Star-Studded Korean Drama Plummets to 3% Ratings After 7.1% Peak: Can It Stage a Comeback?
MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama Oh My Ghost Clients drew attention with a peak viewership rating of 7.1% in its premiere. However, by the second episode, ratings dipped slightly to 3.3% in the Seoul metro area and 3.2% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.
A Ghost-Seeing Labor Attorney Fights for Justice
Oh My Ghost Clients is a fantasy action-comedy with a unique premise: a labor attorney who can see ghosts. It tackles the unjust deaths of spirits with both humor and gravitas. It’s the drama directorial debut of Im Soon-rye, known for Forever the Moment, Little Forest, and Negotiation, and is co-written by D.P.‘s Kim Bo-tong and I Can Speak‘s Yoo Seung-hee.
Jung Kyung-ho plays protagonist Noh Moo-jin, who starts seeing ghosts after a near-death experience. Alongside Seol In-ah (as Na Hee-joo) and Cha Hak-yeon (as Go Kyun-woo), he forms a team called “Moojins.” They help spirits of those who died from industrial accidents find justice and reveal hidden truths, blending catharsis with impactful storytelling.
Episode 2: The Ghost of a High School Intern
In Episode 2, the story centered on the ghost of high school student Lee Min-wook, who died during a factory internship accident. The accident was rooted in structural issues like irresponsible on-site management, hush-money settlements, and pressure on migrant workers to stay silent.
The key to resolving the case came through migrant worker Nimal. Though he witnessed his friend Minwook’s death, he had remained silent, until he gained the courage to speak out after bonding with Moojin. His line, “My friend could have lived, but they killed him,” served as the episode’s emotional climax.
Moojin’s video evidence further revealed that the factory boss had falsified the date of the industrial accident, firmly positioning the drama as a bold critique of real-world injustices.
What’s especially notable is the drama’s ability to address real-world issues without becoming overly heavy. Oh My Ghost Clients strikes a balance between its layered themes, labor rights, industrial safety, migrant discrimination, and the warmth and charm of the Moojins’ teamwork.
Competitive Landscape
Meanwhile, other dramas airing in the same time slot are showing different trends. tvN’s Good Boy had a steady start at 4.8%, while Our Unwritten Seoul, starring Park Bo-young, dipped slightly to 4.5% in its third episode. SBS’s The Haunted Palace maintained a solid 9.5% rating by episode 14, and KBS2’s family drama For Eagle Brothers hit 18.8% in episode 35, reaffirming its strength in the family genre.
Amidst this competition, Oh My Ghost Clients may have dropped to 3.2% in its second episode, but critics say it stood out the most in terms of quality and message. The most striking viewer feedback: “It’s a drama that holds great meaning regardless of ratings.” This reflects the show’s strength—not just in entertainment value, but also in social relevance.
Online Praise Grows
Online communities and social media have been quick to praise the show, with comments like “This should be used for education,” “The way it turns labor issues into fantasy is impressive,” and “Jung Kyung-ho’s acting is phenomenal.” The drama’s tone, intentions, and execution are being lauded in harmony.
The cast has also teased what viewers should look forward to. Jung Kyung-ho said, “As Moojin helps ghosts find justice, he truly grows into a real labor attorney. Every episode is packed like a highlight reel.” Seol In-ah added, “Listen carefully to Moojin’s heartfelt, human lines,” while Cha Hak-yeon emphasized, “Keep an eye on the Moojins’ chemistry and teamwork, it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Oh My Ghost Clients is more than just an entertaining watch, it’s a drama that makes you think. Though wrapped in fantasy, its insights into social issues and human empathy are sharply grounded in reality.
