4 Reasons Why “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” Is Becoming Everyone’s New K-Drama Obsession
Looking for a new K-Drama to lose yourself in after getting absorbed in Crash Landing on You, Itaewon Class, Extracurricular, and the other hit dramas of 2020? Fear not—there’s a great one that just started. tVN’s It’s Okay Not To Be Okay has been streaming worldwide on Netflix since June 20, and it’s already becoming everyone’s new drama obsession. Why should you watch it? Just take a look at these four highlights that drew everyone in.
1. The focus on mental health
While the stigma around mental health is gradually lessening both in South Korea and worldwide, there are still only a few K-Dramas out there that incorporate it into their storylines.
Following the likes of popular dramas like Sky Castle, Good Doctor, and Kill Me, Heal Me, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (titled Psycho But It’s Okay) in Korea is the latest show to tackle mental health issues—and it does so in a raw, appealing way.
The female lead character, Ko Moon Young (played by Seo Ye Ji) suffers from antisocial personality disorder, which causes people to show a disregard for other people’s rights and feelings.
Meanwhile, the male lead character (Moon Kang Tae, played by Kim Soo Hyun) works at a psychiatric ward and has an older brother with autism spectrum disorder.
2. The anti-heroine lead
In most K-Dramas, the female lead is immediately likeable—or at least has obvious fun or redeeming qualities. Ko Moon Young, however, is a whole different story, and that makes her very refreshing.
Moon Young is a successful children’s book author, but not the sweet kind you’d expect. Instead, thanks to her personality disorder, she’s been described as arrogant, self-centred, and even rude. While those characteristics may not seem immediately appealing, viewers are falling for her just as hard as they do with typical heroines.
Seo Ye Ji herself says she’s “never seen a character like [her] in any Korean drama before”. The truly engaging part about this anti-heroine is that over the course of the show, viewers will get to see her heal her inner wounds and become a whole new person.
3. The unique romantic chemistry
Given the themes, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay may sound a little heavy, but it is primarily a romance drama. Thankfully, the chemistry is just as great as you’d expect. Early fans say Seo Ye Ji and Kim Soo Hyun have such a good connection, you can feel it through the screen.
On top of that, the romance is unusual, which is unsurprising given the characters’ wounds. In stills from the show, Ko Moon Young and Moon Kang Tae can be seen in tense and strange embraces.
4. The emotional roller coaster
Whether you start watching a K-Drama because of the cast, the reviews, or something else entirely, what really draws you in is the emotion. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay is the kind of emotional roller coaster you won’t be able to pull yourself away from.
Seo Ye Ji and Kim Soo Hyun both said the story brought them heartache when they first read the scripts. Seo Ye Ji went on to say that the character of Ko Moon Young will have viewers looking back at their own hardships and lives.
But at the same time, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay was also written to provide healing. As you watch each episode, you’ll slowly find yourself being healed, renewed, and satisfied alongside the lead characters.
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