Terrestrial Dramas Hit 0% Ratings Humiliation as tvN’s ‘Resident Playbook’ Signals a Comeback
The South Korean drama industry in 2025 is facing a dramatic shift. Terrestrial drama ratings have plunged to historic lows, with major networks like SBS, MBC, and KBS all tasting the humiliation of sub-1% viewership. In contrast, cable network tvN is showing signs of revival with a notable hit.
Terrestrial Broadcasters Struggle with Record-Low Ratings
SBS’s latest weekday drama “Spring of Youth,” a youth music romance series, recorded a dismal 0.7% in just its second episode. The drama had been billed as a special return to weekday slots, reminiscent of “You’re Beautiful,” a previous SBS hit. However, with an unfamiliar cast and an unusually late 10:40 PM time slot, the show failed to generate buzz or attract viewers.
MBC’s weekend drama “Crushology 101” is facing a similar fate, struggling to move past the 0–1% range, and failing to capture attention on social media or OTT platforms.
The situation at KBS is even more dire. All three of its weekday dramas this year have averaged in the 1% range. Notably, “Kick Kick Kick Kick” starring Ji Jin-hee and Lee Kyu-hyung, dropped to a record low of 0.3%—one of the worst in terrestrial broadcast history.
Cable Networks Rebound with Strategic Programming
On the other hand, tvN, which had a string of underwhelming performances with big-budget projects like “When The Star Gossips” and “The Divorce Insurance,” is now rebounding. The comeback is spearheaded by “Resident Playbook,” a spin-off of the beloved “Hospital Playlist” series. Originally postponed for a year due to public backlash against medical dramas amid resident strikes, it has defied the odds.
While “Resident Playbook” started with mixed reviews due to some unpopular characters, its romantic chemistry between Go Youn-jung and Jung Joon-won has resonated strongly with viewers. The drama’s ratings have more than doubled from its 3% debut to over 6% by episode 8—setting a new high.
Following “Resident Playbook,” tvN has a strong lineup waiting in the wings, including “Our Unwritten Seoul,” starring Park Bo-young, “Seocho-dong” with Lee Jong-suk and Moon Ga-young, and “Typhoon Company” starring Lee Junho.
Meanwhile, SBS is finding success with its Friday-Saturday lineup, with recent hits like “Love Scout,” “Buried Hearts,” and “The Haunted Palace.” Upcoming titles featuring heavyweights like Namgoong Min, Yoon Kye-sang, and Go Hyun-jung also show promise.
MBC’s next attempt to rebound from “Crushology 101” will be “Oh My Ghost Clients” starring Jung Kyung-ho, while it also plans to re-air the previously released Disney+ drama “Casino.”
As ad revenue continues to shrink, broadcasters and production houses are forced to focus on cost-effective dramas—leading to a vicious cycle of low budgets and low viewership. Whether the domestic drama market can reignite audience interest remains to be seen.
