Struggling K-Drama Faces Criticism After Actor’s Controversial Return
Han Ji Min and Park Sung Hoon’s new JTBC drama The Practical Guide To Love is facing backlash and low ratings.
The weekend K-Drama hit just 3.3% nationwide viewership for Episode 2 on March 1, 2026, a tiny bump from the 3.1% premiere on February 28. Still, it’s stuck in the 3% range amid tough weekend competition.
The show follows Han Ji Min’s character Lee Ui Yeong, a 33-year-old office worker navigating love. After starting with natural dating hopes, she switches to blind dates, meeting two men: Park Sung Hoon’s steady Song Tae Seop and Lee Ki Taek’s free-spirited Shin Ji Soo. This sets up a love triangle.
Viewer reactions quickly turned sour online. Most criticized the script for feeling outdated and even sexist — especially scenes implying women over 30 are “undateable.” Screenshots of these moments went viral, sparking harsh comments like:
“Ugh… Is the entire industry collectively stuck in the past or something? It’s 2026. Why are the lines so tacky and outdated? What kind of dialogue is that?”
— Online user
“I watched because Han Ji Min was in it, but it felt so old-fashioned that I dropped it. Sigh…”
“It’s tacky as hell.”
“It’s even more outdated than My Lovely Sam Soon.”
“Why would anyone film something like that??”
“Seriously, why did Han Ji Min choose this project?”
Many think the drama’s premise and dialogue should’ve been revised before airing.
Adding fuel to the fire, Park Sung Hoon’s past controversy from 2024 is still casting a shadow. After posting a Squid Game-related parody of a Japanese adult video magazine cover on social media, public sentiment hasn’t fully warmed up to him again. This drama marks his TV return after over a year, and he apologized again at the production press conference. Still, analysts say his baggage might be hurting the ratings.
The show might still rebound as the romance and story develop. For now, it’s struggling to shake off early criticism and gain viewers.
Watch the teaser for Episode 3 here:
The Practical Guide To Love | JTBC
Han Ji Min | JTBC
A scene in which “women over 30” are being called “undateable” | JTBC
Tweet reactions and online forum posts | theqoo