Jeon So-mi’s Drama Fails Despite Having Top Cast, Recording 0% For 8 Episodes In A Row
On the Jan 19th episode of SBS’s variety show “Running Man”, Jeon So-min appeared as a guest alongside actor Choi Daniel, her co-star in KBS Joy’s drama “Sorry Not Sorry”.
Jeon So-min, who was a fixed member of “Running Man” from April 2017 to November 2023 for about six and a half years, returned as a guest after a year and two months since her departure. Despite having focused on her acting career during her time away, Jeon So-min effortlessly delivered big laughs, proving her variety skills remained intact.
Thanks to Jeon So-min’s vibrant return and comedic charm, “Running Man” recorded 2.4% in the 2049 (viewers aged 20~49) viewership ratings (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan households), maintaining its position as the top entertainment program in its time slot. The highest minute-by-minute rating reached 6.4%.
While Jeon So-min has excelled in variety shows, her transition back to acting hasn’t received as much spotlight.
Since its premiere on Dec 5th, 2024, “Sorry Not Sorry” has recorded ratings in the 0% range for eight consecutive episodes. The drama started at 0.3% for its first episode released in December, 2024 and is still maintaining its ratings at 0.4% rating. Its most recent episode (episode 8) recorded only 0.5%, showing no improvement. Despite starring Jeon So-min, who gained great public recognition through “Running Man”, and Choi Daniel, whose face and name are widely known in Asia, the drama is performing below expectations.
“Sorry Not Sorry” marks KBS N’s return to drama production after a decade. Directed by Min Ji-young and written by Jo Yoo-jin and Choi Ryong, the drama portrays the survival story of a woman who, after being jilted overnight, takes on multiple jobs to pay off her marital home’s loan. At the press conference, Director Min described the drama as “a comprehensive gift set of comedy, family, healing and growth” and highlighted its focus on “stories about new towns, women in their 30s and mothers”.
Jeon So-min, making her first acting appearance since leaving “Running Man”, plays Ji Song-yi, a divorced woman disguising herself as a married woman. She expressed her excitement for the role, “I was looking for a bright and refreshing project when the script for ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ came my way, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Choi Daniel stars as Cha Hyun-woo, a divorce lawyer, while Kim Moo-jun plays Kim Ian, the cheerful owner of a café. The drama also features Gong Min-jeung as Choi Hana, a longtime friend and working mom practicing “miracle mornings”, and Jang Hee-ryung as Ahn Chanyang, the youngest daughter of a wealthy family, adding layers of humor and charm to the story.
When asked about ratings expectations, Jeon So-min remarked, “While high ratings would be great, I think a drama is a success if I hear ‘I’m enjoying Sorry Not Sorry’ about five out of ten times when visiting cafes or restaurants. People often associate me with ‘Running Man’, but by December, I hope they’ll say, ‘I’m loving Ji Song.’”
The cast’s chemistry also shone through. Jeon So-min praised Choi Daniel as a “master of romantic comedies” and lauded his ability to bring out the romance in his co-stars. Choi Daniel responded, “It’s my first time working with So-min, and I’ve been genuinely surprised. She’s the flower of our drama, so I want to help her bloom without fading.”
Regarding the poor performance of “Sorry Not Sorry”, some viewers pointed out that the drama failed to differentiate itself from existing romcoms. In addition, the fact that it is aired on KBS Joy also affected the ratings. In particular, KBS Joy is a cable channel, not a terrestrial one, so there are limitations that may result in low ratings.
Although “Sorry Not Sorry” is struggling with low ratings, its blend of a realistic urban survival story and sweet romance, combined with the cast’s passionate performances, has earned it recognition for its quality. The drama airs every Thursday at 9 PM on KBS Joy.