[HanCinema's News] Major Actors Not Translating to Major Ratings for Major Dramas

By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/02/07

South Korean media production typically gives big name stars large fees, with some regularly exceeding $100,000 dollars per episode. Yet the performance of recent dramas with high-priced talent has not met with expectations. "Snowdrop" never exceeded 4% ratings despite the presence of Jung Hae-in. "Bad and Crazy" with Lee Dong-wook had drifted down to 2.8% ratings in its final episode. "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls" with Lee Jin-uk had a similarly disappointing 5% ratings finish.

"Our Beloved Summer" even had the benefit of two big stars instead of just one, with Choi Wooshik and Kim Da-mi in the leading roles. Yet that drama ended with just 5.3% ratings. "Our Beloved Summer" did have a noteworthy advantage compared to the other three in that it performed exceptionally well in the international market on Netflix. Yet even that example poses a noteworthy counterargument. "All of Us Are Dead" has no major stars to speak of yet is the world's most popular Netflix show.

If viewers aren't drawn to serial dramas with big stars, then what are they drawn to? The answer is that they respond to strong performances. "Uncle" hasn't had much of an international profile. But it's had excellent ratings, with a high of 9.3%. The sentimental TV Chosun drama about an unemployed middle-aged man doesn't sound exciting. The biggest credit lead actor Oh Jung-se had before then was in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" as the older autistic brother of Kim Soo-hyun's character.

Yet that performance was a powerful one, and Oh Jung-se has earned further plaudits for his role in "Uncle" cementing his reputation not just as supporting talent, but as talent capable of carrying a narrative as the lead. Ultimately the story that has emerged from recent big projects is that a big star alone can't guarantee success. A good drama needs a solid appeal, and whether an actor is right for the role matters more than how famous they are.

Written by William Schwartz

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William Schwartz

Staff writer. Has been writing articles for HanCinema since 2012, having lived in South Korea from 2011 to 2021. He is currently located in the Southern Illinois. William Schwartz can be contacted via william@hancinema.net, and is open to requests for content in future articles.

Read articles, reviews from William Schwartz

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Although most of what you wrote are correct, you are wrong about Snowdrop. Snowdrop had not performed well in the ratings due to the controversy that dogged it through out its run; otherwise it has been a better drama than the other two listed. The problem now with Korean drama and their writers as a whole is their imitation to western style dramas. We in the west have that in our countries in spades- better ones too, I dare add. We come to Korean sites to watch something different to our own and contribute to the ratings. I, for one, have been put off lately for the poor quality writing that seem to be permeating throughout the dramas and the repetitiveness of what one had already seen in various other dramas, making it not worth my while to invest in any dramas ongoing regardless of the lead. It may be the same for many others too.
Lost, was and have been in my view, the best drama for 2021 despite its poor ratings and take up by Korean viewers. Watching it from UK here had been so rewarding that I have re-watched and recommended to my colleagues; all of whom had come back with glowing reviews so if you have not watched it yet; do! The performance of Jeon Do-yeon was raw, sublime and was a pendulum to which all the other actors swayed! It was a profound performance from all that it felt like one was at a theatre where the actors came on stage, no hiding place and performed;- pacing of the drama was slow, deliberately for effect and it worked. No other drama for 2021 matched it. These days, the actors do not act- they rely on computer generated performances and photography. In Lost, it was raw! That is the kind of drama that viewers like me come to Korean sites to watch and cannot find. These days, one watches the old drama like Jumong, Sea God Gye Baekye etc; better those than the current!

👥 Mamley Quartey (🕒2022-02-08 21:13:46)
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