“Even My Mom Didn’t Get It” Gong Hyo-jin Gets Real About Struggles on 'When the Stars Gossip'

Gong Hyo-jin is no stranger to bold roles—but even she admits that 'When the Stars Gossip' pushed her to a new galaxy of challenges.

In a video titled “It’s late, but here’s something I wanted to share” posted on her personal YouTube channel on April 20, Gong reflected candidly on her experience filming the high-budget tvN sci-fi romance that aired earlier this year.

“Everything about filming this drama felt new,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe how much post-production it required—we had to wait two years for some parts to be completed. And honestly, the plot was pretty hard to follow. I wondered if people would even understand it.”

From Space Kisses to Zero Gravity Chaos

The drama drew attention early on for its unique premise and star-studded cast, but also faced criticism for being too complex. One of the most talked-about scenes came in Episode 8, where Gong and Lee Min-ho’s characters share a passionate kiss and a “space bed” moment in life-threatening conditions. In the drama Gong says "It’s warmer without clothes," as they cling to each other for body heat.

The scene became even more dramatic when her character was revealed to be pregnant, adding to the emotional weight. By the end of the series, she gives birth to a girl—only for the her to tragically pass away a day later, leaving viewers stunned.

A Physically Demanding Role

Gong didn’t hold back when describing the physical toll of filming. “Zero-gravity scenes took forever. It took over two months to shoot just one episode. I’d be suspended in a wire for 15 hours, and half that time was literally spent floating in the air,” she said.

“At one point I shouted, ‘Please let me down!’ because my circulation was so bad. The fact that we did that for a year… it’s wild.”

Even her own mother questioned the plot, asking, “Does it get more interesting next week?” Gong laughed, admitting, “That’s when I realized this was probably tough for older viewers to follow.”

A Rough Landing, But Global Liftoff

Despite a massive production budget of over ₩50 billion, 'When the Stars Gossip' wrapped up with disappointing domestic ratings in the 2% range. Still, Gong emphasized how grateful she was for the experience.

“The cast worked hard, but the crew? They worked even harder. Looking back, I realize how much we all went through. It might be a long time before someone attempts another space drama,” she joked. "As actors, we were simply thankful that the drama was completed and released."

While the series underperformed in Korea, it found a different kind of success abroad.

'When the Stars Gossip' climbed into Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) and charted in the Top 10 in over 55 countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan, India, and Saudi Arabia, according to FlixPatrol. While it may have underperformed domestically, 'When the Stars Gossip' proved that success can take many forms.

Get the latest on K-pop & K-drama here!