Scarecrow's Rise: Why This K-Drama Is Trending

ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Scarecrow' is showing a steep rise in viewership ratings by presenting a highly immersive plot based on a real-life case. Starting with a viewership rating of 2.9% for its first episode, it soared to 7.4% in just six episodes and has maintained a top position on the OTT platform TVING. Online, interpretations and theories about the killer's identity and plot twists are pouring in with each episode.

The drama is based on the Hwaseong serial murders, which occurred in real life between 1986 and 1991. The fictional 'Kangseong serial murders' in the drama, similar to the real case, depict a series of murders of women in a rural area, a long-unsolved case, and developments involving coercive investigations and false accusations. Like the real case that shocked society when Lee Chun-jae was identified as the true culprit in 2019, 'Scarecrow' also weaves another tragedy of the real case into its narrative. In particular, like the case of Yoon Seong-yeo, a victim of the 8th Hwaseong serial murder, the character Lim Seok-man (played by Baek Seung-hwan) is portrayed as a wrongly accused suspect, reminding viewers once again of the tragedy of the real event.

Despite knowing the outcome of the real case, viewers are constantly thrown into confusion within the drama. While they know Lee Chun-jae is the real killer in reality, the drama introduces new clues and suspects such as Lee Ki-beom (Song Geon-hee), Lee Ki-hwan (Jeong Mun-seong), and Lim Seok-man, making it difficult to pinpoint the true culprit. The structure where the true killer is known to everyone, but the process is not, creates strong immersion.

Additionally, settings infused with imagination enhance the drama's entertainment value. The past animosity between Kang Tae-joo (Park Hae-soo) and Cha Si-young (Lee Hee-joon) during their school days, their reunion as a detective and prosecutor, and the conflict surrounding illegal investigations and forced confessions go beyond a simple retelling of a true story, intensifying the tension as a genre piece. In particular, the death of Lee Ki-beom, who was unjustly accused, and the setting where the true killer was hiding behind the closest family members have received praise for blending tragedy and suspense into the real case simultaneously.

The actors' performances are also a major factor driving the rising viewership ratings. Park Hae-soo portrays Kang Tae-joo, a detective torn between guilt and obsession, while Lee Hee-joon depicts Cha Si-young, a prosecutor who oscillates between good and evil, in a multi-dimensional way. Notably, Jeong Mun-seong chillingly portrays the duality of a serial killer hiding behind the facade of an ordinary bookstore owner, increasing immersion in the latter half of the drama.