Once a highly anticipated tvN project starring Lee Dong-wook, the drama “The Divorce Insurance” is now struggling with disastrously low ratings.
Premiering on March 31 with a modest nationwide rating of 3.2% (Nielsen Korea), the show has since experienced a steady decline, hitting a new low of 1.0% by episode 10. This is among the lowest ratings for a Monday-Tuesday drama on tvN in the last five years – a humiliating record.
“The Divorce Insurance” is a romantic office comedy about a fictional task force that treats divorce as a societal disaster and seeks to solve it through an insurance product. The premise was initially considered unique and refreshing. However, reality has proven harsh, as viewers found it hard to connect with the concept, calling it “unrelatable” and “lacking empathy.”
One of the biggest issues was the disconnect in tone. The idea of treating something as serious as divorce like a quirky business concept came off as insensitive and unrealistic. What was meant to be a humorous perspective on a real social issue failed to resonate, with viewers criticizing the narrative as shallow and tone-deaf.
With a cast that includes Lee Dong-wook, Lee Da-hee, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Joo-bin, the drama had all the right ingredients on paper. But strong acting couldn’t save the series from genre confusion and lack of emotional depth.
Many complained that the drama couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be an office drama or a romantic comedy. As the episodes progressed, the conflict structure became repetitive, the story dragged, and emotional arcs lacked clarity, making it hard for viewers to stay invested.
Meanwhile, reality shows and variety programs airing in the same time slot, with their fast editing and stimulating content, drew viewers away from this slow-moving drama. To make it even more apparent, the viewership ratings of “The Divorce Insurance”, which are reflected below, tell an obvious story:
- Ep 1: 3.2%
- Ep 2: 2.5%
- Ep 3: 2.0%
- Ep 4: 1.4%
- Ep 5–8: stagnated around 1.0–1.3%
- Ep 9: small rebound to 1.4%
- Ep 10: dropped again to 1.0%
Even a long-awaited romantic progression in episode 10 with both main couples sharing their first kisses failed to attract more viewers. The lack of buzz or word-of-mouth interest made it clear that the drama simply wasn’t capturing attention.
With just two episodes remaining, it’s unlikely that “The Divorce Insurance” can reverse its fortunes. Touted as Lee Dong-wook’s comeback drama, it now risks ending with the label of tvN’s worst-rated weekday drama in years. Whether it delivers a satisfying ending or quietly fades out, the harsh truth remains: very few viewers are still watching to care either way.
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