Actor Song Joong-ki’s romance drama was completely overshadowed by Go Hyun-jung’s suspense thriller. His new series My Youth opened its first week with ratings in the 2% range, a quiet start compared to the explosive success of Queen Mantis.

My Youth marks Song Joong-ki’s first romance in nine years since Descendants of the Sun and his first small-screen return in three years after Reborn Rich. Expectations were high, but the results were disappointing.

JTBC’s new Friday drama My Youth officially premiered on September 5, opening its first chapter with a heartfelt reunion romance. Starring Song Joong-ki as Sun Woo-hae and Chun Woo-hee as Sung Je-yeon, the series portrays the turbulent yet tender memories of first love rediscovered after 15 years.

Despite its emotional setup, My Youth struggled to compete with Go Hyun-jung’s SBS drama Queen Mantis, which premiered the same day to nationwide ratings of 7.1%. The thriller—about a serial killer mother and her detective son teaming up—won praise for its intense suspense, stylish direction, and Go Hyun-jung’s chilling performance, capturing both ratings and buzz.

By contrast, My Youth opened with a 2.9% rating, even lower than The Nice Guy (which began at 3.0% and ended at 3.1%). Episode 2 fell slightly further to 2.8%.

Industry watchers note the weak start was partly expected. JTBC’s Friday slot is still unfamiliar to viewers, and previous dramas in the time slot did not perform strongly. In addition, a quiet romance story may not easily secure attention against high-profile network competition.

For some viewers, Song Joong-ki’s return to romance felt unfamiliar after a long gap, with personal controversies in recent years also affecting immersion. As a result, his reunion-love narrative struggled to resonate with today’s audience.

Meanwhile, episode one explored both the present-day reunion and the characters’ youthful past—Woo-hae’s troubled adolescence and his bond with Je-yeon, a relationship that brought light to his darkest days. Their seaside memories, bittersweet promises, and eventual heartbreak laid the foundation for a new beginning in adulthood.

Ending with an emotional scene where Woo-hae unexpectedly embraced Je-yeon, the drama hinted at rekindled emotions and unresolved feelings, setting the stage for the moving love story to come.

My Youth airs every Friday at 8:50 p.m. with back-to-back episodes. It is available for streaming on Coupang Play in Korea, FOD in Japan, Viu across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and Rakuten Viki in North America, Europe, Oceania, and India.

Sources: Daum, Nate