Kang Tae-oh's 'Potato Research Institute' Struggles with Low Ratings: Can His Upcoming Historical Romance Turn the Tide?

Kang Tae-oh's latest drama, tvN's 'Potato Research Institute,' is struggling with ratings stuck in the 1-2% range. This is particularly disappointing given his return after three years following the success of 'The Tale of Nokdu.' With a new historical romance drama alongside Kim Se-jeong set to air later this year, all eyes are on whether Kang can redeem the underwhelming performance of 'Potato Research Institute.'

Starring Kang Tae-oh and Lee Sun-bin, 'Potato Research Institute' is a healing comic romance drama set in a private research institute dedicated to potato studies. The story unfolds as Baek-ho (played by Kang), a cold-hearted pragmatist, enters the life of Mi-kyung (played by Lee), whose world revolves around potatoes.

The drama premiered on October 1st with a modest 1.7% viewership rating. Its predecessor, 'Ask the Stars,' concluded with a 2.6% rating, but overall struggled with low ratings, making it difficult to expect a halo effect. Subsequent episodes saw ratings of 1.8% and 1.4%, with a slight increase to 2.0% in the fourth episode.

Kang Tae-oh previously impressed audiences with roles in 'The Tale of Nokdu,' 'Run On,' and 'Doom at Your Service,' often in supporting roles. However, he solidified his status as a leading actor with the 2021 drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' where he delivered a nuanced performance despite the show being primarily centered around Park Eun-bin's character.

After gaining popularity, Kang Tae-oh enlisted in the military, leaving fans eager for his return. He chose 'Potato Research Institute' as his comeback project, attempting a comedic role that has received mixed reactions. While some viewers appreciate the humor, others criticize it as overly exaggerated, failing to surpass the subtle charm he displayed in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.'

The drama's buzz has also fallen short of expectations. During 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' Kang topped the drama actor buzz rankings for four consecutive weeks. However, 'Potato Research Institute' has not made it into the rankings, with the latest Good Data Fundex placing it outside the top spots. It ranked 6th in the 9th week with a 3.25% buzz score but fell out of the rankings by the 10th week.

Fans are eagerly anticipating Kang Tae-oh's 'comeback' with the upcoming MBC historical drama 'The Moon Flows Over the River.' The drama, set to air later this year, features Kang as a crown prince who has lost his smile and Kim Se-jeong as a woman who has lost her memory, in a soul-swapping romance. As Kang's first leading role in a historical drama, it is generating significant interest.

Kang Tae-oh left a strong impression as a supporting lead in 'The Tale of Nokdu' six years ago, showcasing his presence in historical dramas. Viewers are keen to see if he can create another iconic character and continue his 'The Tale of Nokdu' legacy with 'The Moon Flows Over the River.'

By Sojung Lee, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr