TV show ‘City Fisherman’ receives highest ratings

Channel A’s fishing TV show ‘City Fisherman’ has secured the highest viewer rating among shows aired at the same time.

According to statistics released by Nielsen Korea, the show’s rating for Thursday recorded 4.731 percent, attracting most viewers among all entertainment programs that night.

On Thursday’s episode, comedian Ji Sang-ryeol appeared as a guest and all fishermen went on a journey to the country’s best bird watching destination, Cheonsuman Bay in Taean, for freshwater fishing. All of the fishermen enjoyed small and simple fishing despite discomfort of sitting on a pedestal, which was in stark contrast to the previous episode where they had enjoyed fishing aboard a luxurious yacht off the coast of New Zealand. “It feels so awkward on a pedestal. It is the first time in nearly half a century of my fishing years.” said actor Lee Deok-hwa, known as avid fisherman.

The presence of Ji, who has been into fishing for some 40 years, created a war of nerves among fishermen to catch larger fish. From the beginning, they would have a fight over a fishing location and be very cautious about one another not to make noise.

Lee Kyung-kyu asked Ji to be really quiet. “I know that much,” replied Ji. But he turned out to be an excellent storyteller as dubbed the alchemist of a language, by continuing telling a story. Lee Deok-hwa enjoyed Ji’s story so much that he strongly recommended Ji for a regular on this show and asked him to go to Alaska together for the next episode.

“City Fisherman” is a fishing entertainment program featuring avid fishers such as Lee Deok-hwa, Lee Kyung-kyu and Micordat by visiting their favorite sites. It airs at 11 p.m. on Thursdays.


Min Kim kimmin@donga.com