One of the most-watched Korean dramas right now is tvN's "It's Okay To Not Be Okay," but it's honestly ironic that it's not so popular in its homeland.
Despite the drama receiving global rave and being one of the top 10 popular shows on Netflix from various countries, it's quite surprising that it's not even part of any list in Korea. The drama's ratings for the recent episodes did not even reach cable channel standards.
Why so? Is it Kim Soo Hyun's alleged forced acting, or is it just not entertaining enough for Koreans?
"It's Okay To Not Be Okay" tells the story of Moon Gang Tae, who works as a health worker in a psychiatric hospital. In most of his life, he was forced to believe that his only purpose in the world is to take care of his older brother, Moon Sang Tae, who has ASD and is a talented illustrator. He adores the famous children's book author Go Moon Young, who has an anti-personality disorder.
Moon Gang Tae meets Go Moon Young, and together, they help heal each other's emotional wounds as the story progresses.
Despite the healing drama living up to the global hype, one recent post about the drama's low ratings stirred many arguments, questioning if the show is worth watching. Several comments claimed that Kim Soo Hyun's acting was a bit forced.
Kim Soo Hyun is one of Korea's most popular actors and is currently the highest-paid actor in the country. Known for his handsome looks, talents, and multiple dramas that he starred in, he has made a name for himself. Mentioning a few of his outnumbered achievements, he has gathered several awards, such as the "Hallyu Star Award" from his drama "The Producers," "Best Actor Award," and "Most Popular Award" from "My Love From The Star."
So, is Kim Soo Hyun's acting really the reason to blame for the show's low domestic ratings?
Some viewers say the story isn't quite fun, while others shared how the drama lacks that family-friendly vibe to it. That's why most viewers watch it on Netflix using their laptops rather on television with their family. Thus, making it a drama that is only popular on Netflix. Basing from other hit Korean dramas that got very popular in various regions through Netflix are "The World of The Married" and "Crash Landing On You." These dramas had an average of 18.8% and 12.2% ratings, respectively, despite them being popular Netflix shows.
Comparing them to "It's Okay To Not Be Okay," the drama's recent episodes have an average viewership rating of 6.1%. According to other sources, ratings of the recent episodes of the show kept declining domestically.
Focusing on the brighter side, many fans say how good Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji's chemistry is. Some say the story is quite heart-warming due to the drama, emphasizing that people who suffer from mental illnesses are still human beings, and we shouldn't regard them as insignificant. The story also gives viewers knowledge about psychological issues, while also depicting family, healing, sacrifice, friendship, and selfless love.
Given that the show hasn't ended yet, viewers will definitely see a rise in viewership ratings for the next episodes!
Catch "It's Okay To Not Be Okay" on Netflix, which airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 p.m. KST on tvN.
