22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gong Hyo Jin opens up about the struggles behind When the Stars Gossip, the disastrous K-drama starring Lee Min Ho
Three months after the conclusion of When the Stars Gossip, Gong Hyo Jin has opened up about the drama's failure and the challenges she faced while shooting it. In a recent YouTube update, Gong Hyo Jin didn't hold back as she shared what it was really like working on the big-budget, space-themed K-drama, also starring Lee Min Ho, that had fans excited before it even aired. Titled 'Something I Really Wanted To Talk About, Though It's Late,' the video dives into the emotional and physical toll the project took on her.
When the Stars Gossip had a disappointing run
The show, which also starred Lee Min Ho and was backed by a jaw-dropping KRW 50 billion (around USD 35.1 million) budget, promised something groundbreaking, marking Korea's first truly ambitious space K-Drama. But despite the star-studded cast and huge investment, things didn't quite pan out. The series ended up getting roasted by viewers and critics alike, with some even calling it 'the worst K-drama ever.'
Ratings didn't do it any favours either. When The Stars Gossip peaked at just 3.883 per cent, with most episodes hovering between 1.5 to 2 per cent, a far cry from what you'd expect from a drama this hyped and this expensive.
Gog Hye Jin opens up about shooting for the drama
Gong Hyo Jin described the experience as one of the hardest in her career. 'Except for one episode, everything was set in space,' she said. 'Filming those zero-gravity scenes took forever. It took over two months to shoot just one episode. I was strapped to wires for hours on end, sometimes more than 15 hours a day, with half of that spent just hanging in mid-air.'
She even admitted she once yelled, 'Please let me down now!' after her limbs went numb from the suspension. 'I honestly don't know how I survived that year,' she added, half-laughing, half-exhausted just remembering it.
Post-production took nearly two years to complete
The disappointment seems to have stung even more because of the ambition behind it. Gong Hyo Jin explained that some parts of the production required nearly two years of post-production. 'It was all new to me. I kept wondering if pre-production really needed to be that long. The storyline was really complicated too, and I was worried it'd be hard for people to follow.'
Turns out, she was right
Despite the best intentions, high-end visuals, and a fan-favourite pairing with Lee Min Ho, When the Stars Gossip didn't just fall flat. It crashed and burned. While some viewers tried to appreciate the effort, the consensus was harsh: convoluted plot, awkward pacing, and visuals that couldn't quite save it.
Reflecting on it now, Gong Hyo Jin even joked, 'I doubt anyone will dare to make another space show for a while.'
About When the Stars Gossip
When the Stars Gossip follows the blossoming romance between Eve Kim, a space station commander overseeing a mission to study reproduction in zero gravity using mice, and Gong Ryong, an OB-GYN who infiltrates the station as a tourist to conduct a clandestine human fertility experiment. As they navigate the challenges of space travel, their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of danger and challenges of space travel.
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