Too bad, even though I haven't seen the first two episodes, I like the storyline. Let's hope Korean audiences give it a chance! :)

I'm pretty glad that the show is bombing actually. See it as cleaning house, getting rid of the mediocrity. Crappy source makes a crappy drama. I hope it continues to falter just out of simple spite.

I just finished watching episode 2 and really hope the ratings pick up. Please, please, please DRAMA GODS! I implore thee!

the ratings are just sad. i have only seen the first episode but honestly, it was so long and i understand why the ratings were so low. the beginning with the whole fantasy took forever to start the story and the entire time i was like, when will she give him the letter. khj, its early to tell but i hope his acting improved. they weren't better in playful kiss in the 1st ep. episode 2, from the preview, seems interesting. hopefully, it will speed up a bit. im just so used to ISWAK that i was just waiting for her to give the note since that was the first scene in ISWAK. there are just too many fantasies, its like, get on with the love story and the main leads, they do not seem to have such a great chemistry where you just fall in love with them and that could be the problem. audiences are probably not attracted to the lead couple which is a turn off to not watch the drama.

I watched the first episode yesterday and it felt like it was 3 hours long. Just painful. Hopefully, it'll improve but honestly, in this case, there's a reason for the 3% ratings.

it's really surprising. the taiwanese version is HUGE, and you'd think a young korean audience would eat this stuff up, especially considering how popular hyunjoong is, and with the goong vibes and how popular THAT was. i wonder what's turning people off.

imo one factor could be that there's a sudden burst of REALLY good dramas, or dramas that a lot of people want to see, and this is just one too many to keep up with. do online views count towards ratings? maybe they should introduce a system like BBC's iPlayer, etc, where people can watch online through the broadcaster's own website, and then that can count towards ratings.

But if you look at the lineup for Wed and Thursday, Playful Kiss is competing with strong contenders. Playful Kiss is still relatively new.

awww. hope it starts to do well soon!

its a little sad but the first 2 episodes weren't good..it has no appeal, at least not for me, and the lead is a horrible actor

this is soo not good to kjh. his acting has always been in question, so this might give another reason for antis. but sorry to say, being a fan of both itazurana kiss n iswak, i am a bit skeptical towards this drams (bof anyone?)

Funny how two of the most anticipated "idol" dramas bomb terribly in ratings. Maybe they're just slowly building an audience. Then again, I'm not not watching either one of them, just reading recaps. I don't care too much.

This probably cost A LOT less to make than Goong (elaborate set pieces and location shoots) and Tamra (ditto).

I wish eps 1-2 could have been combined, too much filler in ep 1. Wish the ratings could pick up little by little, it's cute and decently acted and directed.

I'll keep watching and enjoying the little chirps of happiness Ha Ni brings to my heart with her adorable cheerful and spritely ways.

I really think 2010 is Yoon Si Yoon's year. Finishing High Kick Through The Roof, Gosa 2, and Kim Tak Goo. The dude is on fire.

I heard the download ratings were really high though, which makes sense. This drama has more of a idol-esque feel, which means lots of interest from international korean entertainment fans. Since those fans are often fans of the idol-ness, you know.

Yoon Shi-Yoon!!! He already has 2 pretty big CF deals - one for cellphones with T-ara, and one with Jung Yong Hwa for a clothing line. Let's just say I save almost all of the photos from those shoots *swoon* Seeing a lot more of him (and Yonghwa) is fine by me!

Watched episode 2, enjoyed it.
Cannot wait for episode 3 & 4! Seems too far away!
It's moving at quite a nice pace.

To be honest, I'm not expecting anything "spectacular". (well... 'cept for the next episode to come out!)

And I can't say much for the other 2 dramas (Baker King and Gumiho), because I haven't gone around to watching them.

But, seriously... bluntly saying, there is no competition. Assuming that Baker King is pretty much at it's climax and is wrapping up--you think their % will just disappear? It's already an "established" drama. C'mon.

I have nothing much to say for Gumiho though. Has yet to catch my attention.

