The final episode of the KBS TV2 Wednesday-Thursday miniseries `Revenge` recorded nationwide viewer ratings of 22.9 percent, according to estimates by TNS Media Korea.

Earlier episodes of the series significantly lagged behind its MBC rival `My Name Is Kim Sam-sun,` recording ratings of only 10 percent, but the situation changed completely on Aug. 17 -- one day before the final episode of `Revenge` aired.

On that day, the series` ratings exceeded 20 percent, and the number of messages posted by viewers on its bulletin board surpassed one million.

The episode that aired Aug. 18 started with the character played by Um Tae-ung, the series` lead actor, revealing his true identity to his uncle (played by Kang In-chul). Um`s character had been determined to take revenge on `Lee Chung-kil,` `Ki Ju-bong,` `Kim Kap-soo` and `Kim Kyu-chul` for killing his father, `Ahn Nae-sang` (played by Yoo Keon-ha), 20 years ago.

But the most recent scenes showed him agonizing over the revenge because of his beloved mother and younger sister, revealing a more humane side to the character.

The wrongdoings of all those people are finally brought to light one by one, as if vindicating Um`s character when he says, "Everything in life goes back to its roots. Now it`s time to bring things to an end." Kim Kap-soo, whose illegitimate son `Park Hee-soo` mercilessly takes revenges on him, finally kills himself by jumping off a bridge, while Lee Chung-kil, whose favorite saying is "only strong people can forgive,` shoots himself to death when his wife leaves him.

The scene in which Park mistakenly stabs Um with a knife upon learning about Kim Kap-soo`s suicide was apparently one of the most nerve-racking for viewers. The final scene showing the superb acting of Park, who continued to keep the true identity of Um`s character secret even after one year, and Um, who continued to protect Park even after being stabbed, was especially heart-moving.`