New Drama 'Ask the Stars' Sparks Buzz with Steamy Scenes

The highly anticipated tvN drama 'Ask the Stars' (별들에게 물어봐) premiered on January 4, 2025, and immediately captured attention with its bold narrative and intimate scenes featuring Lee Min-ho (이민호) and Han Ji-eun (한지은). In the series, Lee Min-ho plays Gong-ryong, a doctor who rises from a challenging background. To pay off his student loans, he works tirelessly, treating patients in various locations, including subways and swimming pools.

Gong-ryong's hard work pays off when he secures a position at MZ Hospital, operated by the MZ Group. However, his life takes a turn when he is involved in a car accident caused by Choi Go-eun (한지은), the daughter of MZ Group's chairman, Choi Jae-ryong (김응수). Witnessing Go-eun in distress, Gong-ryong prioritizes her care over his own injuries, rushing her to the hospital.

At the time, Go-eun was pregnant with the child of Kang Kang-soo (오정세), and the accident jeopardizes the pregnancy. After comforting Go-eun, Gong-ryong makes the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy, which leads to his fallout with Choi Jae-ryong and ultimately results in his dismissal from the hospital.

Feeling guilty, Go-eun offers to compensate Gong-ryong, but he is consumed by thoughts of revenge against the MZ Group and declines her offer. In a surprising twist, Go-eun kisses Gong-ryong and proposes a new method of revenge. This unexpected encounter leads to a passionate night together, evolving their relationship into romance.

The couple eventually promises to marry, with Gong-ryong vowing to remain loyal to Go-eun. However, just before their wedding, he departs as a space tourist, creating distance between them.

'Ask the Stars' is a unique space office drama that follows the lives of Eve, a boss working in a zero-gravity space station, and Gong-ryong, an unexpected visitor with a secret mission. As the first of its kind in South Korea, it is one of the most anticipated dramas of the first half of 2025, featuring a star-studded cast including Gong Hyo-jin (공효진), Lee Min-ho, Oh Jung-se (오정세), Han Ji-eun, Lee El (이엘), Kim Joo-hun (김주헌), Heo Nam-jun (허남준), and Lee Cho-hee (이초희).

The premiere episode recorded an average viewership rating of 3.8% in the metropolitan area, peaking at 5%, while the national average was 3.3%, reaching a high of 4.6%, making it the top-rated show in its time slot across cable and general programming channels. Despite slightly underwhelming ratings, the buzz surrounding the show, particularly due to the steamy scenes between Lee Min-ho and Han Ji-eun, has been significant. It remains to be seen if 'Ask the Stars' will continue to build on this initial excitement and achieve higher ratings.