Make Me Tingle, starring Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young, has wrapped up its run on a high note, ranking on global streaming charts and winning over international audiences with its romance. The TVING original series, which concluded on November 5, follows Gong Yeon-su (Nam Ji-hyun) and Dokgo Dal (Kim Jae-young), two people with completely different views on love and relationships who clash before gradually learning to understand each other. Its candid portrayal of how adults approach romance and relationships became a major talking point, while the series attracted attention by entering OTT rankings from its very first week of release.
Gong Yeon-su Leaves Her Family Home… and Moves in With Dokgo Dal in the Finale
The final episode depicted one of the biggest acts of rebellion in Gong Yeon-su’s life. Having always obeyed her elders, she finally declared that she was leaving home after a conflict with her mother, Seo Baek-hee (Woo Mi-hwa), and moved into the house of Dokgo Dal (Kim Jae-young), the man she was romantically interested in.
The two first met through an arranged date. They crossed paths again through Yeon-su’s marketing work for sex toys, gradually growing closer as their professional and personal lives became intertwined. Yeon-su was the first to admit that she had feelings for Dokgo Dal. Meanwhile, Dokgo Dal, who had always been reluctant to open his heart to someone, eventually realized that what he felt was love, setting the stage for their romance to blossom.
Tension filled the scene as Yeon-su stood face-to-face with her mother while holding a suitcase. In contrast, her expression appeared much more relaxed as she went grocery shopping and chatted with Dokgo Dal.
Nam Ji-hyun Shines in Both Historical Dramas and Romantic Comedies, Making Her Mark Twice This Year
Nam Ji-hyun convincingly portrayed Gong Yeon-su’s determination to live her life on her own terms. She brought to life the character’s journey from believing that love must follow a predetermined order to embracing new experiences and discovering the path she truly wants to take. When standing up to her family’s expectations, Yeon-su conveyed her resolve through a firm gaze, while the lingering guilt and affection in her expressions showed that she never stopped caring about her family.
Her chemistry with Kim Jae-young was another highlight. In the early episodes, their playful exchanges and her bright, lovable personality brought energy to the series. As their feelings for each other grew stronger, their increasingly honest emotions added greater depth to the romance.
Speaking about Gong Yeon-su, Nam Ji-hyun said, “What impressed me most was her way of living and her attitude toward life. We all live according to our own beliefs, and sometimes we come into conflict with others. I liked how Yeon-su accepted the series of events that happened to her and grew into a better person.” She continued, “While watching the series, I often found myself thinking, ‘Perhaps this is the kind of person we all want to become.’”
Nam Ji-hyun demonstrated her versatility by moving between historical and contemporary dramas, first appearing in To My Beloved Thief in the first half of the year before taking on Make Me Tingle. In particular, the latest series allowed her to explore a bold subject through Yeon-su’s story of personal growth and independence, once again proving why she is an actress audiences can trust.
Finally, Nam Ji-hyun expressed her hopes for the series, saying, “I hope Make Me Tingle will remain a work that gives people strength and inspiration when they begin to question their own values in life.” She also added, “There are so many strong productions these days, and I sincerely thank everyone who chose to watch our series.”
A Confucian Woman and a Sex Toy CEO: Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young’s Make Me Tingle Ends on a High Note
The series got off to a promising start. After releasing its first four episodes simultaneously on October 15, Make Me Tingle ranked third among dramas and sixth overall on TVING’s weekly content chart for the week of October 12–18.
Expectations had been high even before its premiere. Viewers were particularly interested in the news that Nam Ji-hyun, who led SBS’s Good Partner to a peak viewership rating of 17.7% in 2024, would return with a provocative “19+” premise. The story was built around two distinctive characters: Gong Yeon-su, the eldest daughter of a traditional family and a self-described “born Confucian girl,” and Dokgo Dal, the CEO of a sex toy startup.
Although the two constantly clashed, they gradually grew closer as they came to understand each other’s true feelings. Their relationship gave them opportunities to confront emotional wounds that the other had never fully acknowledged, while encouraging each other to find the courage to live authentically. These moments added warmth and emotional depth to their romance.
As their story developed, the series also received an enthusiastic response overseas. According to TVING on November 4, Make Me Tingle topped the weekly rankings on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. It also maintained second place in the overall rankings on Disney+ Japan, extending its popularity beyond South Korea and bringing its story to a successful conclusion.
Sources: Naver