I heard though, that Playful Kiss is getting a very hot response ONLINE, but I'm too lazy to get that article right now.

Anyways, Playful Kiss HWAITING~~~~

Regardless, I am still curious and I will still watch it and read racaps from JB and girlfriday.

Ok, I was one of the people who criticized the first episode for its long imagination sequences (yes, plural!), poor production quality, mediocre acting, etc. But the 2nd episode is a lot better. I do think that the comparison to BOF is misplaced. It's more similar to a less extravagant version of Goong... Hopefully, it won't head in the direction of Goong S.

I have not watched this so cannot comment on the content. But .... they ARE starting off on an unfair footing.

Those other two dramas - Baker King, Gumiho already have their established crowd-following each week.
And right there, bye goes a hefty percentage of faithful viewers already, who cannot explore any new drama in that time slot.

That beginning of ISWAK is so forgettably draggy and uneventful (I would never ever have stayed to the end at all, if I hadn't jumped in at the wayyy more interesting middle) ...
So maybe it's too early to say?

While my initial curiosity for this one has pretty much died, I can't belive the ratings. It's just... wow.

I think it was a bad moment to premiere, and it has nothing to do with the actual quality of the drama (3% is 0 popular interest to even care about the quality, story or whatever).

Heh, I haven't watched the PK eps yet but I will so take this as me just rambling, but...was it only me that thought Goong was painfully slow at times? Granted, it had its moments and it was cute on occasion and overall I did like it, but considering that PK comes from the same director of Goong, were you guys expecting something different? I admit at first I had no intentions of watching PK, but then the promo pics and the teasers came out and my anticipation skyrocketed. Still, I wasn't expencting it to be...sassy and fast-paced.

I watched the first episode and actually couldn't go through it -.- but hopefully, the 2nd is better. My Girlfriend is a gumiho def has a stronger storyline!

Probably the ratings had more to do with the storyline than the lead actors, the acting etc. I've watched just one episode of Baker King out of curiosity because they said the ratings are excellent (it's episode 20 btw), and I think the 2 lead actors are not the handsome, sexy, very good looking actors that usually attract us to watch a drama at the first place,also the acting is not brilliant, just so so. And yet this drama has beaten other dramas which has actors with better acting like SJS, KNG, and even the more popular LSG, in ratings. So I guess the very high ratings must be because the storyline is more compelling to Korean viewers than other dramas.

Well..i think there is a reason why it receives such low ratings. People are saying that it hits low cos it is facing KTG and Gumiho. But when Gumiho aired, KTG is already on fire and they still manage to secure at least a 10%+ and being stable despite it doesn't bloom until now. That is because the drama is good (i've watched it). If Playful kiss is really good, it might also secure itself with a minimum amount of ratings and not being so under-the-rock low.

I just feel bad for everyone working on the drama. It must be disappointing. I hope this won't get them down! Fighting Playful Kiss!

Hooray Hooray for THIS golden king Yoon Si Yoon! (cuz' I really love Baker King drama ssoooo far!!!)

Ouch, oh boy. I am sure that we hope that this drama will make their rating to become up for 3rd & 4th episodes.

although i'm not a fan of KHJ as an actor i'm feeling bad for him...poor guy!!

I never watched the first episode, but I watched the second because of this post. I have to say that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I actually watched the entire episode ( I did fast forward the imaginary action sequence) and thought it to be *dare I say* slightly entertaining. It's probably not going to win any awards for acting (although you never know with some award shows and their unfathomable picks for best actor *cough...Song Seung Hun...Daesang*) but on pure cotton candy fluff entertainment value, it was okay. Certainly nothing to explain such low ratings. It just really sucks for them that they're up against Baker and Gumiho.
Personally, I found it more palatable than the Taiwanese version.

i have a feelings this drama will be at low ratings forever. Next after KTG there will be more idol battle with Fugitive which rain , lee na young casted.
Kim hyun joong vs lee seung gi vs rain.

Second episode is actually really cute, and fun to watch. The story is getting lots more interesting. Both leads did a good job. Too bad it's competing with two big dramas, which already have a fix amt of audients.

