Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin's New K-Drama Hits Netflix Global Top 3 With First-Episode Kiss

Romantic comedies don't usually lead with their best punch, but SBS's latest drama is flipping the script. "Dynamite Kiss" (키스는 괜히 해서!) premiered on November 12 and immediately grabbed attention by doing something most K-dramas save for episode four-dropping a major kiss scene in the very first episode.

The gamble paid off. Within its first week, the show climbed to No. 3 on Netflix's global non-English series chart and secured the No. 2 spot domestically for the November 10-16 period, according to the streaming platform's official rankings.

Strong Domestic Performance

The drama's November 12 premiere drew a 4.5% nationwide viewership rating, with peak moments hitting 6.3%, Nielsen Korea reported. Episode two maintained steady numbers with a 4% average and 5% peak rating. More importantly, the show immediately claimed the top spot among all weekday dramas across Korean broadcast networks.

This marks a significant comeback for SBS's Wednesday-Thursday drama slot, which had been dormant for six years since "Secret Boutique" ended in 2019.

What Makes It Different

"Dynamite Kiss" follows Go Da-rim (Ahn Eun-jin), a struggling job seeker who disguises herself as a married mother to land a position at a baby products company. The twist? Her new team leader is Gong Ji-hyuk (Jang Ki-yong), the man she shared an explosive kiss with just days earlier in Jeju Island.

The show's appeal lies in its fast pacing. Where typical rom-coms stretch out their setups, this series compressed meeting, kissing, separating, and reuniting into just two episodes. Episode two ended with the former lovers facing each other across a job interview desk-he as the interviewer, she as the desperate applicant hiding her true identity.

Behind the Production

Director Kim Jae-hyun, who previously led "One Dollar Lawyer" to a peak rating of 15.2%, helms the 14-episode series. Writers Ha Yoon-ah and Tae Kyung-min, known for their work on "Mystic Pop-up Bar" and "From Now On, Showtime!", penned the script.

The production team from Studio S and Samhwa Networks emphasized their intention to create accessible midweek entertainment. Episode three, which aired November 19, moved into full office romance territory as Ji-hyuk struggles with his misunderstanding that Da-rim is married with a child, while she desperately tries to maintain her cover story for financial survival.

Cast Chemistry

Both leads bring proven track records. Jang Ki-yong previously starred in romantic series like "Now, We Are Breaking Up," while Ahn Eun-jin gained recognition for roles in "The Good Bad Mother" and medical drama "Hospital Playlist." Their on-screen dynamic has drawn praise from viewers for balancing comedic timing with genuine emotional depth.

The series streams weekly on Netflix following its SBS broadcast every Wednesday and Thursday at 9 PM KST, making it accessible to international audiences simultaneously with its Korean release.