Netflix has done it again and produced another worldwide hit in sci-fi K-Drama, "Goodbye Earth". Based on Kotaro Isaka's "The Fool At The End Of The World", the drama features stars like Ahn EunJin, Jeon SeongWoo, Kim YoonHye, and Yoo AhIn.

The story takes place in the fictional city of Woongcheon. The entire world is thrust into disarray due to an oncoming comet set to hit South Korea and destroy Earth as we know it. Despite the confusion and impending doom, citizens like Jin SeKyung (Ahn EunJin) attempt to do everything possible to make the most out of the 200 days they have left.

Science fiction fans will be elated to find another series added to the K-Drama catalogue. But as much as it's a story about a far-off, dystopian future, it also contains messages of hope and resilience to continue moving forward.

"Goodbye Earth" is a collection of different genres and themes that tug on the hearts of millions.

Note: there may be spoilers ahead.

 

Remarkable Performances From The Cast

오늘도, 내일도, 끝까지 함께.

종말을 앞두고 남은 시간을 함께 살아가는 사람들의 이야기. <종말의 바보>, 4월 26일 오직 넷플릭스에서. pic.twitter.com/7S0jn2xZ71

— Netflix Korea｜넷플릭스 코리아 (@NetflixKR) April 12, 2024

When offering nods of respect, one of the first should be given to the wonderful cast that brought these characters to life. The main characters of the story bring us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and nail-biting situations that have you perched at the edge of your seat. While everything is purely fictional, they manage to thread the line between fantasy and reality, able to incite various feelings that make the situation feel all too real.

You genuinely feel worried for the cast as they navigate their final days on planet Earth. The fear and despair gradually grows as the end draws nearer, forcing intense change among the main characters and the communities around them. The cast really forces you to keep your eyes and attention focused on the screen, speaking to their ability to immerse audiences into the drama at hand. With its slow burn nature, it can become a "blink and you'll miss it" type of moment, however, the likes of Ahn EunJin and Kim YoonHye make it possible to not miss a thing.

 

A Different Take On An Apocalyptic End

When thinking about a series centered around the end of the world, one usually imagines a flurry of fiery destruction or the ravaged aftermath of it all. However, "Goodbye Earth" sets itself apart by depicting the time right before impending doom. The series portrays the eventual spiral into lawlessness, but also the humanness of every individual trying to survive. Knowing that the world is going to end brings out a different set of emotions to every character, now determined to spend their last days on Earth wisely. These emotions sometimes turns hysterical, a natural effect that comes with the end of the world.

However, interwoven in between the chaos are daily moments that portray a semblance to daily life. The strength of "Goodbye Earth" is its ability to go back and forth between these two modes, all while situations slowly escalate in Woongcheon City. This makes you focus less on the comet that's set to tear the entire world apart, but on the characters reacting to it and what they do as they await their fate. It might be difficult for those expecting a flurry of action to accompany the impending doom, however, the approach from "Goodbye Earth" makes it possible for you to change your mind and remain watching until the very end.

 

Bright Beacons Of Hope

Hopelessness and despair is abound for the characters in "Goodbye Earth". We witness soldiers give up entirely on protecting civilians, people who have turned their back on society, and a lawlessness that puts everyone, children included, in danger. Despite these looming gray clouds that accompany the end, our main characters don't give up hope and try to be the beacons of light in a failing world.

While many others have pushed aside their morals and have succumbed to temptation, Jin SeKyung, Kang InAh (Kim YoonHye), and Woo SungJae (Jeon SeongWoo) try their best to keep justice alive. They try their absolute hardest to grab hold of an inkling of their past life and also to ensure that in the case they do survive the comet's impact, the future is well protected and humanity has the potential to thrive once again. All of this is a balancing act that's not easy to do, especially with everything that's going on in the Netflix series. However, the main characters try their best and are able to show there's some type of light at the end of this perpetually dark tunnel.

 

"Goodbye Earth" - By The Numbers

It took a while for "Goodbye Earth" to reach its premiere date, but the wait was well worth it. The Netflix series premiered at the no. 9 spot on the Netflix Global Top 10 TV Shows (Non-English), ranking in the Top 10 across 22 countries on Netflix. The sci-fi genre isn't for everyone, however, being able to reach the Top 10 on the streaming giant is an impressive feat in itself, speaking to the power of K-Entertainment and the hype surrounding "Goodbye Earth".

