South Korean cable channel tvN, known for hit K-dramas such as Queen Of Tears and Guardian: The Lonely And Great God, is now grappling with the fallout of the massive failure of one of its most ambitious projects yet, When The Stars Gossip, Korea’s first-ever space-set office drama.
Despite the presence of Hallyu A-listers Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin, the 16-episode series that blends romance with a sci-fi backdrop has struggled to capture audiences.
The drama, available on Netflix, follows the interstellar rendezvous between Eve (Gong), a space station commander, and Gong-ryong (Lee), a gynecologist seeking a getaway as a space tourist.
Marketed as one of tvN’s biggest tentpoles, the series was developed over five years, from securing its lead actors to post-production. Featuring cutting-edge computer graphics to bring its space setting to life, the show was reported to have involved a hefty budget of KRW50bil (RM153mil).
However, despite its grand scale and star-studded cast, the drama has struggled to justify the investment, averaging a dismal 2% viewership rating. Its lowest point came with episode 7, which logged just 1.8% – marking the first time a tvN weekend drama has dipped into the 1% viewership ratings range in six years since Melting Me Softly.
The failure of this high-stakes project has also impacted the share prices of its creators, with entertainment giant CJ ENM – the parent company of tvN – and production titan Studio Dragon experiencing downturns in the performance of their stocks.
Audiences have skewered When The Stars Gossip for its lacklustre romance, citing weak chemistry between the leads and a meandering, incoherent narrative. Many viewers reportedly abandoned the show after just two episodes, frustrated by its chaotic storytelling.
Critics added the apparent disconnect between its premise and execution as a key reason for the series' lacklustre performance.
While a space-themed drama might evoke expectations of adventure or suspense, the series instead leans heavily into melodrama – resulting in tonal dissonance, said pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun.
“The very concept of space as a setting is already somewhat unfamiliar to Korean audiences. At the same time, viewers have certain expectations for space-themed works, having seen many from overseas – whether they be grand adventures, thrilling suspense or action-packed sequences,” said Jung.
“However, this work incorporates a melodramatic storyline instead. While that could be seen as a distinctly Korean approach – given the industry’s expertise in romance – it also created a significant sense of dissonance for many viewers,” Jung added.
“Sci-fi, by definition, often involves intricate narratives rooted in scientific concepts, and audiences likely expected more of that. However, these elements were largely sidelined,” he continued, noting that while the drama includes some space-related details, they remain superficial rather than integral to the plot. – By LEE YOON-SEO/The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
