The ratings for tvN's ambitious space-themed drama When the Stars Gossip have hit an all-time low, leaving netizens and industry insiders stunned.

According to Nielsen Korea, the drama's fifth episode, aired on January 18, recorded a nationwide average viewership of just 1.8%, the lowest since its premiere. The Seoul metropolitan area fared only slightly better, with a rating of 1.9%.

This marks a steep decline for the show, which debuted with a respectable 3.3% rating. By its third episode, the drama had already dropped to the 2% range, and now it has dipped even further into the 1% range—a significant blow for a project of this scale.

With an incredible production budget of around 50 billion KRW (~$38 million USD) and five years of preparation, the series was expected to be a game-changer as the first Korean drama set on a space station.

However, despite featuring major stars like Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin, the show has struggled to maintain viewers' attention.

In comparison, other dramas airing on the same day saw much stronger ratings. KBS2's Darimi Family soared with a 17.4% viewership rating, followed by SBS's My Perfect Secretary at 11.4%, JTBC's The Tale of Lady Ok with 8.4%, MBC's Motel California at 3.6%, and Channel A's Check-in Han Yang at 2.5%.

The dramatic ratings drop for When the Stars Gossip raises questions about its future and whether the series can recover from this low point.

Source: [1]

Actress Song Hye Kyo shared a funny and relatable story about what she would do if a fan ever asked her for a photo at a bathhouse.

On January 22, Song Hye Kyo appeared on the podcast Song Eun I & Kim Sook's Secret Guarantee, where she opened up about her past experiences and some funny moments.

During the episode, Song Hye Kyo shared memories from her last meeting with comedian Song Eun I, saying, “We last met when I was in my early 20s”.

Kim Sook then expressed her gratitude, saying, “That’s quite a long time ago. Hye Kyo showed great loyalty by coming out to meet us”.

Song Hye Kyo went on to recall how Song Eun I taught her how to drink, saying, “When I turned 20 after graduation, she said, ‘Try a glass of beer,’ and that was the last time I drank with her”.

The conversation took a fun turn when a listener asked if Song Hye Kyo, who has been a top star since the 90s, ever goes to public bathhouses.

She explained, “I don’t go much in Seoul. But I do go when I’m shooting in the provinces,” adding, “I get embarrassed being completely undressed, so I only cover my face with a towel.”

Kim Sook joked about how Song Hye Kyo might handle fans asking for a photo at a bathhouse, and the actress responded with humor, saying, “I’ll just stick my face out from the tub and take the photo”, causing laughter from the hosts.

Meanwhile, Song Hye Kyo is preparing for her role in the upcoming movie Dark Nuns, keeping fans excited for her next big project.

Source: [1]