It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (Korean: 사이코지만 괜찮아) is a 2020 South Korean romantic comedy-drama starring Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, and Oh Jung-se. The show follows Ko Moon-young, a children’s book writer with a difficult personality, and Moon Gang-tae, who cares for his autistic older brother. Their lives and hearts change as they face love, healing, and personal growth.
The series aired on tvN from June 20 to August 9, 2020, and is available on Netflix in select regions. It became the most popular romance show of 2020 on Netflix in South Korea and averaged a 5.4% nationwide TV rating. Critics loved the cast’s performances, though some found the story weaker in the later episodes.
Internationally, it was recognized as one of “The Best International Shows of 2020” by The New York Times. At the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, it earned eight nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best TV Movie or Miniseries at the 49th International Emmy Awards.
K-Drama Profile
- Drama Title (English): It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
- Drama Title (Korean): 사이코지만 괜찮아
- Revised Romanization: Saikojiman Gwaenchana
- Genres: Romantic comedy, psychological drama
- Production: Studio Dragon, Story TV, Gold Medalist
- Writer: Jo Yong
- Director: Park Shin-woo
- Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se, Park Gyu-young
- Country: South Korea
- Language: Korean
- Release Date: June 20, 2020
- Episodes: 16
Plot Synopsis
Moon Gang-tae lives with his older brother, Moon Sang-tae, who has autism. After Sang-tae witnessed their mother’s murder, the brothers have moved from town to town. Gang-tae works as a caregiver in psychiatric hospitals wherever they go, taking care of his brother.
One day, he meets Ko Moon-young, a famous children’s book writer rumored to have antisocial personality disorder. Gang-tae ends up working at the OK Psychiatric Hospital in Seongjin City, their childhood hometown. Moon-young, realizing their pasts are connected, becomes interested in Gang-tae and follows him there.
Together, Gang-tae, Sang-tae, and Moon-young start to heal each other’s emotional wounds. As they uncover secrets and support one another, they face their pasts and learn to move forward, finding love, healing, and hope.
Main Casts
Kim Soo-hyun (as Moon Gang-tae)
- Birth Name (English): Kim Soo-hyun
- Birth Name (Korean): 김수현
- Revised Romanization: Gim Suhyeon
- Birthdate: February 16, 1988
- Age: 37
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: Gold Medalist
- Occupation: Actor
- Debut: 2007
- Height: 180 cm
- Blood Type: AB
- MBTI: ESTJ
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Kim Soo-hyun is a popular South Korean actor known for hit TV dramas and films. He has won multiple awards, including five Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards, and a Blue Dragon Film Award. He made his TV debut in 2007 with Kimchi Cheese Smile and rose to fame with Dream High (2011) and Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), while starring in blockbuster films like The Thieves (2012) and Secretly, Greatly (2013). Kim became an international Hallyu star with My Love from the Star (2013~14) and The Producers (2015). After completing military service in 2017, he returned with It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) and later starred in One Ordinary Day (2021) and Queen of Tears (2024), earning recognition as Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year in 2014.
Seo Yea-ji (as Ko Moon-young)
- Birth Name (English): Seo Yea-ji
- Birth Name (Korean): 서예지
- Revised Romanization: Seo Yeji
- Birthdate: April 6, 1990
- Age: 35
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: Sublime
- Occupation: Actress
- Debut: 2013
- Height: 170 cm
- Weight: 43 kg
- Blood Type: O
- MBTI: INFJ
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Seo Yea-ji is a popular South Korean actress known for her roles in TV dramas. She started her career in the sitcom Potato Star 2013QR3 (2013~2014) and appeared in shows like Diary of a Night Watchman (2014), Last (2015), and Moorim School: Saga of the Brave (2016). She became well-known for lead roles in Save Me (2017) and Lawless Lawyer (2018), and rose to international fame with the romantic comedy It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020).
