‘Divorce Insurance’ Faces Ratings Crisis — Could This Be tvN’s Lowest Ever?

According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 8, which aired on April 22, recorded a 1.0% rating (nationwide paid households), marking the series’ lowest number yet and down from 1.3% in Episode 6. The drama had initially premiered with 3.2%, but ratings have steadily declined across its run:

tvN “The Divorce Insurance” Ratings Trend:

Ep. 1: 3.2%

Ep. 2: 2.4%

Ep. 3: 2.0%

Ep. 4: 1.4%

Ep. 5: 1.6%

Ep. 6: 1.3%

Ep. 7: 1.4%

Ep. 8: 1.0%

If ratings dip just slightly further, the drama may become tvN’s first show since 2018’s About Time to enter the 0% range — a historic and unwanted distinction.

Strong Cast, Unique Concept… So What Went Wrong?

The Midnight Romance stars major names like Lee Dong-wook, Lee Da-hee, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Joo-bin, and centers around a quirky office tasked with developing a new insurance product for divorce — a novel setup described as an “office romantic comedy with a twist.”

Despite strong casting and the bold concept, viewers have struggled to connect. Criticisms include:

Too much technical exposition early on

Uneven emotional pacing

Romance that “lacks spark”

Few plot twists or high-stakes drama to hold attention

Episode 8 did include emotional breakthroughs for both leads and side characters, hinting at new romantic developments and team tensions. However, the shift wasn’t enough to reverse the downward trend.

Viewer Reactions: Hopeful but Mixed

Online comments show a mix of frustration and faint optimism:

“That episode was good, actually… such a shame.”

“Now I’m invested, but no one’s watching.”

“Can we get more Da-hee and Kwang-soo scenes before it ends?”

“Please don’t let it drop to 0%…”

tvN’s Rare Ratings Crisis

Historically, tvN has avoided dipping below 1% in its Monday–Tuesday dramas since 2018. Shows like Poem a Day (0.76%) and About Time (0.88%) hit low points but still maintained buzz. If The Midnight Romance breaks into the 0% range, it will mark a significant moment in the network’s programming history.

The final four episodes will determine whether the show can salvage its legacy — or join the ranks of tvN’s biggest commercial disappointments.

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