A new drama from acclaimed writer Park Hae Young is off to a quieter start.
JTBC’s weekend series We Are All Trying Here, starring Koo Kyo Hwan and Go Youn Jung, premiered on April 18th with a nationwide rating of 2.2%, according to Nielsen Korea.
The debut comes in contrast to the strong performance of MBC’s Perfect Crown, led by IU and Byeon Woo Seok, which scored 11.1% for its fourth episode the same night—crossing the 10% mark just four episodes in. Meanwhile, SBS’s Phantom Lawyer posted a 6.0% rating, marking a slight dip from its previous numbers.
Written by Park Hae Young—known for My Mister and My Liberation Notes—We Are All Trying Here follows a man struggling with jealousy and self-doubt as he searches for peace while watching his more successful friends move ahead in life.
The first two episodes center on Hwang Dong Man (played by Koo Kyo Hwan), an aspiring filmmaker who, after 20 years, has yet to debut, while his peers have already achieved their dreams. His loneliness and sense of failure deepen—until Byun Eun Ah (Go Youn Jung) enters his life, recognizing potential in him that others overlook and opening the door to change.
The drama leans into Park Hae Young’s signature storytelling style, often built around emotional “healing” arcs, where flawed leads find redemption through a transformative relationship. While this formula has earned critical praise in her past works, it has also sparked mixed reactions—particularly around character dynamics and age-gap pairings.
Based on its opening ratings alone, We Are All Trying Here trails behind its competitors. But with Park Hae Young’s track record of building momentum through word of mouth—as seen with her previous hits—the story may still have room to grow.
For now, the race is just getting started.
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In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
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