Despite Hallyu stars starring, tvN’s weekend drama When the Stars Gossip continues to hover at modest ratings in its opening weekend. According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode of the series recorded a 3.9% nationwide viewership. This figure barely edges up from its premiere rating of 3.3%—unusual for Sunday broadcasts, which typically see higher numbers than Saturdays.
The highly anticipated series, with a reported production budget of 50 billion KRW (approximately $34 million), follows the story of astronaut Eve Kim (Gong Hyo Jin) working at a zero-gravity space station and a mysterious gynecologist Gong Ryong (Lee Min Ho). The show reunites acclaimed director Park Shin Woo of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) with writer Seo Sook Hyang, marking her third collaboration with Gong Hyo Jin following hits like Pasta (2010) and Don’t Dare to Dream (2016).
Despite its stellar lineup featuring Hallyu icon Lee Min Ho, rom-com queen Gong Hyo Jin, and a powerhouse creative team, critics and viewers have found the show falling short of expectations. The space-set romance has drawn criticism for its “slow and complex early episodes, coupled with scattered directing.” Even writer Seo’s trademark fresh and snappy dialogue seems to have lost its usual sparkle. Industry insiders note that recent turbulent events, including the martial law declaration, President Yoon’s impeachment vote, and the Jeju Air passenger plane incident, may have impacted viewing patterns.
Meanwhile, other weekend dramas showed varying results. JTBC’s The Tale of Lady Ok starring Lim Ji Yeon hit a series high with 11.1% for its 10th episode, up 0.8% from its previous episode’s 10.3%. Channel A’s Check-in Hanyang with Bae In Hyuk recorded 2.7% for its 6th episode, while KBS’s Iron Family maintained strong numbers with 18.9% nationwide for its 30th episode.
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