High Hopes, Big Disappointment: Korean Drama Ends with a Mere 2.6% Viewership

Channel A’s drama The Witch wrapped up with underwhelming results.

Based on a popular webtoon by Kang Full, The Witch initially drew attention with its solid cast and unique storyline. However, issues with pacing, lackluster directing, and underutilized characters led to declining viewership. The show ultimately ended quietly on March 16, concluding its 10-episode run with a nationwide rating of 2.6%, according to Nielsen Korea.

Premiering on February 15, The Witch was a mystery romance about a woman ostracized as a witch in her village and the man who tries to save her. It debuted with a promising 2.4% rating—the highest-ever premiere rating for a Channel A drama—and showed early momentum in its second episode. However, as competition heated up, viewership plummeted, even dipping into the 1% range on Saturdays.

Several factors contributed to the drama’s lack of success. The most significant was its sluggish pacing. Despite being a short 10-episode series, the plot moved too slowly. The repeated flashbacks of the protagonist Mi-jeong’s (Roh Jeong-eui) past dragged down the storytelling, and Dong-jin’s (Park Jin-young) emotional development felt unclear. The primary narrative stagnated until episode six, causing a drop in tension and a growing audience exodus.

The weak character development further hindered the drama. Dong-jin, originally depicted as somewhat obsessive in the webtoon, failed to translate effectively on-screen, making his actions seem unconvincing. Park Jin-young’s acting also came under criticism for its monotony and lack of depth. Meanwhile, Mi-jeong’s subdued personality, initially a compelling trait, became monotonous over time, leaving the drama without a strong emotional core.

The directing also fell short of expectations. Director Kim Tae-kyun, known for his meticulous storytelling in Dark Figure of Crime, struggled to capture the essence and mystery of the original webtoon. While the drama initially garnered buzz with special appearances by Ju Ji-hoon, Yoon Park, Jin Seon-kyu, and Joo Jong-hyuk, their roles felt more like fleeting gimmicks rather than integral parts of the story.

With the original webtoon amassing over 130 million views, anticipation for the drama adaptation was high. However, it failed to meet expectations, losing its way between romance and mystery without fully embracing either. Combined with pacing issues, this led to dwindling audience interest. In the end, The Witch closed its run with a disappointing 2.6% viewership, falling short of its initial promise.