Most Hopeless K-drama Currently: Bad Acting + Unfathomable Plot

KBS’s newest weekly drama, “Scandal,”has been creating a buzz since its premiere thanks to the highly-anticipated return of actress Han Chae-young, known as Korea’s Barbie Doll.

On the evening of June 17, the first episode was broadcasted, but it did not garner positive results. In fact, it had the lowest viewership ratings for any KBS daily drama in the past four years.

According to Nielsen Korea, “Scandal” debuted with a rating of 7.2%, which was 0.8% lower than the debut rating of “The Two Sisters.” “The Two Sisters” was already considered a burden for KBS, as it never achieved ratings higher than 10% during its airing. Despite high anticipation, “Scandal” had an even weaker start than its predecessor, which was thought to be the savior of the network.

Not only was the opening rating for “Scandal” lower than that of “The Two Sisters,” but it also fell short compared to all KBS daily dramas from the past four years. These include “The Elegant Empire” (9.4%), “Woman in a Veil” (10.4%), “Vengeance of the Bride” (12.8%), “Gold Mask” (11.5%), “Red Shoes” (12.8%), “Miss Monte-Cristo” (14.6%), “Man in a Veil” (10.4%), and “Fatal Promise” (12.5%), with ratings from 2024 to 2020.

The figures demonstrate a dire situation for KBS daily dramas. The current trend in Korea seems to reject the “hopeless”plots that cater to housewives and rely heavily on exaggerated drama. This was evident in the failure of “Scandal,”which adhered to this formula and failed to capture viewers’ attention, despite its dramatic first episode.

Here are a few remarks from internet users:

The acting of both lead actresses is rigid, and the script is disorganized chaos.
Despite struggling to complete “The Two Sisters,”I now have to face an even more distressing drama.
KBS should reconsider its approach to drama production. Instead of continuing to make lengthy dramas, the network should consider following the trend of other networks and producing 16-episode miniseries. The current practice of making long dramas is outdated and hinders the network’s success.
In addition to the stunning actors and scenery, the initial episode failed to leave any lasting impression, thus the low rating is justified.

Despite it being the first episode, Han Chae-young’s acting has already received harsh criticism from viewers. Despite her nickname as Korea’s Barbie, Han Chae-young’s doll-like appearance has not changed with age, causing her to act stiffly on screen.

In the K-drama, the character Moon Jeong-in is portrayed as the CEO of Jeongin Entertainment. She is depicted as a highly ambitious woman who goes to great lengths to acquire her husband’s wealth. However, her actions ultimately lead to her untimely death in the first episode, leaving viewers wondering about the direction of the rest of the series.

K14 and KBS are the sources.