Oh Jung-se (as Moon Sang-tae)
- Birth Name (English): Oh Jung-se
- Birth Name (Korean): 오정세
- Revised Romanization: O Jeongse
- Birthdate: February 26, 1977
- Age: 48
- Birthplace: Uiryeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: Prain TPC
- Occupation: Actor
- Debut: 1997
- Height: 174 cm
- Weight: 64 kg
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: INFP
- Website: Official website
Oh Jung-se is a talented South Korean actor known for his work in both TV and film. He is best known for TV series like It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), Uncle (2021), Revenant (2023), Mr. Plankton (2024), and Good Boy (2025), as well as films such as Swing Kids (2018) and Hi-Five (2025). He won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 and 2021.
Park Gyu-young (as Nam Ju-ri)
- Birth Name (English): Park Gyu-young
- Birth Name (Korean): 박규영
- Revised Romanization: Bak Gyuyeong
- Birthdate: July 27, 1993
- Age: 32
- Birthplace: Busan, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Agency: Saram Entertainment
- Occupation: Actress
- Debut: 2016
- Height: 169 cm
- Blood Type: O
- MBTI: ISTP
- Social Media: Instagram, TikTok
- Website: Official website
Park Gyu-young is a South Korean actress and model known for her roles in popular TV series and Netflix hits. She gained attention in Sweet Home (2020), earning a Best New Actress nomination, and appeared in seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game (2024~2025). She started her career in 2016 with the music video Crosswalk and later had a breakthrough role in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020). Since then, she has starred in leading roles in Dali & Cocky Prince (2021), Celebrity (2023), and A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023).
Drama OSTs
You’re Cold – by Heize
Breath – by Sam Kim
My Tale – by Park Won
Wake Up – by Elaine
Got You – by Ga Eun
In Your Time – by Lee Suhyun (AKMU)
In Silence – by Janet Suhh
I’m Your Psycho – by Janet Suhh
Lighting Up Your World – by Janet Suhh
Hallelujah – by Kim Feel
Little by Little – by CHEEZE
Puzzle – by YONGZOO
Ratings
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay has received high ratings from both viewers and critics:
- IMDb: 8.6 / 10
- Watcha: 3.7 / 5
- KinoLites: 92% (4.0 / 5)
- Filmarks: 4.2 / 5
- Douban: 8.4 / 10
- TMDb: 85%
- MyDramaList: 8.9 / 10
- JustWatch: 83%
These scores show that the show is widely loved and highly praised.
Awards
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and its cast received widespread praise and recognition. At the APAN Star Awards 2021, the show was nominated for Best Drama. Kim Soo-hyun won the Popular Star Award, Seo Yea-ji won Best Actress and the Popular Star Award, and Oh Jung-se won Best Supporting Actor. The series’ OST, “In Your Time” by Lee Su-hyun, was also nominated.
At the Asia Artist Awards 2020, Kim Soo-hyun won the Grand Prize (Daesang), and both he and Seo Yea-ji won Hot Issue Awards, with Seo also winning Best Artist.
The Baeksang Arts Awards 2021 included multiple nominations for the drama and cast. Oh Jung-se won Best Supporting Actor, Cho Sang-kyung won for costume design, and Seo Yea-ji was named Most Popular Actress.
Other honors include the Daejeon Visual Art Tech Award, the Korean Academy of Theater Arts Art of the Year Award, and an International Emmy nomination for Best TV Movie or Miniseries.
The awards highlight the show’s critical acclaim, technical excellence, and international recognition.
Viewership
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was a huge hit on Netflix and cable TV. It was the most popular romance series of 2020 on Netflix in South Korea and also topped charts in Taiwan. The show stayed in Netflix’s top 10 for over 100 days in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and was popular in Australia, Japan, India, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
On South Korea’s cable channel tvN, the series performed well despite the smaller audience compared to public broadcasters. The first episode had a 6.1% rating, with most episodes averaging 4~6%. The finale reached 7.4%, making it one of tvN’s highest-rated dramas. From July 4, 2020, episodes were split into two parts, keeping viewers engaged throughout the series.
Watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay on Netflix
