Despite ratings stuck in the low 1% range, actress Kim Min-ju is winning over viewers by summoning pure first-love nostalgia.
The JTBC Friday series The Shining has aired through episode 4, with Nielsen Korea reporting a peak 2.1% for episode 1 before slipping to 1.7% for episode 2 and 1.2% for episodes 3 and 4. Even so, Kim Min-ju, who plays Mo Eun-a, is making her presence felt as she portrays a wide emotional spectrum—from breezy youth to mature resolve. In the drama, Mo Eun-a first appears as a passionate, dream-filled 19-year-old who grabs attention from the start.
In particular, her story with transfer student Yeon Tae-seo (played by Jinyoung Park) taps into the universal emotions of a first love many people hold onto. Watching the pair grow closer while studying together in the library gave viewers butterflies, and a natural confession scene further spotlighted Kim Min-ju’s charm.
Still, Mo Eun-a wavers when confronted with her own pain and an uncertain future. These emotions deepen the narrative, and Kim Min-ju’s delicate performance offers an authentic portrait of anxious youth. The story then jumps to the pair’s chance reunion in Seoul a decade later, sealing a fateful, aching mood.
Meanwhile, The Shining, which showcases Kim Min-ju’s emotional acting, airs every Friday at 8:50 p.m. with two back-to-back episodes.