'Doctor Slump' Ratings Dip Below 1%

TV Chosun's weekend drama 'Doctor Shin' is struggling, recording ratings in the 1% range. Despite being the new work of writer Im Sung-han and featuring the groundbreaking theme of brain swapping, the drama is facing difficulties in boosting its viewership.

'Doctor Shin' is a medical thriller drama about a genius doctor who challenges the realm of gods and a woman who is losing her soul as her brain deteriorates. With only 5 episodes remaining out of a total of 16, the drama, which garnered attention before its broadcast for its "brain swapping" theme, saw its ratings start at 1.4% for the first episode and drop to 0.9% by the fifth. It has since recovered to the 1% range but remains stuck there. This is considered a painful result compared to the high ratings achieved by writer Im Sung-han's previous works.

The primary reason cited for viewers turning away from 'Doctor Shin' is fatigue with writer Im Sung-han's signature writing style. The plot is criticized for its lack of logical progression and reliance on sensationalism, along with the writer's unique character relationships and peculiar dialogue, which are seen as out of touch with current trends. Furthermore, despite being presented as a medical genre, it is pointed out that it lacks differentiation as it primarily focuses on the passionate romance that writer Im Sung-han has consistently presented.

Meanwhile, online, 'Doctor Shin's' dialogue is gaining attention as it has spread as a comedic meme among those in their 10s and 20s. Although writer Im Sung-han attempted to connect with new consumer demographics by appearing on a YouTube channel, meme consumption is not translating into overall viewership of the drama.

An industry insider analyzed that viewers' expectations have risen due to changes in the content environment, and past success formulas alone are no longer sufficient to persuade audiences. The underperformance of 'Doctor Shin' is seen as an example of the expiration of the "makjang narrative" (sensational, over-the-top plot) as a successful formula. It is predicted that a ratings rebound in the remaining episodes will be difficult.