Director Jang Hang Jun's new show 'Time Tracker Seollok' starts with 0.3% viewership rating

Film director Jang Hang Jun, who has drawn 17 million viewers, saw a disappointing start for his new historical educational variety show 'Time Tracker Seollok,' which recorded a viewership rating in the 0% range during its first broadcast. Despite a differentiated concept that interprets international affairs from a historical perspective and provides in-depth commentary from experts, the show failed to capture viewers' interest, drawing attention to whether it can rebound in the future.

According to Nielsen Korea, a viewership rating research institution, 'Time Tracker Seollok,' which aired its first episode the previous day, recorded a 0.3% viewership rating based on nationwide paid households. The highest viewership rating in the metropolitan area was 0.7%, and the peak target viewership rating remained at 0.4%.

The program focused on shedding light on the conflict between the United States and Iran—a key issue in the recent international community—within a historical flow, providing an in-depth analysis of the background needed to understand modern Middle Eastern affairs.

To understand modern Iran, the broadcast traveled back to the era of the ancient Persian Empire. While introducing the ruling philosophy and cultural heritage of Cyrus the Great, who founded the Persian Empire, the show explained the historical background that solidified the hostile relationship between the United States and Iran by tracing pivotal events in modern international politics, such as the 'Operation Ajax' led by the CIA and the 1979 Hostage: Missing Celebrity incident at the U.S. Embassy in Iran.

Jang acted as a host representing the viewers' perspective, taking on the role of explaining historical events in a more accessible way.

In the process of explaining the achievements of Cyrus the Great, he aided understanding by comparing him to a figure who combines King Gwanggaeto the Great and King Sejong the Great of Korea. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran utilizes as a strategic card in the international community, he interpreted the complex international situation in popular language, summarizing it by saying, "It seems like it eventually turns into a chicken game."

The witty remarks of the cast members also formed another pillar of the program.

Bong Tae-gyu drew laughter by wittily expressing the historical fact that Alexander the Great embraced Persian culture, saying, "He came to conquer but ended up becoming a fan of Persian interior design." Shin A-young sharply pointed out the hidden side of international politics by mentioning cases of U.S. intervention in foreign regimes.

'History Storyteller' Sun Kim added interest to the program by introducing little-known historical anecdotes with his signature wit. Jang continued the pleasant chemistry, noting Sun Kim's abundant historical knowledge by saying, "There is a reason his nickname is 'the peddler of the history world.'"

Actor Lee Sang-yeob, who appeared as a special guest, also made a strong impression. Holding a Level 1 qualification in the Korean History Proficiency Test, he showcased broad historical knowledge by introducing the influence of Persian culture that extended to the Unified Silla period.

Furthermore, Middle East expert Professor Park Hyun-do and model Hoda Nikou, a former 'Miss Iran,' enhanced the program's professionalism by explaining local history and social conditions.

In particular, Hoda Nikou left a deep impression by conveying reality from the perspective of the Iranian people, stating, "I don't know why we must constantly be in conflict with neighboring countries. If that cost and energy were spent on the lives of the people, it could be a much better society."

At the end of the broadcast, Jang expressed his thoughts, emphasizing the program's intent once more, saying, "Looking at how the current Iran was formed, I felt anew that all historical events are ultimately connected in a single flow."

However, despite such quality and professionalism, the first broadcast results fell short of expectations.

Jang is a figure who proved his box-office power by mobilizing 17 million viewers through the film 'The King's Warden' and has been recognized for his unique wit and storytelling abilities in variety shows as well. For this reason, this program, which combines history and international politics, gathered significant interest even before the broadcast, but the first episode's viewership rating remained at a somewhat disappointing 0.3%.

However, as there have been many cases where educational and historical programs showed a gradual upward trend based on word-of-mouth and online buzz despite low initial viewership ratings, attention is focused on whether the program can expand its audience by leading with its expertise and differentiated content.