'24-Hour Health Club' starring Lee Jun Young and Jung Eun Ji fails to captivate viewers with a 1% rating

The new KBS2' Wednesday-Thursday drama '24-Hour Health Club,' has failed to captivate fans and viewers with a low viewership ratings early in its run.

Starring Jung Eun Ji and Lee Jun Young, the drama only managed to record a 1.8% nationwide viewership rating (based on Nielsen Korea) for both its first and second episodes, signaling trouble ahead.

KBS2’s Wednesday-Thursday dramas have recently faced serious slumps, with 'Kick Kick Kick Kick' and 'Villains Everywhere' suffering disastrous ratings in the 0–1% range. The newly launched '24-Hour Health Club' seems to be continuing this downward trend, raising concerns in the broadcasting industry. Despite the strong pairing of two popular stars—Lee Jun Young, who rose to fame through 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and 'Weak Hero Class 2,' and Jung Eun Ji, known for 'Reply 1997'—the show has posted unexpectedly low ratings, drawing attention.

In the second episode, aired on May 1, the relationship between gym owner Do Hyun Jung (played by Lee Jun Young) and new member Lee Mi Ran (played by Jung Eun Ji) begins to deepen. Struggling with financial difficulties, Hyun Jung is in dire need of the payment Mi Ran made for a total life care program, prompting him to officially begin training the fitness rookie.

While enthusiastically conducting their first personal training session, Hyun Jung is shocked at Mi Ran’s poor physical condition. Her body reflects her sedentary office job and unhealthy eating habits. After her first-ever PT session, Mi Ran is hit with severe muscle soreness, and her desperate frustration with a body that won’t cooperate resonated with many viewers.

Meanwhile, Mi Ran learns that her ex-boyfriend Yeom Jun Seok (played by Jung Wook Jin) will be attending the wedding of their former colleague Kim Ye Jin (played by Nam Gyu Hee). Determined not to appear shabby in front of her ex, Mi Ran impulsively buys a dress that’s only available in a small size and pleads with Hyun Jung to help her get the figure to fit into it.

Hyun Jung responds confidently, “If you can’t wear that dress, I’ll give you a full refund,” and the two embark on an intense training journey. While Mi Ran struggles with the temptation of carbs, Hyun Jung, portrayed as a health fanatic, keeps her on track, delivering comedic moments that, unfortunately, failed to translate into higher ratings.

Despite the grueling process, Mi Ran consistently shows up at the gym and faithfully follows Hyun Jung’s intense training. The day before the wedding, she finally manages to fit into the coveted “battle suit” (the dress) and asks Hyun Jung to accompany her to the ceremony.

At the wedding, Hyun Jung encourages a nervous Mi Ran before she faces Jun Seok. Toward the end of the episode, a humiliating moment unfolds when Mi Ran’s dress rips in front of her ex, only for Hyun Jung to gallantly cover her with his coat, a romantic gesture intended to stir hearts. Sadly, this scene also failed to boost the show’s ratings.

The ongoing slump of KBS2's Wednesday-Thursday dramas is now being seen as a chronic issue. Like its predecessors, '24-Hour Health Club' has yet to escape the ratings rut, leaving the network with serious concerns. Despite its fresh concept of portraying self-improvement and personal growth in a society obsessed with appearance, the drama has so far failed to win over viewers.

With just a 1.8% rating for its first two episodes, the show is already on red alert. As the third episode approaches, attention is focused on whether '24-Hour Health Club' can reverse the longstanding decline of KBS2's Wednesday-Thursday lineup. Episode 3 is set to air on the 7th at 9:50 PM KST.