In the first six months of 2024, many K-dramas were eagerly awaited and expected to become hits, but they ultimately turned out to be resounding failures.
1- Survival War: Resurrection
“Survival War” was supposed to follow in the footsteps of the success of “The Penthouse,” but this time around, SBS faced disappointment. After an unconvincing first season, the second season also disappointed viewers with numerous inconsistencies in the plot and multiple twists and turns which ended up tiring and distracting part of the audience. “Survival War: Resurrection” ended with a disastrous viewership rating of around 4,1%, in stark contrast to its enormous production cost (around $34 million) and being called a “disgrace” for the network.
2- The Impossible Heir
Initially, “The Impossible Heir” captivated viewers’ attention with the presence of young actors Lee Jae Wook and Lee Jun Young, as well as its fascinating plot about the ambitious journey of young people. However, upon its broadcast, Hong Su Zu’s stiff and unnatural acting, combined with the way her character was written, received mixed reactions. Many viewers felt that the lead actress was the K-drama’s weak point, especially in comparison with the supporting actress Cho Hee Jin’s outstanding performance.
3- Branding in Seongsu
This K-drama marked the return of charming actor Lomon after his success in “All of Us Are Dead”. However, it seemed like a setback in his rising career. The plot, where the two main characters accidentally swap bodies and go from hatred to love, was too classic television and lacked novelty. Additionally, the weak performance of the lead actress, Kim Ji Eun, also contributed to the failure of the series.
4- Captivating the King
The K-drama tells the love story between Joseon King Lee In (Jo Jung Seok) and Kang Hee Soo (Shin Se Kyung). Many reviews pointed out that the series was difficult to follow, due to tedious political details and a lack of character interactions. The most annoying aspect was Shin Se Kyung’s stiff acting, playing a male character while wearing heavy makeup. The only positive note was Jo Jung Seok’s performance, but even he couldn’t save the K-drama.
5- Hierarchy
“Hierarchy” was expected to be a hit on Netflix thanks to its plot around power struggles between wealthy students. The participation of a young main cast, including Roh Jeong Eui, Lee Chae Min, Kim Jae Won, Ji Hye Won and Lee Won Jung, had also piqued the interest of viewers. However, as the drama progressed, viewers grew impatient as too many plot points were covered, touching on various aspects such as Lee Chae Min’s revenge and the cute romance between Roh Jeong Eui and Kim Jae Won, none of which are truly resolved. In addition, the explicit scenes between the teacher and the student Lee Won Jung shocked by their overly sensitive nature. Despite the production team’s extensive promotion, the K-drama received only disappointment from viewers.
Which Kdrama would you add to this list?