There's a lot to unpack from Netflix's newest series, "Goodbye Earth". However, in spite of the chaos, there lies the hope that everything will be okay.

Have you finished watching "Goodbye Earth"? What do you think about the drama?

Throughout the world of K-Dramas, various broadcasting stations bring numerous series to the home of fans all across the globe. One of these stations is the illustrious MBC. MBC is one of the most popular broadcasting channels, with its K-Dramas consistently placing in the best ratings list. The channel continues to deliver high-quality productions appealing to fans in South Korea and abroad. As such, MBC drama ratings rise to the very top, with many reaching record highs.

Here are the top MBC Dramas with the highest ratings since 2020!

 

1. "Knight Flower" - 18.4%

Starring Lee Hanee and Lee JongWon, the historical drama "Knight Flower" starred high in ratings and quickly reached high ratings. The drama gained even more popularity in its last weeks and reached the ratings of 18.4% with its final episode. In 2024, the drama broke the previous records held by "The Red Sleeve". The drama is available on Viki, Kocowa, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

 

2. "The Red Sleeve" - 17.4%

Among historical K-Dramas, "The Red Sleeve" was phenomenally made, filled with moments of romance and yearning that cannot be easily forgotten. Due to its massive success, it gained 17.4% ratings, making it the highest rated series among MBC K-Dramas from 2020 to 2023. Luckily for fans new and old, the K-Drama is available to watch on Rakuten Viki.

 

3. "Big Mouth" - 13.7%

"Big Mouth" made big waves during its initial run. The chemistry between Lee JongSuk and Girls' Generation's YoonA was magnificent, and combined with a compelling storyline, it became an immediate hit, reaching 13.7% ratings. The drama can be watched via streaming site Hulu.

 

4. "My Dearest (part 1 & 2)" - 12.9%

Starring NamKoong Min and Ahn EunJin, "My Dearest" gained massive success and tugged on the heartstrings of all its viewers with a total of 21 episodes. Reaching its highest rating of 12.9% with the final episodes, it puts the series as one of the most watched of MBC. "My Dearest" is currently available on Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

5. "Wonderful World" - 11.4%

"Wonderful World" (2024) is a revenge and thriller drama starring Kim NamJoo and ASTRO's Cha EunWoo. The drama went viral on social media and the mysterious story caught attention. The drama peaked at 11.4% with its 9th, 11th, and 13th episodes. It started at 5.3%.

 

6. "Chief Detective 1958" - 10.8%

The retro crime drama "Chief Detective 1958" starring Lee JeHoon, Lee DongHwi, Choi WooSung, Yoon HyunSoo, and Seo EunSoo started with 10.1% and reached 10.8% with its 3rd episode. The drama started after "Wonderful World" and garnered a lot of attention to be able to start with such high ratings.

 

7. "The Veil" - 9.8%

Also starring NamKoong Min, "The Veil" kept audiences at the edge of their seats with its various twists and turns. Its captivating suspense allowed the drama to reach its highest ratings of 9.8%, landing it at number four among MBC dramas. "The Veil" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki or Kocowa.

 

8. "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" - 9.6%

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" based on webtoon gained a lot of popularity. Bae InHyuk and Lee SeYoung's chemistry was amazing and the story was full of mystery so the drama gained a lot of viewers. The drama started at 5.6% and reached the highest rating of 9.6%.

 

9. "Tracer" - 9.0%

This MBC drama depicted the hard working performance of the National Tax Service. Featuring a cast with Yim SiWan, Go AhSung, Son HyunJoo, and much more, "Tracer" reached its highest rating at 9.0%, earning it the fifth spot among MBC dramas so far. "Tracer" is available on Rakuten Viki, Kocowa, and Wavve.

 

10. "The Golden Spoon" - 7.8%

"The Golden Spoon" is a webtoon-based drama that followed poor, yet studious Lee SeungCheon (BTOB's SungJae) and chaebol son Hwang TaeYong (Lee JongWon) as they switched lives during adolescence and adulthood. The drama explored the stark differences between the extremely rich and those living in poverty. While there were moments of crushing heartache, there were scenes of uplifting hope that lit up all the dark spaces in your heart. "The Golden Spoon" earned its highest ratings at 7.8% and is available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

11. "Tomorrow" - 7.6%

While this webtoon-based drama had various moments of uplifting comedy, it also did an excellent job at exploring hard-hitting topics. This involved aspects of mental health, life after death and those left behind, as well as the will to live on. At its highest peak, "Tomorrow" earned 7.6% in ratings. This MBC K-Drama is available on streaming platform, Netflix.

