Monday and Tuesday nights just became the hottest slots on Korean television. The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is proving it has legs with a ratings climb after just its second episode, while The Scarecrow is doing something far rarer — making ENA history week after week. Here’s the full picture.
May 12, 2026 — Ratings at a Glance
| Drama | Network | Episode | Nationwide Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Kitchen Soldier | tvN | Ep. 2 | 6.2% (↑ rise from Ep. 1) |
| The Scarecrow | ENA | Latest | 7.444% (new all-time ENA Mon-Tue record) |
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier — A Promising Start
Park Ji-hoon’s military kitchen comedy fantasy is already showing the upward trajectory fans had hoped for. Episode 2 rose to a nationwide average of 6.2% according to Nielsen Korea — a healthy climb that signals strong word-of-mouth momentum heading into its second week.
The show, adapted from the popular Naver webtoon, follows Kang Seong-jae — a top military trainee who ends up classified as a “soldier under watch” and discovers a mysterious in-game culinary quest system that forces him to swap his rifle for a ladle. With its unique blend of comedy, fantasy RPG elements, and military life, it’s quickly carving out its own identity in the crowded K-drama landscape.
For episode release schedules and more K-drama updates, check out Technosports.
The Scarecrow — ENA’s Runaway Hit
If The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is rising steadily, The Scarecrow is on a completely different level. The ENA mystery thriller scored a 7.444% nationwide rating — smashing its own record as the highest-rated Monday-Tuesday drama in ENA’s history.
What makes this even more impressive is the journey. The Scarecrow debuted at a modest 2.9% in late April before climbing episode by episode: 4.1% → 5.0% → 5.2% → 6.3% → 7.4% — and still rising. Only Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which peaked at 17.5%, stands ahead of it in all-time ENA drama history.
Starring Park Hae-soo (Squid Game) and Lee Hee-joon, the show spans three decades — from 1988 to 2019 — following a demoted detective and a prosecutor who were childhood rivals, now forced to cooperate on a chilling serial murder case in the fictional town of Gangseong. The show draws inspiration from the real-life Lee Chun-jae serial murder case, and has turned its audience into amateur detectives, with each episode dropping fresh clues that fuel online discussion.
The “enemies-to-partners” dynamic between the two leads — appearing together for the third time — has been praised as the show’s most compelling asset, delivering a slow-burn bromance layered beneath genuinely gripping crime writing.
Why Both Dramas Are Worth Your Attention
| Drama | Tone | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Kitchen Soldier | Comedy, Fantasy, Heartwarming | Light-hearted binge watching |
| The Scarecrow | Crime, Mystery, Thriller | Edge-of-your-seat suspense fans |
Both are available to stream globally on Viki. Stay updated with more K-drama ratings and recaps at Technosports.