I like how the main actor portraying an ignorant, cold, but somehow hiding a caring heart deep down. I have never watch this guy before, I really don't understand why some of you are kind of harsh about the actor. I think he's able to bring out the character very well.

The girl is not so bright, but very adorable, and not as anoying as other versions; she fits perfectly for the role.

I thought the first episode was good and the second episode to be better.

Like javabeans said, it's a time when the younger generations choose to watch dramas online and on their phones.

Ratings are just a number that don't tell how good a drama is. They're very important, but not watching a drama because the ratings are bad it's just ridiculous.

I think that KHJ's acting has improved; it isn't as bad as when he was in BoF and I can't wait to see more of him next week.

In all honesty, this drama aired at the worst time possible. It's a stiff competition with BK and My Girlfriend is Gumhiho, but if people here are die hard K Dramas fans, I think they might like the mixture of the three. The three shows offer something different to watch on Weds/Thurs... we have an ancient korean folklore with a modern twist, a show filled with delicous bread that makes you want to go find the nearest Korean bakery, and a comical young love story.

I personally watch all three and find the mix rather refreshing. I go from PK to HoiHoi couple to the Kim Tak Goo.

Despite the murderous ratings, I am going to continue to watch PK.

Just like I expected...

This is what we can know from the beginning.

KHJ is hot but his acting is ....

Many people hate JSM and so am I. She was so typical, trying to show her stupidity with her decent acting =.=

The storyline is slow and boring...

KHJ may portray some kind of cool man but that's not enough. His face is emotionless and to me it is not cool but it's something like I-am-trying-to-be-cool

Don't blame for Barker King or Gumiho. Gumiho come out when Barker reach 40% but it is also has the rating > 10%. In my opinion Barker and Gumiho are more than worth watching than MK

main actor can't act, sorry to say that.

male lead is the biggest, unemotional stiff i have seen in my whole life.

i don't really care about the rating as long as the drama is good....i just hope that the drama doesn't get cut early because of the rating

This, in part, just goes to show that the current ratings system (in Korea and in other countries, like the US) is so very antiquated. Since I'm not too familiar with how ratings in Korea work exactly, I'll use the US as an example.

A lot of people watch television shows online through Hulu or the like, or they may watch with an OnDemand service from their cable company. Still others may download shows from supported or unsupported sites.

Starting in the fall of 2010, Nielson ratings in America *will* also track shows watched online through certain venues where the commercials aired upon first viewing are included in the online content. These will be tallied along with current Nielson family samples to generate one rating. That's a start, however, the only outlets that work with this system will be Fancast Xfinity and TV Everywhere (Time Warner). Views from sites like Hulu will *not* be included in the sample since they only show a portion of the commercial content.

That makes sense to companies buying commercial blocks with a television network because it's a near-guarantee that your product is being seen. However, to the viewer watching these shows through venues that are unsupported by the ratings system, it doesn't add up.

And it's something advertising and marketing companies *are* aware of. Which is why we may see more and more emphasis on product placement and integration within a particular show and maybe, over time, fewer actual "commercials."

At first I worry about rating too but nothing is going to stop me from supporting Hyun-joong... That goong idea at the end is kind of a reprise but it's good....

I LOVE ITAZURA NA KISS in whateva, whicheva way it's being potrayed.

All I can say is "WOW" - that low again?

Who can blame the audience - in episode 1 - that fantasy sequence was ridiculous - they should have tightening it and moved it along. If I knew nothing about the storyline, I would have dropped the drama all together. Even I didn't think that the TW ep 1 was that slow and I thought it was pretty slow. I think every drama gives different people a different vibe and that's why we have some many dramas and styles. I was fast forwarding like a mad man through ep 1 but I really tried to sit through it all cause I just love the storyline - "sexist" and all. Ep 2 is better but not by a lot (for me).

