Song Joong Ki’s much-anticipated return to television romance with My Youth has gotten off to a shaky start with 2% ratings nationwide.
The drama marks Song’s first full romance series in nearly nine years since Descendants of the Sun, raising expectations ahead of its launch. Billed as a sentimental romance drama, the story follows Sun Woo Hae (Song Joong Ki), a man starting his “ordinary life” later than most, and Sung Je Yeon (Chun Woo Hee), the woman who unexpectedly disrupts his peace.
At the press conference, Song described the appeal of the project: “The keyword of reunion is particularly charming. As Sun Woo Hae and Sung Je Yeon meet again, viewers will feel the same emotions of excitement, comfort, and tenderness that they share. That’s the biggest strength of our drama.”
But the first episode’s 2% showing fell short of expectations. In contrast, SBS’s Queen Mantis, led by Go Hyun Jung and premiering the same night, scored 7.1%—more than triple the numbers. Given Song’s star power, the early performance has been viewed as disappointing.
Viewer responses have been mixed. Comments online ranged from “I just don’t see the leads’ chemistry” to “the story is too cliché” and “the acting is solid but not engaging.”
Cultural critic Kim Heon Sik told TenAsia, “’My Youth’ lacks early pulling power. By comparison, ‘Queen Mantis’ immediately generated buzz by casting Go Hyun Jung as a serial killer and delivered the opening episodes with mystery and thriller tension. ‘My Youth,’ on the other hand, leaned on the familiar trope of first loves reuniting, which came across as less impactful.”
Still, industry insiders caution that it’s too soon to call. A source explained, “Romance dramas often build momentum later, as audiences become invested in the characters’ emotions. Song Joong Ki’s presence and depth in his performance are still there, so there’s room for ratings to climb.”
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