From High Hopes to Rock Bottom: KBS2’s ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’ Ends in Disastrous Ratings
What was supposed to be KBS2’s groundbreaking “seasonal sitcom” experiment has come to a humiliating end—with viewer ratings sinking to the 0% range.
The ambitious office comedy ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’ followed actor Ji Jin Hee and former star producer Cho Young Sik as they launched their own content production company, desperately racing to hit 3 million subscribers. But despite its promising premise, the show failed to capture an audience, leading to one of the most disappointing performances in recent K-drama history.
The Show That Was Meant to Be a Multi-Season Success
Director Koo Sung Joon had big dreams for ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick.’ Inspired by hit overseas sitcoms, he envisioned the drama as a multi-season franchise that would grow alongside its audience.
“From the beginning, we never intended this to be a one-season project,” he confidently stated at the drama’s online production presentation on February 5, 2025.
But dreams don’t always match reality—and the show never took off.
The Finale That No One Watched
‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’ wrapped up on March 13, but the numbers told a brutal story.
⭐ Office Romance Chaos: The final episode focused on the relationship crisis between Wang Jo Yeon (Jeon Hye Yeon) and Kang Tae Ho (Kim Eun Ho). When Kang Tae Ho discovered that Wang Jo Yeon was actually an R-rated novel author, he panicked, thinking she had used their relationship as material. Cue the awkward misunderstandings, the dramatic tension, and of course, the big reconciliation moment after some heartfelt advice from Baek Ji Won.
💪 The Strangest Subscriber Milestone Celebration Ever: Meanwhile, Ji Jin Hee and Cho Young Sik finally hit 3 million subscribers—and their reward? A nude photoshoot (well, technically semi-nude, after last-minute reconsideration). Their staff live-streamed the entire thing, engaging with the handful of dedicated fans who stuck around.
Where Did It Go Wrong?
🔹 Outdated Humor: Viewers criticized the show’s comedic style, calling it outdated and cringeworthy rather than genuinely funny.
🔹 Weak Storyline: The plot felt directionless, making it hard for audiences to stay invested.
🔹 Lack of Star Power: While Ji Jin Hee and Lee Kyu Hyong are respected actors, they weren’t enough to keep viewers hooked.
🔹 Overconfidence in a Multi-Season Plan: The team bet on future seasons before securing a strong fanbase—a major miscalculation.
What’s Next?
With ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’ officially out of the picture, KBS2 quickly moved on. The network’s next drama,‘Villains Everywhere,’ will take over its time slot, airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:50 PM starting March 19.
As for ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’—it might go down as one of the biggest sitcom flops in recent years.
Did you watch ‘Kick Kick Kick Kick’? What do you think went wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments! 👇