As of March 11, JTBC's new weekend drama 'The Art of Negotiation' has been met with lukewarm reviews from viewers, who claim that it failed to meet expectations. One of the most common criticisms is that the signature style of director Ahn Pan Seok did not translate well into this particular project. In particular, excessive emphasis on background music (OST) in a dialogue-heavy office drama has been blamed for disrupting immersion.

'The Art of Negotiation,' which premiered on March 8, follows Yoon Joo No (played by Lee Jae Hoon), a legendary negotiator and M&A specialist at a major conglomerate, and his team as they tackle the massive 11 trillion KRW (about $8.2 billion) debt of Sanin Group through an acquisition project. Director Ahn Pan Seok is known for his realistic and emotionally rich portrayals of romance in dramas such as 'Secret Affair,' 'Something in the Rain,' and 'One Spring Night.' He is also recognized for his distinctive use of OSTs, often favoring old-school pop songs performed by international singer-songwriters or instrumental tracks devoid of lyrics.

This signature approach remains unchanged in 'The Art of Negotiation,' but the problem lies in the genre. Unlike Ahn’s previous romance-focused works, this drama relies heavily on dialogue. The first OST, Money Takes the Heart by Kevin Salem, combines rock and blues elements, delivering a grand, imposing sound. The lyrics convey a message about how greed and money threaten human nature, repeatedly emphasizing the cold reality behind financial success. However, this track was played persistently throughout episodes 1 and 2, creating a discordant atmosphere that did not align with the drama’s core themes. For instance, in a scene where Lee Jae Hoon's character explains an M&A project to executives, the overpowering OST made it difficult to clearly hear the dialogue. Additionally, its excessive use resulted in an overly dramatic and solemn tone that disrupted the flow of the narrative.

Given that the drama revolves around corporate M&A, viewers need to concentrate to fully grasp its intricacies. However, if crucial dialogue is drowned out by the OST, it is a fundamental flaw in direction. While Ahn Pan Seok demonstrated his skill in office dramas with 'Behind the White Tower,' his more recent works have leaned towards a slow, music-video-like tempo and realistic dialogue, elements that suit romance dramas but blur the strengths of 'The Art of Negotiation.'

Another issue that has been pointed out is the casting. Ahn Pan Seok has a history of working with the same actors repeatedly, and this is evident in 'The Art of Negotiation,' where many familiar faces from his past dramas reappear. For instance, Oh Man Suk has collaborated with Ahn in seven different productions, prompting some viewers to criticize the frequent reuse of the same actors.

Despite being the successor to 'The Tale of Lady Ok', 'The Art of Negotiation' did not fully benefit from its predecessor’s popularity due to a two-month gap between broadcasts. Although its ratings climbed from 3.3% in episode 1 to 6.1% in episode 2, the absence of strong competition in its time slot suggests that ratings may decline in the upcoming episodes. With SBS’s 'Buried Hearts' and MBC’s 'Undercover High School' set to intensify the weekend drama competition, it remains to be seen whether 'The Art of Negotiation' can hold its ground.

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