Actresses Nam Kyu-ri (left) and Lee Yo-won (right) from 49 Days [SBS]

SBS’ “49 Days” was named the winner on both primetime slot TV charts for the first time this week.

Romantic fantasy “49 Days,” starring Nam Kyu-ri, Lee Yo-won and Jung Il-woo, was named the winner on Total National Multimedia Statistics' survey for the fifth straight week after posting an average viewership rating of 14.25 percent.

The story of a wandering soul who tries to return to her body by acquiring tears of three people who love her, has slowly but steadily been gaining popularity since its premiere in mid March, and compared to last week, figures improved by slightly more than two percent.

“The Thorn Birds,” a melodrama about love and betrayal, came next on the same poll with an average viewership rating of 12.3 percent, which is also about a two percent gain from the past week.

Data by AGB Nielsen Media Research yielded results in the same order as well, placing “49 Days” on top for the first time with an average viewership rating of 13.9 percent and “The Thorn Birds” right behind with 13.7 percent.

“The Thorn Birds,” a 20-part drama led by Han Hye-jin, Kim Min-jung and Joo Sang-uk which ended its run episode yesterday, is a melodrama about the fate of two women who made contrasting choices: Han Yoo-kyung (played by Kim) who abandons her mother, her child and the man she loves for revenge and the Seo Jeong-eun (Han) who embraces what the former has thrown away.

In the end, Yoo-kyung who falls ill, apologizes to Jeong-eun to which in return, Jeong-eun helps her regain her health. Yoo-kyung then leaves to New Zealand with her foster mother and Jeong-eun lives a happy life with her new family consisting of her former lover and her real daughter.

Starting next week, KBS will air “Romance Town” written by scenarist Seo Sook-hyang that tells the life and love of housekeepers who work for rich families with actor Jung Gyu-woon starring as Kun-woo, an overweight rich guy, alongside actress-singer Sung Yu-ri who will play a charming housekeeper named No Soon-keum.

In the mean time MBC kicked off with its brand new series “The Greatest Love” this week, which collected an average viewership rating of 6.8 percent on TNmS’ survey and 9 percent on AGB’s poll.

A story by the famed scenarist sisters Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran and starring Kong Hyo-jin and Cha Seung-won, is about a has-been idol singer named Goo Ae-jung (played by Kong) who falls in love with top actor Dok Go-jin (played by Cha).

A scene from KBS drama "The Thorn Birds" [KBS]

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