'Rookie 4: Sabotage' raised tensions in living rooms across the nation as the conflict between Kim Min-ho and Lee Won-jung escalated to its peak.
In episode 4 of ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Rookie 4: Sabotage' (directed by Min Jin-ki and Jo Je-wook, written by Yoon Ki-young and Kim Dan, planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by Story Island), which aired on the 1st, a roller-coaster day unfold—from the mishaps of the 2nd platoon on weekend community service to the explosion of a cover-up of a gun incident that turned the Sinhwa unit upside down.
The episode 4 viewership rating surged to 3.6% nationwide and peaked at 4.2% per minute, taking the top spot among Monday-Tuesday dramas. The Seoul Capital Area 2049 target viewership also recorded a peak of 1.9% per minute, continuing strong audience response.
The broadcast began with Park Min-seok and Kim Hyun-wook's first meeting during basic training. It was Kim Hyun-wook who extended his hand to a nervous Park Min-seok in the unfamiliar training camp, telling him it would be okay. Because the two had grown close relying on each other in this way, Kim Hyun-wook's drastically different sharp attitude caused great confusion for Park Min-seok.
Meanwhile, the 2nd platoon received orders for weekend community service. Excited by unexpected instructions to wear 'Grade A combat uniforms' and dreaming of romance with female college students at the volunteer site, the reality turned out to be grueling labor in muddy waters. It was Battalion Commander Byun Hyuk-jin who lifted the spirits of the exhausted unit members. With the words "You are now the most perfect Grade A rescue squad sent by the nation," the soldiers regained their strength.
Inspired by the battalion commander's speech and fired up with enthusiasm, Oh Seok-jin faced an unexpected ordeal. He was caught by a grandmother at the community service site and burdened with all sorts of chores—from building stone walls to carrying earthenware jars, removing beehives, cleaning chicken coops, and fixing electrical wiring. Eventually, the sight of Oh Seok-jin struggling while dressed in a flower-patterned mompe drew laughter.
After safely completing community service, the warm atmosphere was short-lived. A post exposing 'the battalion commander covered up a gun incident' appeared on the unit's official cafe, sending the Sinhwa unit into high alert. Reports to higher command, reprimands from the regiment commander, and protest calls from parents poured in. Park Min-seok called out Kim Hyun-wook to confront him about the expose, but Kim Hyun-wook provided an alibi that he was with Jeon Se-gae the whole time, confusing his opponent with the pointed remark, "Will you blame only me again?"
The aftermath of the expose also demanded a decision from Company Commander Cho Baek-ho. When Byun Hyuk-jin requested a military network log investigation, Cho Baek-ho pointed to the battalion commander's unit cafe policy as the cause. And as the 2nd platoon commander, he declared a frontal breakthrough, saying "I will take responsibility." His decision to bear the burden to protect his soldiers at this crucial time before promotion review left a weighty resonance.
Jeon Se-gae also struggled before the truth surrounding Kim Hyun-wook, but made up his mind with Cho Baek-ho's self-sacrificial choice and told Park Min-seok the truth. In the end, Park Min-seok found Kim Hyun-wook and burst out his suppressed emotions, saying "Why are you doing this to me?" As Kim Hyun-wook responded with a cynical attitude, Park Min-seok grabbed his collar, and at that moment, Company Commander Cho Baek-ho and Administrative Assistant Park Jae-su witnessed this scene, sending tension to its peak.
ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Rookie 4: Sabotage' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m. on ENA.
