Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
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Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Actress Roh Jeong-eui is experiencing a prolonged slump in her career. Since her role in 'Our Beloved Summer' (2021), all five of her leading roles have struggled with low ratings and lack of buzz. For a 16-year veteran, the consistent underperformance of her projects is a tough pill to swallow.

Roh Jeong-eui debuted as a child actress in 2011 and has appeared in over 30 productions, building an extensive filmography. She gained wider recognition with JTBC's '18 Again' in 2020 and solidified her presence with the role of top idol NJ in SBS's 'Our Beloved Summer' in 2021. This role earned her the Newcomer Award at the SBS Drama Awards, marking her as a promising actress in her 20s.
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Her subsequent career moves were more aggressive. She took on leading roles in Netflix's 'Hierarchy', Channel A's 'The Witch', MBC's 'Bunny and the Boys', and KBS's 'Dear M', spanning both OTT platforms and terrestrial TV. Her projects covered a range of genres, including school dramas, fantasy, and romantic comedies.

However, the results were disappointing. 'The Witch', based on a popular webtoon by Kang Full, was criticized for its repetitive plot and unconvincing ending. 'Hierarchy' failed to maintain interest due to its contrived settings and lack of coherence. 'Bunny and the Boys' hit a low with ratings dropping to 0% after just two episodes, marking the lowest performance for an MBC Friday-Saturday drama in four years. As a lead actress, it's challenging to escape the scrutiny of these outcomes.
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Currently, she stars in tvN's Wednesday-Thursday drama 'I'll Give You the Universe', which is also struggling. It premiered with a 1.9% rating, dropping to 1.3% in the second episode and slightly recovering to 1.8% in the third, remaining in the 1% range. The drama, which features a cohabitation romance between entangled in-laws who suddenly find themselves raising a 20-month-old nephew, stars Roh alongside Bae In-hyuk.

The drama faces structural challenges, being the only drama in its time slot and competing against popular variety shows. Its relatively mild romantic comedy tone, amidst more provocative entertainment, has also been cited as a factor limiting its appeal. Nevertheless, it's difficult for the lead actress to completely avoid the responsibility for the show's performance.
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Rising Star Roh Jeong-eui Faces Challenges Amidst Prolonged Slump
Roh Jeong-eui's next project is 'Pigsty', set to release in 2025. This mystery thriller follows Jin-woo (played by Jang Ki-yong), who lands on a deserted island with no memory and must uncover his past amidst a strange family. The cast includes Jang Ki-yong, Cha Seung-won, and Park Hee-soon, with Roh playing the enigmatic eldest daughter, Romi.

This marks a shift from her main title roles since 'Our Beloved Summer', as she steps back from leading the narrative. While not the central character, she must prove her presence as a pivotal figure in maintaining the tension of the story. With her recent struggles, all eyes are on whether Roh Jeong-eui can use this opportunity to turn her career around.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
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