Celebrity

Gong Hyo-jin Reflects on Costly ‘When The Stars Gossip” Flop: “Even My Mom Asked If It Gets Better Next Week”

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In a video titled “It’s Late, But I Wanted to Talk About This” uploaded on April 20 to her personal channel “For Now, Gong Hyo Jin,” the star candidly shared her thoughts on the tvN drama “When The Stars Gossip,” which wrapped in February after a turbulent run.

The series, which starred Gong Hyo-jin and Lee Min-ho, was billed as a ₩50 billion (approximately $36 million USD) blockbuster set in a zero-gravity space station. Gong Hyo-jin played Eve Kim, a no-nonsense commander navigating life and love among the stars. Despite the ambitious premise and high production value, the show received mixed reactions and underwhelming ratings, with many labeling it a “flop.”

Gong Hyo-jin recalled the production as being “unlike any other project”, describing how the entire drama was fully pre-produced over the course of two years, including extensive post-production. “The story was complicated, not easy for viewers to digest,” she admitted.

One of the most controversial elements? The ending—where Gong Hyo-jin’s character dies just a day after giving birth. “My mom cried for three days,” Gong Hyo-jin said, laughing. “She even asked me if it would get better next week. That’s when I realized how difficult it was for older viewers to understand.”

Gong Hyo-jin Reflects on Costly Sci-Fi Flop

She also addressed the show’s criticisms head-on, explaining, “People said space is still too early for Korean dramas. And maybe they’re right.” But she emphasized that someone has to take the first step into new genres: “The beginning of something new always brings mixed reactions. No one knows which work will succeed, or whose turn it is, but the effort of those who go first often goes unrecognized.”

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Gong Hyo-jin also revealed behind-the-scenes challenges, like shooting nearly every scene on wires to simulate zero gravity. “One episode took over two months to film. We spent a year filming 16 episodes,” she said. “I’d be suspended for up to 15 hours a day. I’d say, ‘Please, let me down now.’ Blood circulation would stop. Even now, I can’t believe we finished it.”

Despite the backlash, Gong Hyo-jin urged fans not to worry about the cast and crew being “shocked” by the public response. “We expected this. Don’t worry about us. We’re grateful the drama even made it to air,” she reassured.

With her honesty and humility, Gong Hyo-jin once again proves why she’s one of Korea’s most beloved actresses—always willing to challenge herself, even in uncharted territory.

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