Lee Min Ho’s $34M K-Drama When The Stars Gossip Crashes—Is This tvN’s Biggest Flop Yet?

Despite a production budget of ₩50.0 billion KRW (approximately $34.1 million USD), tvN’s When The Stars Gossip has failed to capture the hearts of viewers. The Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin-led K-drama premiered with much fanfare but has struggled with declining ratings and harsh reviews.
The series debuted with a 3.3% viewership rating, which slightly increased to 3.9% for the second episode. However, subsequent episodes saw a decline, with ratings dropping to the 2% range. Comparatively, rival shows such as SBS’s Love Scout and JTBC’s The Tale of Lady Ok have soared, hitting double-digit ratings by their third episodes.
The lackluster performance is a stark contrast to 2024’s hit Queen of Tears, which started at 5.9% and concluded with a stunning 24.9% viewership rating.
Mixed Genre Fails to Resonate
When The Stars Gossip was marketed as Korea’s first “zero-gravity space station K-drama,” blending sci-fi, rom-com, and workplace drama. While the attempt to create a unique genre was ambitious, critics have argued that it alienated viewers. Newsen, a prominent media outlet, called the concept “too niche,” suggesting that the blend of genres failed to connect emotionally with the audience.
“It’s commendable that the production team tried to break away from clichés, but what’s the point if it doesn’t capture the audience’s attention?” noted Newsen.
High Expectations, Greater Disappointment
The drama’s enormous budget raised expectations among fans. With ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $6.82 million USD) spent on CGI and VFX to recreate space and its environment, viewers anticipated a visually stunning experience. However, the storytelling failed to deliver, leaving many disappointed.
Adding to the criticism are the numerous sex scenes throughout the series, which many have found unnecessary and disruptive. From intimate moments between lead characters to bizarre scenes like fruit flies mating, the drama has been inundated with such content. Viewers have questioned the lack of coherence and the deviation from the scriptwriter Seo Sook Hyang’s usual rom-com style, seen in beloved works like Pasta and Don’t Dare To Dream (Jealousy Incarnate).
Impact on CJ ENM
The underperformance of When The Stars Gossip has also reportedly affected CJ ENM, the company behind the production. Already facing competition from platforms like Netflix and other content creators, CJ ENM’s reputation as a leading name in entertainment seems threatened. Reports suggest the show’s failure may have contributed to a dip in the company’s stock prices.