SBS' new Wednesday-Thursday TV series starring actor Jang Keun-suk made a strong debut at No. 2 on the weekly TV ratings chart, data showed Wednesday.

"Switch - Change the World," which premiered March 28 and promised to report social irregularities with dramatic twists, earned a score of 240.1 on the Content Power Index (CPI) for March 26-April 1.

A lot of attention was given to the drama as it is likely to be the last work by the actor, who is hugely popular in Asia, before he serves his mandatory military service. All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for about two years. Details of Jang's enrollment have yet to be determined.

(SBS)

During a media event last month, the actor said he would try to show his best performance yet in the show.

"I feel a heavy responsibility for the series. ... Doing the double role is a new challenge for me. I will show my best performance so that people can naturally associate me with the two characters," he said.

Although the series' fast development and large scale is captivating, viewers say the role change is a recurring and all-too-familiar element in Korean dramas. And a loop or two seems to be missed in the story development as to why the crook Sa Do-chan, the spitting image of a prosecutor named Paik Jun-su who falls into a coma after an unknown person deliberately crashes a car into Sa, decides to take the job of the good guy.

Meanwhile, the top spot is taken by the last episode of MBC's variety show "Infinite Challenge," with 278.7. The 13-year-old show aired its finale March 31.

The index, created by CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the level of popularity, trending on social media sites and influence on consumer behavior of entertainment TV programs aired on three major terrestrial networks -- MBC, SBS and KBS -- and seven cable channels owned by CJ E&M, including tvN, Mnet and OCN, during prime time. JTBC, another cable network that airs some highly popular entertainment shows and dramas, was not included in the survey. (Yonhap)