tvN’s new drama When the Stars Gossip follows Commander Eve (Gong Hyo Jin), who works on a space station, and an unexpected visitor Gong Ryong (Lee Min Ho) who arrives with a secret mission, along with their surrounding crew members. The series marks a reunion between writer Seo Sook Hyang, director Park Shin Woo, and Gong Hyo Jin, nine years after Don’t Dare to Dream. The premiere, featuring a special appearance by Jo Jung Suk, set an optimistic tone for this space station-based romantic comedy.
In recent years, Korean space-themed sci-fi films and dramas have consistently disappointed audiences. From The Moon, which portrayed the rescue of an isolated astronaut on the lunar surface, to Space Sweepers, which followed the dangerous dealings of a space debris collection ship’s crew, to The Silent Sea, which chronicled an elite team’s journey to an abandoned lunar research base for a special mission—all left viewers dissatisfied. Thus, When the Stars Gossip, set on a space station, shoulders a new mission: Can this series finally break the curse of Korean space sci-fi?
Despite mixed feelings of anticipation and doubt, the production quality shows promise. When the Stars Gossip underwent extensive production for about a year, beginning in April 2022, significantly elevating its technical excellence. This is especially evident in the meticulously crafted launch sequences—from the dramatic liftoff from Earth to the tower separation. From the moment the spacecraft safely enters orbit, the convincing portrayal of zero gravity, with both objects and humans floating freely, offers viewers a fresh visual experience.
The shared mission between the space station and Earth’s control center is to solve humanity’s unsolved challenges: dementia, infertility, and incurable diseases. Clues to these solutions emerge through fruit flies and mice aboard the station. While the characters are just observing, their conversations metaphorically foreshadow humanity’s future challenges. Gong Ryong’s mission at the space station involves performing IVF with an egg brought from Earth—an irrefutable request from Choi Jae Ryong (Kim Eung Soo), the chairman of MZ Group and father of his beloved. He dreams of returning to Earth to marry Choi Go Eun (Han Ji Eun) after completing this task.
>> Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin Reveal Secrets Behind Their Kiss Scene in ‘When the Stars Gossip’
The show’s creative intent, as stated on its official website, shouldn’t be overlooked: “This isn’t just another sci-fi story set in the future, nor a tale of intelligence agencies fighting over rare space resources, nor a fantasy about finding another Earth. It’s about ‘human stories’ in space.” True to this vision, the space station bustles with distinctive personalities rather than maintaining stoic silence. The constant chatter among space scientists—Kang Kang Su (Oh Jung Se) in charge of fruit flies, Mina Lee (Lee Cho Hee) overseeing plants, Lee Seung Jun (Heo Nam Jun) managing mice, and Spanish astronaut Santiago (Alex Hafner)—creates a lively atmosphere.
This aspect particularly shines through Gong Ryong—a space novice struggling with zero gravity, screaming in panic, and battling motion sickness to the point of vomiting. Everyone has dreamed of space travel at some point. And Gong Ryong embodies these primal emotions, the mixture of fear and excitement that would come with such an adventure.
Meanwhile, seemingly oblivious to his inner turmoil, Eve addresses Gong Ryong, who joined as a tourist, simply as “guest,” treating him as an intruder. Eve must teach him space survival basics from scratch. However, her initial annoyance transforms into openness when she discovers his expertise as a doctor proves invaluable, from treating her injured toes to performing zero-gravity surgeries. What Eve tells Gong Ryong, “I’m so glad you’re here in space,” comes from genuine appreciation. While the vast expanse of space provides breathtaking views through windows throughout the series, what truly matters to these characters are the people right beside them. (8/10)
Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
