K-Drama Plunges to Near 0% Ratings, Struggles to Recover After When The Stars Gossip

tvN’s weekend drama The Potato Lab seemed to be gaining traction, but its latest episode saw a dramatic ratings drop, nearly hitting 0% viewership.

According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 5 of The Potato Lab, which aired on March 16, recorded a nationwide and metropolitan area viewership of 1.1%, marking the lowest ratings since its premiere.

The Potato Lab debuted at 1.7% on March 1, a lackluster start considering tvN’s history of successful weekend dramas. The series marked a first in tvN’s history as the lowest-rated weekend drama premiere since the network introduced the time slot in 2017.

Despite a brief uptick, reaching 2.0% in Episode 4, hopes for a steady climb were crushed when the show plunged to 1.1% in just one episode.

Episode 1 (March 1): 1.7%

Episode 2 (March 2): 1.8%

Episode 3 (March 8): 1.4%

Episode 4 (March 9): 2.0% (Series Peak)

Episode 5 (March 15): 1.1% (New Series Low)

While a one-time drop could be dismissed as a fluke, The Potato Lab has struggled to maintain consistent audience engagement, raising concerns about its long-term viability.

Intense Weekend Drama Competition: The Potato Lab Faces Strong Rivals

The show’s struggles are amplified by stiff competition from rival weekend dramas, particularly SBS’s Buried Hearts and MBC’s Undercover High School.

✔ SBS’s Buried Hearts soared to 12.3% viewership this week, adding 278,000 new viewers, solidifying its dominance in the weekend drama slot.

✔ MBC’s Undercover High School maintains a stable 6%+ viewership, proving its consistent fanbase.

✔ Meanwhile, JTBC’s new drama The Art of Negotiation is gaining traction, jumping 2.48 percentage points this week to 5.78%.

With viewers shifting toward more engaging alternatives, The Potato Lab faces an uphill battle to win back lost momentum.

Adding to the concerns, the drama is failing to generate significant online traction.

According to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex rankings, The Potato Lab:

✔ Ranked 8th in TV-OTT buzz rankings, far behind top competitors.

✔ Placed 5th in the TV drama category, failing to gain significant social media traction.

The show’s lack of viral moments, strong fan engagement, or compelling narrative hooks may be contributing to its underwhelming performance.

Audience Reactions: Why Are Viewers Losing Interest?

Fans who initially tuned in for the healing rom-com concept are now voicing their disappointment with the show’s pacing and plot.

💬 Viewer Comments Include:

“The ratings tell the story… there’s just not much going on.”

“I wanted to like it, but the plot feels aimless.”

“Some scenes are entertaining, but the setup makes no sense.”

“Is this tvN’s lowest-rated weekend drama ever?”

“How did it fall from 2% to 1.1% in one episode?”

While some loyal viewers continue to support the show, many agree that without stronger storytelling and character development, the series may struggle to recover.

Despite its ratings drop, Episode 5 of The Potato Lab introduced key emotional developments:

✔ So Baek-ho (Kang Tae-oh) confesses his feelings to Kim Mi-kyung (Lee Sun-bin) amid a stormy night at the research center.

✔ Kim Mi-kyung remains guarded, questioning why Baek-ho always seems to make self-sacrificing choices.

✔ Corporate restructuring tensions escalate as Baek-ho hesitates to submit a downsizing list, while a misunderstanding involving Yoon Hee-jin (Jung Shin-hye) creates tension.

Though the romance and corporate intrigue continue to build, audiences seem unconvinced that the stakes are high enough to keep them engaged.

Can The Potato Lab Turn Things Around?

With only seven episodes left, The Potato Lab is in desperate need of a compelling hook to regain viewers.

Potential Strategies for a Comeback:

✔ Stronger emotional payoff: The romance must deepen, and character arcs must feel earned.

✔ Better pacing: The corporate and scientific elements need higher stakes and better integration.

✔ Increased digital engagement: More behind-the-scenes content, social media challenges, and viral clips could help boost online visibility.

Unless the show finds a way to reconnect with its audience, it risks joining the ranks of tvN’s least successful dramas.

Will The Potato Lab recover or continue its decline? Only time—and the next episode’s ratings—will tell.