Two Episodes Left… 500B KRW K-Drama Stuck at 1% Ratings—Any Hope?

A 500 billion KRW ($346 million) production, initially expected to be a groundbreaking hit, is now struggling to stay afloat. With just two episodes remaining, tvN’s weekend drama 'When The Stars Gossip' has hit a major setback, failing to rise above the 1% rating range.

According to Nielsen Korea on February 17, episode 14, which aired the previous night, recorded a nationwide rating of 1.92% and a metropolitan area rating of 1.98%.

A Declining Trend from the Start

The drama debuted on January 4 with a 3.3% rating, but it never managed to surpass the 3% mark again after episode 2. As episodes progressed, viewership steadily declined to the 1–2% range, and by episode 13 and 14, it had dropped to a humiliating 1% range just a week before its finale.

This marks the first time in four years that a tvN weekend drama has dipped below 2%, the last being 'Melting Me Softly' in 2019. Since tvN's weekend slot was established in 2017, When The Stars Gossip now holds the second-lowest rating record in the network’s history.

Why Is 'When The Stars Gossip' Flopping?

Starring Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho, the 16-episode sci-fi romance tells the story of Eve Kim (Gong Hyo-jin), a boss working on a space station, and Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho), a mysterious visitor with a secret.

The drama was touted as Korea’s first space station-themed production, with an unprecedented five-year production period and a massive budget of 500 billion KRW ($346 million). With an A-list cast including Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin, a star-studded creative team featuring writer Seo Sook-hyang ('Pasta', 'Jealousy Incarnate') and director Park Shin-woo ('It’s Okay to Not Be Okay', 'Encounter'), it was expected to be one of the most anticipated dramas of 2025. However, expectations have crumbled, leaving many viewers disappointed.

The primary reasons for the drama’s under performance are believed to be its lackluster storyline and underwhelming execution despite its grand-scale production. Critics have pointed out that the plot feels outdated, the pacing is slow, and the emotional depth is lacking. While early episodes suggested potential, the series failed to deliver compelling plot twists or an engaging narrative.

Can It Recover in the Final Episodes?

With only two episodes left, the chances of a dramatic viewership increase seem unlikely. Viewers initially hoped for a mid-series turnaround, but the show never regained momentum.

Viewers expressed their disappointment and frustration after the latest episode, questioning how the drama ended up in such a state. Many commented that it had completely flopped, criticizing its lack of coherence and stating that they couldn’t connect with the storyline. While some acknowledged the talent of the cast, they lamented that it felt like a waste of their potential. Others hoped that the drama would at least deliver a satisfying ending despite its struggles. The 500 billion KRW production budget became a major talking point, with viewers wondering how such a large investment led to these results. The 1.9% rating was also called embarrassing, with some saying that the drama had completely lost its direction.

In episode 14, Eve Kim (Gong Hyo-jin) tells Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho) that she will discard the illegally created embryos. Kang Tae-hee (Kim Joo-heon) discovers Gong Ryong’s memo and realizes the embryos were illegally produced, questioning whether Eve Kim was aware of the truth. Gong Ryong, insisting that the embryos are "life," begs Eve to return them, but she refuses, citing space ethics regulations.

When Eve learns that Gong Ryong has been arrested, she shows concern but ultimately decides to protect the space station and the space agency, turning away while telling him, "Don’t forgive me."

Following its conclusion, When The Stars Gossip will be replaced by tvN’s new weekend drama 'The Potato Lab', premiering on March 1. Starring Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh, the drama is set in a peaceful rural village, where two people cross paths through their work in potato research and gradually fall in love. With When The Stars Gossip failing to capture audiences, all eyes are on The Potato Lab to see if it can break the streak of low ratings and become a new weekend hit.

When The Stars Gossip Ratings Trend (Nielsen Korea, Nationwide)

Episode 1 (Jan 4): 3.3%

Episode 2 (Jan 5): 3.9%

Episode 3 (Jan 11): 2.2%

Episode 4 (Jan 12): 2.8%

Episode 5 (Jan 18): 1.8%

Episode 6 (Jan 19): 2.9%

Episode 7 (Jan 25): 1.8%

Episode 8 (Jan 26): 2.2%

Episode 9 (Feb 1): 2.1%

Episode 10 (Feb 2): 2.7%

Episode 11 (Feb 8): 1.9%

Episode 12 (Feb 9): 2.1%

Episode 13 (Feb 15): 1.9%

Episode 14 (Feb 16): 1.9%