A highly anticipated Korean drama with a massive production budget of 50 billion KRW (~34.9 million USD) has hit a record-low rating of just 1% after only five episodes.
The tvN weekend drama 'When the Stars Gossip' (written by Seo Sook Hyang, and directed by Park Shin Woo) recorded ratings of 1.9% in the metropolitan area and 1.8% nationwide for its fifth episode aired on January 18, according to Nielsen Korea. This marked a 1.0% drop from its fourth episode, which had a 2.8% rating, continuing a steady decline in viewership.
The drama premiered on January 4 with a 3.3% rating and reached its peak at 3.9% during the second episode. However, by the third episode, ratings had fallen to 2.2%, and the show has struggled to recover since. This makes 'When the Stars Gossip' the second tvN weekend drama to dip into the 1% range since 'Melting Me Softly' aired in 2019, and the first since the weekend drama slot was introduced in 2017.
On the same day, competing dramas outperformed 'When the Stars Gossip' significantly. KBS2’s 'Iron Family' recorded a rating of 17.4%, SBS’s 'Love Scout' achieved 11.4%, JTBC’s 'The Tale of Lady Ok' reached 8.4%, MBC’s 'Motel California' hit 3.6%, and Channel A’s 'Check-In Hanyang' secured 2.5%.
Notably, 'Love Scout' has been enjoying increasing popularity, with its sixth episode achieving a nationwide rating of 11.4% and a peak of 13%, maintaining its position as the top weekend miniseries. It also performed strongly in the key 20–49 demographic, with a 4.4% rating, making it the week’s most-watched show in Korea and leading in 123 countries worldwide.
'When the Stars Gossip,' starring Gong Hyo Jin and Lee Min Ho, tells the story of Eve Kim (played by Gong Hyo Jin), a boss working on a zero-gravity space station, and Gong Ryong (portrayed by Lee Min Ho), an unwelcome visitor on a secret mission. The 16-episode series, Korea’s first space-station-themed drama, reportedly took five years to prepare and cost around 50 billion KRW to produce. Its star-studded cast and high-profile creators, including 'Pasta' writer Seo Sook Hyang and 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay' director Park Shin Woo, generated high expectations as one of the most anticipated dramas of 2025.
However, despite its promising premise, the drama has faced criticism for a lack of originality and weak storytelling. Some viewers have pointed out that competing dramas with smaller budgets have gained traction due to engaging storylines and word-of-mouth popularity. For instance, JTBC’s 'The Tale of Lady Ok' hit a peak rating of 11%, while MBC’s 'Motel California' has steadily maintained 3–4% ratings, and Check-In Hanyang climbed from 1% to 2–3%.
Following the fifth episode, viewers expressed disappointment online with comments including "What happened to the ratings?" "It’s sad to see Lee Min Ho’s talent go to waste," "The slow pacing is the biggest issue," and "Will it at least gain popularity overseas?"
The latest episode saw tensions peak as Gong Ryong confessed his love to Eve Kim, only to be met with a firm rejection. Meanwhile, additional layers of intrigue unfolded with the reveal of Kang Kang Soo’s (portrayed by Oh Jung Se) mysterious involvement in a secret plot and Park Dong Ah’s (played by Kim Joo Heon) betrayal.
As 'When the Stars Gossip' progresses, it remains to be seen whether the drama can turn things around and recapture the interest of increasingly demanding audiences. With 11 episodes left, the show’s ability to deliver a dramatic turnaround could determine whether it becomes a memorable success or a costly misstep in Korean drama history.
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