Korean Drama Faces Crisis with Ratings Dropping into 0% Range: Can It Bounce Back with 5 Episodes Left?
According to Nielsen Korea on May 22, the episode of Pump Up the Healthy Love that aired the previous day recorded a nationwide household viewership rating of 1.1%, a 0.2 percentage point drop from the previous episode (episode 6).
Emotional Growth and “Muscle Flirting”
The May 21 episode of Pump Up the Healthy Love focused on Doh Hyun-joong helping Lee Mi-ran overcome her breakup and workout slump. Mi-ran considered quitting the gym, but Hyun-joong reignited her motivation through sports and a humorous office visit where colleagues mistook them for a couple.
A hiking trip brought both tension and laughter when Mi-ran briefly went missing due to stomach trouble. Hyun-joong shared his painful childhood and feelings of abandonment, inspiring Mi-ran to move on from her ex and return to fitness. The episode ended with a surprise: Hyun-joong’s ex, Kang Sol, appeared, hinting at new romantic drama.
Terrestrial Dramas Face Ratings Crisis Amid Shifting Viewer Habits
Pump Up the Healthy Love is among several terrestrial dramas struggling with low ratings. SBS’s Spring of Youth dropped from 1.4% to 0.7% by its second episode, while MBC’s Crushology 101 fell from 1.3% to 0.7%, becoming the first MBC Friday-Saturday drama to hit the 0% range. Even past flops like Kokdu: Season of Deity maintained steadier ratings around 1.3%, highlighting a broader crisis.
With five episodes remaining before its June 5 finale, Pump Up the Healthy Love faces the risk of dipping into 0%. This decline is driven by younger viewers shifting to OTT platforms like Wavve, Disney+, and YouTube, reducing traditional TV audiences. While leads Lee Jun Young and Jung Eun Ji have loyal fans, their lack of mainstream star power limits broader appeal.
Additionally, the gym-centered plot appeals to a niche audience compared to the universal themes of hits like My Mister and the period drama The Haunted Palace.
OTT Success: A Different Story Online
Despite lackluster TV ratings, Pump Up the Healthy Love has seen impressive performance on OTT platforms:
- Ranked #1 on Wavve’s “Drama Top 20”
- Topped Disney+ Korea’s “Top 10” list by May 15
- Reached #1 in drama on Taiwan’s friDay Video
Its unique “muscle flirting” concept—mixing romance, fitness, and comedy—has gained international traction, particularly on Viu and Viki. Director Park Jun-soo stated at a press event that the show was designed with cross-platform humor in mind, explaining its relative success on streaming services.
Can “Pump Up the Healthy Love” Turn Things Around?
With episode 9 set to air on May 29 at 9:50 PM KST, Pump Up the Healthy Love faces a critical stretch. While its OTT popularity and loyal niche fanbase may carry it through to a respectable finish, reclaiming terrestrial viewership will require strong emotional hooks, unexpected twists, or viral buzz.
For now, its performance reflects the broader struggle of mid-tier dramas to survive in Korea’s changing media landscape—where star power, cross-platform reach, and emotional depth are more important than ever.