I really want to like the 2 leads but they haven't done it for me yet. Maybe cause everything I've read, pretty much everyone has hyped up the girl and I don't really see her as being much better than the other actresses before her. It's only the first 2 episodes, and since I love the storyline, I know I will eventually "like" the drama. Hopefully the 2 leads pick up more chemistry cause at least that will help a lot.

Good luck to all of them!

I've watched both episodes and i'm disappointed. Lacking acting skills, lacking humor...lacking bits of everything. Well i felt the same about bbf.
i guess the time of high quality idol dramas like goong or coffee prince is over. Btw did they copy those teddybears from goong? Or is it the same production team?

I loved both d eps...yday's ep was very cute...d story went on at an amazing pace...infact faster than ISWAK...loved it.
It's got itz funny moments....d cute ones are yet to come...saw d preview of 3rd ep...it looks amazing, piggyback ride, hand holding :D CANT WAIT!!!

A representative in charge of iMBC homepages revealed, ‘The homepage for Playful Kiss received the sharpest increase of visitors compared to the other MBC programs. Aside from Korea, visitors from Japan, China, Malaysia, and South America also graced the homepage.‘
CINE21, who is in charge of online downloads, expressed, ‘After the broadcast of the first episode, the number of downloads for Playful Kiss was larger than the average downloads for Iris, which had 30% ratings. It looks like the online response is very hot.’

I was seriously disappointed in the first episode. I was really loooking forward to it but man did they drag things out. They should have cut out the dream sequence all together!

also sadly after watching 'bad guy' I cant help but dislike the lead actress in playful kiss .

wait is lee na young's runaway next? ahh just when i thought i could stop watching so many airing dramas all at once...
i think i might have to let it go, that or sungkyunkwan scandal nuuuuu so hard to decide.

yeah u can call it publicity...but if u check all the sites amean soompi, viikii everywhere...hundreds of people all over r trying like crazy to watch it online. People are watching it live online or downloading the raw link as soon as they get it. SO i think this report of online response being hot is actually true.

I haven't even watched the first two episodes yet because I watched MGIG instead lol but I just want to see KHJ's acting improve.

After watching (and loving) the Taiwanese version of Itazura na Kiss, no other version will ever follow up to that one. The acting, chemistry, and plot were all great. I saw the first two episodes of PK and it was very disappoint. Lack of chemistry between the actors, disappointing acting, cringe-worthy scenes and overall just boring. (I was also pissed at the director/PD of Goong for copying the bear thing. Please, that's another part of Goong that was cute, don't use it AGAIN for PK!!!!!!!!!!!!) Urg.

I didn't like the first episode, but the second one was okay. I still hope that it would become decent. Because seriously if Group Eight fcuks up this manga like BoF, they better stop getting rights to celebrated shojo mangas like this one.

I think the problem lies in the main characters' chemistry. Granted, both actors are doing quite okay-ish portraying their respective roles, but together they don't seem to fit in together, unlike Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin. KHJ is bearable here, but still far from what Joe Cheng did. Yes, I'm comparing. Fans might argue that HKJ is more Irie-looking that Joe, but albeit ISWAK's draggy 1st episode, have you seen Joe Cheng act there? I'm sorry but he got the mean Irie character down pat the moment he walked by Ariel Lin's caharacter. The comparison might be unfair because Joe is actually an actor, but I just hate how K adaptations would just completely rely on looks without even considering the other important things.

See, draggy, love-hate, flowery dramas like Itazura Na Kiss needs INTENSE chemistry, because that will push the story through. We can all agree that most Taiwanese idol dramas are bordering on being absurd for the most part, but you know what makes it stick all throughout? The CHEMISTRY between the main characters. I don't even gravitate towards Korean adaptations like BoF and PK that much because they always rely on heavy eye-candy visuals, forgetting the character dynamics and often times, the plot. It's like they themselves are making the already shallow drama plot shallower by just getting 'cute'/'hot' looking actors.

publicity good or bad is still publicity..people will be more curious about the drama coz a lot of people talk about it.again i'm a fan of KHJ so, low or high rating ..bring the drama on..i'll enjoy it anytime.