 

12. "Doctor Lawyer" - 7.2%

Starring the iconic actor, So JiSub, "Doctor Lawyer" is a fusion of medical and law, providing the best of both worlds. As Han YiHan (So JiSub) searched for the truth, viewers could not help but remain by his side. With the help of its loyal viewers, the MBC drama reached its highest ratings of 7.2%, placing it at eighth on this list. "Doctor Lawyer" is currently available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

13. "Kkondae Intern" - 7.1%

Adapted from the winning script from MBC's 2018 drama writing contest, "Kkondae Intern" follows the reversal of roles between Ka YeolChan (Park HaeJin) and Lee ManSik (Kim EungSoo). The office comedy provided viewers a reason to smile and laugh, week after week, and reached its highest ratings of 7.1%. "Kkondae Intern" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

14. "Dinner Mate" - 6.1%

A story of strangers to lovers, Kim HaeKyung (Song SeungHeon) and Woo DoHee (Seo JiHye) unexpectedly meet on Jeju Island. Bonding over their respective heartaches and love of food, they remain in contact and gradually fall for one another. "Dinner Mate" earned its highest ratings at 6.1% and is available to watch via streaming sites iQIYI and Prime Video.

 

15. "Find Me In Your Memory" - 5.4%

"Find Me In Your Memory" is a moving story between Lee JungHoon (Kim DongWook) and Yeo HaJin (Mun KaYoung). While the drama had its fair share of romance, it also offered moments of healing that aided broken souls everywhere. The drama earned its highest ratings at 5.4%, landing at eleventh among MBC K-Dramas. It is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

16. "The Forbidden Marriage" - 4.9%

"The Forbidden Marriage" certainly had it all: a budding romance, a swoon-worthy second lead, a love triangle that broke your heart, and so much more. Audiences certainly agreed, sticking with the drama for every new episode, helping it reach its peak at 4.9% ratings. "The Forbidden Marriage" is available to watch on Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, and Kocowa.

 

17. "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" - 4.8%

"Kokdu: Season Of Deity" was filled with quirky characters, electrifying chemistry, and a romance that withstood the test of time. Switching between historical and modern, "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" had fans constantly coming back for more, earning 4.8% ratings. The MBC drama is made available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Wavve.

 

18. "When I Was Most Beautiful" - 4.7%

"When I Was Most Beautiful" is a heartbreaking love story featuring Oh YeJi (Im SooHyang) who is caught between brothers Seo Hwan (Ji Soo) and Seo Jin (Ha SeokJin). As they navigated feelings of love and jealousy, audiences remained glued to their seats, watching the story unfold. With the help of its dedicated viewers, the series earned 4.7% ratings, placing it at number fourteen among MBC K-Dramas. "When I Was Most Beautiful" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

19. "From Now On, Showtime!" - 4.6% & "The Game: Towards Zero" - 4.6%

Comedic with a touch of mystery, "From Now On, Showtime!" was able to captivate viewers with its lighthearted storyline and incredible lineup of actors. On the other hand, there was the more serious, thriller series "The Game: Towards Zero" which kept viewers shrouded in suspense. While two different genres, these series earned its highest ranking at 4.6%, tying at number fifteen among MBC K-Dramas.

Which of these MBC dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

 

Did you know that there is a word in Korean to describe men who are so good-looking that they're compared to flowers? This Korean word is "kkotminam".

'Kkotminam' (꽃미남) literally translates to "flower-like handsome man". It is a combination of 꽃 (kkot), meaning flower, and 미남 (minam), meaning handsome man. It is definitely a compliment and praise of a man's beauty.

Some popular Korean actors who are called 'kkotminam' include Lee JoonGi (the OG), Park BoGum, Song Kang, Ji ChangWook, Lee MinHo, and Song JoongKi, among others. Some idols who are called 'kkotminam' include ASTRO's Cha EunWoo, Ong SeongWu, NCT's HaeChan, TREASURE's JunKyu, RIIZE's WonBin, and ZEROBASEONE's Zhang Hao, among others.

You can use 'kkotminam' in a sentence (informally) as follows:

그 아이돌은 꽃미남이야

Geu aidol-eun kkotminam-iya

That idol is a kkotminam!

Who do you think is a kkotminam idol or actor? Tell us on X!

Stay tuned to Your Korea Tutor - Kpopmap to learn Korean in fun ways!