The Cosmic Journey Begins in 'Ask the Stars' Starring Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin

The new tvN drama 'Ask the Stars' (별들에게 물어봐), which premiered on January 4, 2025, features the intriguing story of Gong-ryong (이민호) and Eve Kim (공효진) as they embark on a journey into space. The MZ Group invested 700 billion won to send the obstetrician Gong-ryong aboard the G.O-10 spacecraft as a space tourist. Eve Kim, seemingly unimpressed with the '700 billion won space tourist,' displayed a sharp demeanor, while Gong-ryong, appearing nervous, followed protocol by donning safety gear and selecting Psy's 'Art is' as his song choice. The spacecraft successfully broke through the atmosphere and reached space despite lightning strikes.

Gong-ryong's childhood was fraught with challenges; his mother passed away early, and his aunts Ji Hwa-ja (전수경), Jang Mi-hwa (최정원), and Jeong Na-mi (정영주) stepped in as maternal figures. After achieving a perfect score on the college entrance exam and gaining admission to medical school, he became an obstetrician. To repay his student loans, he worked tirelessly in various locations, including hospitals, subways, and swimming pools, finding fulfillment in bringing new life into the world.

However, Gong-ryong's rise at MZ Hospital took a downturn after meeting Choi Kyung-eun (한지은). When Kyung-eun, pregnant with Kang Kang-soo's (오정세) child, suffered a miscarriage in a car accident, Gong-ryong rushed her to the hospital for surgery, but tragically could not save the baby. This incident led to his dismissal by Choi Jae-ryong (김응수), who accused him of ending the family line.

Following this, Kyung-eun developed feelings for Gong-ryong, who was consumed by thoughts of revenge against MZ Group. In a twist, she forcibly kissed him, suggesting a new form of revenge. After a night of drinking, Gong-ryong and Kyung-eun's relationship evolved into romance. He reflected, "I was confused about whether it was revenge, desire, or love, but she was an incredibly good woman who shared my pain from the bottom of my heart." Gong-ryong intended to marry Kyung-eun, but the ensuing scandal led him to become a space tourist.

In space, Gong-ryong experienced severe motion sickness and faced a life-threatening situation when an object obstructed his airway. With only seven minutes to remove the object or face death, the crew watched anxiously. Fortunately, Eve Kim managed to save him, alleviating the tension. Gong-ryong later realized that what he had seen was a satellite made from a spacesuit called 'Suit Set.' The episode also hinted at a secret relationship between Eve Kim and Park Dong-ah (김주헌), while Donna Lee (이초희) appeared wary of Dong-ah, leaving viewers with lingering questions.

As Gong-ryong treated Eve Kim's injury sustained while saving him, they began to learn more about each other, drawing them closer together.

Additionally, special appearances by Jo Jung-seok and Park Jin-joo, who have previously collaborated with director Park Shin-woo in 'Jealousy Incarnate,' added excitement to the episode as they portrayed an announcer and a reporter covering the spacecraft launch.