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Recently, Lee Min-ho made his return to the small screen with the K-drama “When the Stars Gossip”. However, the attention he’s receiving isn’t exactly positive, and many start to worry that Lee Min-ho may be in a career crisis.
An ignored 50 billion won blockbuster
From the moment the cast was announced, “When the Stars Gossip” was promoted as a blockbuster TV production with a budget of 50 billion won (approx 34 million USD) and an unprecedentedly star-studded crew, including top-tier directors, writers, and A-list actors in the Korean entertainment industry.
Not to mention, the drama aired during tvN’s prime time slot, was actively promoted by Netflix from the beginning, and seemed to have everything necessary to become a hit. Yet, reality proved otherwise.
From its first episode, “When the Stars Gossip” left the public bewildered, recording a rating of only 3.324%, lower than the opening ratings of all other weekend dramas on tvN in 2024. By its second week, ratings had dropped below 3%, with the lowest episode hitting 2.237% — a figure shockingly low for a weekend drama, especially one with an A-list cast.
Lee Min-ho’s failed efforts?
It’s undeniable that via “When the Stars Gossip”, Lee Min-ho has made efforts to transform his image. He took on the role of a less affluent, more playful character, moving away from the typical “rich and conceited male lead” image he’s known for.
However, his acting appeared to be somewhat overshadowed by the other cast members, and his chemistry with Gong Hyo-jin isn’t exactly spectacular. In addition, what has consistently kept Lee Min-ho in the spotlight — his stunning looks — wasn’t fully leveraged in this drama either.
In truth, “When the Stars Gossip” was considered a risky venture for its production team, as space-themed Netflix works rarely succeed in Korea. Even big names like Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Kim Tae-ri, and Song Joong-ki have faced disappointment with this genre (as can be seen in the lackluster performances of “The Silent Sea” and “Space Sweepers”).
Moreover, “When the Stars Gossip” included absurd plot elements and excessive “mating scenes”, which caused many to wonder what issue Lee Min-ho might be facing that led him to choose this script.
10 years without a defining role
In reality, even before “When the Stars Gossip”, Lee Min-ho struggled to solidify his position in the acting world. While it’s undeniable that he remains highly sought after for commercials and talk show appearances, his dramas have not performed well. His most successful work in the past decade is likely “The Legend of the Blue Sea”, followed by a string of projects that failed to make a significant impact.
“The King: Eternal Monarch” had relatively low ratings in Korea but found moderate success on Netflix internationally. “Pachinko” showcased a very different side of Lee Min-ho, but since it targeted Western markets, it didn’t do much to elevate his reputation in Asia. Additionally, Lee Min-ho wasn’t the lead character in “Pachinko”, and the story didn’t entirely focus on his role.
Is Lee Min-ho’s career truly in a crisis?
The short answer is “not exactly”.
For the long answer, while “When the Stars Gossip” is not doing well domestically, it is seeing results overseas, likely due to Lee Min-ho’s popularity. In addition, the actor is making progress with his acting skills, not only renewing his images in dramas, but also earning praises for his performances, such as in the case of “Pachinko”.
While Lee Min-ho’s work repertoire seems to be in a pinch, let’s see it as the actor simply taking a step back for self-development instead of chasing previous commercial fame.
