Drama Treasure Trove - #6: It's Okay to Not Be Okay

"It's Okay to Not Be Okay" is a 2020 South Korean drama series created by writer Jo Yong and director Park Shin-woo. Starring Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se, and Park Gyu-young, the series centers around the complex relationship between a psych ward caregiver and an antisocial children's book author.

The series was broadcast for 16 episodes on tvN and Netflix from June 20, 2020, to August 9, 2020, and received an average nationwide TV viewership rating of 5.4%, according to Nielsen Korea. It was the most popular romance genre show on Netflix in South Korea for 2020. Despite some criticism of the writing in the latter half of the series, the cast's acting was highly praised by critics.

"It's Okay to Not Be Okay" received critical acclaim and was named one of "The Best International Shows of 2020" by The New York Times. It also received eight nominations and two wins at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, including Best Supporting Actor - Television and a Technical Award for costume design. The series was also nominated for the Best TV Movie or Miniseries category at the 49th International Emmy Awards.

The show has been widely praised for its sensitive portrayal of mental health issues and for bringing awareness to the stigma surrounding mental illness in Korean society. It also features stunning cinematography and a captivating storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

The title of the drama, "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," sends a powerful message of self-acceptance and encourages viewers to seek help when struggling with their mental health. The show reminds us that it's okay to have flaws and imperfections, and that healing is a journey that requires patience and understanding.

The first episode of "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" introduces the two main characters of the show. Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker at a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a successful children's book author who suffers from antisocial personality disorder.

The episode begins with a flashback of Gang-tae's childhood, where he and his older brother, Sang-tae, escaped from their abusive father and have been living together ever since. Gang-tae's job as a caretaker is to take care of the patients at the hospital and make sure they stay safe.

On the other hand, Moon-young is introduced as a mysterious and peculiar character who is in the middle of writing her new book. She's known for her dark and twisted stories, and her personality clashes with everyone around her.

The two characters cross paths when Moon-young visits the psychiatric hospital to attend an event. Gang-tae's co-worker mistakes Moon-young for a patient and asks Gang-tae to take care of her. Initially, Gang-tae is annoyed by Moon-young's behavior but ends up saving her when she gets into trouble.

Throughout the episode, Gang-tae's struggles with his past and taking care of his brother are highlighted, and Moon-young's backstory is also teased. The episode ends with Gang-tae and Moon-young parting ways, but with a hint that they will meet again.

According to reports, It's Okay to Not Be Okay was the most popular romance genre show on Netflix in South Korea in 2020. In Taiwan, it was the most popular Korean drama series on the platform, and in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, it remained in the top 10 list for over 100 days, making it the "most enduring Korean drama." The show also gained a significant viewership in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and South Africa.

Despite airing on tvN, which typically has a smaller audience than free-to-air TV/public broadcasters such as KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS, It's Okay to Not Be Okay managed to record a 6.1% viewership rating for its first episode. Although the rating dropped to 4.7% for the second episode, the show maintained a steady 4-6% range throughout its run, reaching its peak with 7.4% for the final episode. This achievement placed the show among the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history.

Available on NETFLIX