Top Actors’ Kiss Scene Couldn’t Save This Korean Drama from Flopping in Ratings

Following the success of Who Is She (Remake of Film Miss Granny), KBS2’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama Kick Kick Kick Kick had a disappointing start, recording a mere 2.1% viewership for its premiere. Despite featuring top actors and marking the return of a KBS sitcom after seven years, the show received a lukewarm reception.

According to Nielsen Korea on February 6, the premiere episode of Kick Kick Kick Kick (written by Jung Soo-hyun, Nam Eun-kyung, and Jung Hae-young, directed by Ko Seong-jun) recorded a nationwide rating of 2.1%. This is significantly lower than its predecessor Miss Granny, which debuted with 3.9%.

On the same day, the top-rated terrestrial programs were KBS1’s My Merry Marriage at 13.9%, followed by KBS2’s Cinderella Game (11.2%) and MBC’s Friendly Ms. Sun-ju (6.5%).

Many viewers found the first episode difficult to follow. Reactions included comments like, “It was too chaotic, so I changed the channel,” and “The randomness was exhausting.” Other viewers expressed cautious optimism, saying, “I’ll give it a few more episodes,” and “I was excited for the sitcom revival, but this feels somewhere between a sitcom and a drama.”

Kick Kick Kick Kick is an office comedy following actor Ji Jin-hee (as himself) and former star producer Jo Young-sik (played by Lee Kyu-hyung) as they launch the content production company Kick Kick Kick Kick Company. The two form a partnership to reclaim their past glory and attract 3 million subscribers within six months.

At a press conference before the premiere, director Ko Seong-jun said, “We wanted to create a fun, healing experience for viewers in these stressful times.” Although acknowledging that comedy is subjective, Ko expressed confidence that the show’s diverse characters would appeal to different tastes.

The production team has already hinted at plans for a multi-season format, but with comedy being a challenging genre in Korean dramas, its future depends on how well it balances humor and engaging storytelling. Success could mirror hits like The Fiery Priest and Be Melodramatic, but failure could see it fade quietly without much notice.

KBS’s Wednesday-Thursday dramas have struggled for the past six months, with a string of underperforming shows: Perfect Family ended quietly with 2% ratings, Dog Barking barely reached 4%, Face Me underwhelmed despite a star-studded cast, and Miss Granny concluded with a modest 4%.

Outdated Execution and Clichéd Storylines

Viewers and critics have pointed to outdated directing and predictable plotlines as the primary issues. Although the acting performances have been praised, the juvenile setups and slow pacing have detracted from the overall experience. Even Miss Granny, based on the hit movie that drew over 8.6 million theatergoers, fell short after heavily altering the original story.

For KBS to break free from this slump, fresh storytelling and modern directing are essential. Without those changes, the network risks further declines in its primetime slots.

In the first episode, Ji Jin-hee and producer Jo Young-sik reunite after 10 years and, through a series of mishaps—including a mistaken kiss—decide to establish a content company. Investor Don Man-hee offers a large sum, but only if they reach 3 million subscribers. The team, including writers and producers, officially launches Kick Kick Kick Kick Company with a promise to release a risqué couple’s nude photo book upon reaching the goal.

Kick Kick Kick Kick airs every Monday and Tuesday at 9:50 p.m. on KBS2.