure to stop Yoo Seong-won would lead to a lifetime of fear and a potential future encounter as victims—convinced her.
Joo Hye-ra’s prediction proved accurate as Yoo Seong-won moved towards Jung Tae-sun. However, he was walking into a meticulously planned trap. Jung Tae-sun had agreed to cooperate, and Joo Hye-ra, using Jung Tae-sun’s clothes and car, lured Yoo Seong-won to his exhibition space. There, Joo Hye-ra confronted Yoo Seong-won, declaring, “There’s no other way now. I have to kill you.” She struck him in front of his own artworks.
As Joo Hye-ra prepared for the final blow, Yoo Seong-won’s madness erupted. He declared, “You will become a piece of art,” and shot Joo Hye-ra with a hidden firearm, leaving her bleeding and collapsing. In a grotesque display, Yoo Seong-won then posed the critically injured Joo Hye-ra like a sculpture in his exhibition, horrifying onlookers.
At this critical moment, Jin Yi-soo, having recovered, appeared at the exhibition. Enraged by Yoo Seong-won’s atrocities, Jin Yi-soo destroyed the displayed sculptures. Provoked, Yoo Seong-won, believing Jin Yi-soo didn’t understand his artistic world, launched into a tirade, explaining his crimes one by one. This outburst, however, was part of Jin Yi-soo and Joo Hye-ra’s perfect plan. They had anticipated Yoo Seong-won’s use of a firearm and had both worn bulletproof vests. They intentionally provoked him to elicit a confession.
Furthermore, they had invited domestic and international media to the scene and used miniature cameras to broadcast his confession in real-time, utterly humiliating him. Ultimately, Joo Hye-ra was directly apprehended by Yoo Seong-won, while Jin Yi-soo’s confession was accepted, leading to his strong return to the investigation. The discovery of three hidden bodies at Yoo Seong-won’s home by Park Joon-young and Choi Kyung-jin provided the final, irrefutable evidence. Yoo Seong-won’s serial murders were fully exposed, along with the betrayal of Jung Tae-sun and Kwon Tae-gyun, bringing the case to a satisfying close.
A Triumphant Conclusion and a Hint of What’s Next
Following a joint funeral for the victims, Jin Yi-soo and Kangryuk 1 Team received commendations. Jin Yi-soo personally awarded himself a medal, concluding the series on a high note. However, peace was short-lived. The final moments revealed a new criminal, targeting Kangryuk 1 Team, hinting at future cases. The series ended with Jin Yi-soo and Kangryuk 1 Team heading out to tackle this new threat, providing a satisfying yet open-ended finale true to the spirit of ‘The Rich & The Ruthless’.
‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2’ was lauded for its relentless pacing and satisfying resolutions. Ahn Bo-hyun’s powerful performance as Jin Yi-soo, who evolved into a formidable detective, was a standout. Jung Yu-mi’s addition as team leader Joo Hye-ra brought a fresh dynamic, complementing Ahn Bo-hyun’s established presence and contributing significantly to the rising ratings. Their chemistry, evolving from initial friction to perfect teamwork, was a highlight.
The series’ episodic structure, featuring a diverse range of crimes from the opening “Bombing Serial Murder Incident” to the “Killer’s Maze Murder Case,” the “Rosebird Hotel Murder Case,” the “Magician Murder Case,” and the “Omen Murder Case,” kept viewers engaged with its constant shifts in genre and tone.
The special guest appearances also added significant flair. A star-studded lineup including Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Hye-eun, Kwak Si-yang, Kim Eui-sung, Bae Sung-jae, Kwak Dong-yeon, Park So-yi, Lee Hak-joo, Choi Deok-moon, Lee Seok, Son Woo-hyun, Heo Sung-tae, Jung Chae-yeon, Jeon Hye-bin, Min Kyung-ah, and Kim Ji-hoon graced the series, enhancing the suspense. Yoo Jae-myung’s portrayal of the obsessive killer, a stark contrast to his usual image, was particularly praised for its chilling intensity, forming a formidable opposition to Ahn Bo-hyun and Jung Yu-mi’s duo.
Ahn Bo-hyun has further cemented his leading man status with the success of the ‘The Rich & The Ruthless’ series, following his acclaimed roles in ‘Spring Fever’ and ‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2’ this year. He is set to star in the upcoming drama ‘God’s Coin’ and the film ‘Inside Men: The Birth of Evil’ in December.
Jung Yu-mi joined the cast as team leader Joo Hye-ra, replacing Park Ji-hyun from the first season. She seamlessly built chemistry with returning cast members like Ahn Bo-hyun, Kang Sang-joon, and Kim Shin-bi, contributing to the show’s success.
With six consecutive hits including global OTT ‘Pachinko,’ ‘Anna,’ ‘Strange,’ ‘Mr. Kim,’ ‘Anora,’ and now ‘The Rich & The Ruthless 2,’ anticipation for Jung Yu-mi’s next project is high. Yoo Jae-myung’s return to the screen after three years as the serial killer showcased his versatility, delivering a performance that was 180 degrees different from his previous image, earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of an extremely evil villain.
