Scarecrow Ends with 8.1% Viewership, Smashes ENA Records

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A Record-Breaking Finale and Cultural Impact

The conclusion of Scarecrow marked a significant moment for the ENA network, as the show’s final episode saw a 0.7 percentage point increase from the 7.4% rating recorded for the eleventh episode, according to data released by Nielsen Korea. This steady climb in viewership—which saw the series grow by 2.5 times between its first and second episodes during its initial run—has led viewers to label it a standout production of 2026. The narrative centers on the intersection of two men, portrayed by Park Hae-soo and Lee Hee-jun, whose lives are bound by long-standing grudges and a shared pursuit of truth. The series is notable for its direct engagement with the Hwaseong serial murder cases, which occurred between 1986 and 1991. While previous works such as the 2003 film Memories of Murder and the 2016 television series Signal have drawn inspiration from these events, Scarecrow distinguishes itself by focusing on the period following the 2019 identification of the true perpetrator, Lee Chun-jae. As reported by Feng Media, Park Hae-soo prepared for his role by studying the performances of his predecessors, including Song Kang-ho, aiming to provide a fresh perspective on the aftermath of a trauma that once held the Korean public in a state of collective fear.

Narrative Resolution and the Truth Behind the Scarecrow

The final episodes of the series bridged the gap between 1988 and 2019, culminating in a courtroom confrontation that dismantled the systemic corruption surrounding the original investigations. The plot revealed that the character Lee Gi-hwan, who had previously maintained his innocence, was the true serial killer. In a scene described by KSD as one of the most chilling in recent television, the character Kang Tae-joo, played by Park, forces the perpetrator to testify in a retrial to prove the innocence of the man who had spent 30 years in prison. The irony of the moment—where a convicted serial killer provides the testimony necessary to secure justice for the innocent, while high-ranking police and prosecutors lie to protect their own reputations—served as the emotional climax of the series. The character Kang Tae-joo concludes his own arc by confronting the reality that his past misjudgments and biases, influenced by institutional pressures, contributed to the tragedy. In his final moments on screen, the character expresses a firm resolution to move forward, declaring his refusal to continue living his life as a mere shell or a scarecrow.

Succession and New Programming on ENA

With the conclusion of Scarecrow, the network is shifting its focus to the upcoming medical-humanist romance, Medical Island. Starring Lee Jae-wook and Jo Bo-ah, the series follows the story of a public health doctor stationed on the isolated and notorious “Pyeondong Island.” The show is scheduled to premiere on June 1, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. on ENA, with international distribution slated for Disney+. Simultaneously, the industry is bracing for the premiere of the Viu Original series, The New Recruit CEO Kang. As detailed by Fount Media, the drama features a body-swap premise involving a 72-year-old corporate tycoon, played by Son Hyun-joo, and a 27-year-old soccer player, played by Lee Jun-young. The series, which is set to debut on May 30, 2026, focuses on the power struggle within the “Most Success Group” following a mysterious accident. The competitive nature of these new releases highlights the current trend in Korean television towards high-stakes, genre-bending narratives. Whether it is the gritty, retrospective realism seen in the conclusion of Scarecrow or the fast-paced, fantastical corporate drama of the upcoming lineup, the industry continues to prioritize projects that challenge traditional character archetypes and provide complex, multi-layered storytelling. For audiences, the transition from the heavy, investigative themes of Scarecrow to the upcoming slate of romantic and corporate dramas marks the end of a significant cultural conversation regarding historical justice. The series will remain available for viewing in its entirety on the streaming platform Viu.