It's Okay to Not Be Okay
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (Korean: 사이코지만 괜찮아; RR: Saikojiman gwaenchana; lit. Psycho But It's Okay) is a 2020 South Korean romantic television series starring Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji. The series tells an unusual romance story between two people who end up healing each other's emotional and psychological wounds. It aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST) time slot from June 20 to August 9, 2020 for 16 episodes. The series is available worldwide on Netflix.[2][3]
It's Okay to Not Be Okay | |
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Promotional poster | |
Also known as | Psycho But It's Okay Psycho But It's All Right |
Hangul | 사이코지만 괜찮아 |
Genre | |
Created by | Studio Dragon[1] |
Written by | Jo Yong |
Directed by | Park Shin-woo |
Starring | |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language(s) | Korean |
No. of episodes | 16 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Production company(s) | |
Distributor | |
Release | |
Original network | tvN |
Audio format | Dolby Digital |
Original release | June 20 – August 9, 2020 |
External links | |
Website |
Synopsis
The drama tells the story of Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who does not have time for love, and Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a successful children's book author who suffers from antisocial personality disorder and has never known love. After meeting each other, the two slowly begin to heal each other's emotional wounds. As the story progresses, the truth behind their intertwining pasts that has been haunting them is also revealed.
Cast
Main
- Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae[4]
- Moon Woo-jin as young Moon Gang-tae
- An orphaned caregiver working at OK Psychiatric Hospital. While empathetic to everyone around him, he struggles to give himself love as a result of the life he was born in and avoids having close relationships with anyone other than his older brother. Because of his brother's traumatic experience, he frequently moves town with him and has never lived a normal life.
- A popular children's book author. She had a troubling childhood and a turbulent relationship with her parents. She develops a romantic obsession with Moon Gang-tae after a coincidental encounter and often goes to extreme lengths to get his attention.
- Oh Jung-se as Moon Sang-tae[5]
- Lee Kyu-sung as young Moon Sang-tae
- Moon Gang-tae's autistic older brother, who is a fan of Ko Moon-young and an aspiring illustrator. He was the sole witness to his mother's murder, resulting in his irrational fear of butterflies that leads to a nightmare every spring that forces him and Gang-tae to move town so they can "run away from the butterflies."
- Park Kyu-young as Nam Ju-ri[6]
- Park Seo-kyung as young Nam Ju-ri
- A nurse and Moon Gang-tae's co-worker, who had an unrequited crush on him. She gradually develops feelings for Lee Sang-in, and is shown to be easily jealous of others who are close with her romantic interest. She lives with her mother Kang Soon-deok, who is a cook at the hospital.
Supporting
SangsangESang Publishing Company
- Kim Joo-hun as Lee Sang-in
- The charismatic 38-year-old CEO of SangsangESang Publishing Company, who publish Ko Moon-young's children's books. He started his career as an editor of a fairy tale story written by Moon-young, and knows about her illness and past story. Despite the trouble Moon-young often puts him through, he is deeply caring for her well-being and those close to her. He has a crush on Nam Ju-ri, at one point recruiting Yoo Seung-jae to help him win Ju-ri's heart.
- Park Jin-joo as Yoo Seung-jae
- The art director at SangsangESang Publishing Company, but usually acting as Lee Sang-in's assistant. Despite constantly being scolded by Sang-in, the pair hold a deep respect for one another. She is naturally gifted in determining someone's true intentions, often sussing out when a person is lying or has a romantic interest in someone. It is implied that she used to be a saesang fan of H.O.T., and as a result, is skilled in tracking down one's personal details and history.
OK Psychiatric Hospital Officials
- Kim Chang-wan as Oh Ji-wang
- The president of the hospital. Despite his use of unconventional methods, he holds a genuine concern and rapport with all of his patients and often successfully helps them get better. He becomes a pillar of support for Moon Gang-tae as he learns more about his tragic background, and offers both him and Sang-tae counselling sessions to overcome their trauma.
- Jang Young-nam as Park Haeng-ja
- The head nurse of the hospital.
- Kim Mi-kyung as Kang Soon-deok
- A skilled chef at the hospital and Nam Ju-ri's mother. She deeply cares for the two brothers and often helps Moon Gang-tae look after Moon Sang-tae, seeing the two of them as her own children.
- Jang Gyu-ri as Sun Byul
- A nurse with 3 years of experience. Nam Ju-ri's friend.
- Seo Joon as Kwon Min-suk
- Choi Woo-sung as Oh Cha-yong
- A young and careless caregiver.
Patients
- Lee Eol as Ko Dae-hwan
- Ko Moon-young's father and a patient at the hospital who is suffering and bed-bound from dementia. He was an architect who designed the Ko family house, which is nicknamed the cursed castle after Do Hui-jae's disappearance.
- Kim Ki-chun as Gan Pil-ong
- A kind-hearted yet troubled Vietnam War veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He acts as Oh Ji-wang's informant, letting him know what patients are secretly up to or hiding. He shares a patient room with Ko Dae-hwan and Joo Jeong-tae, but is closer with Jeong-tae as a result of the former's condition.
- Jung Jae-kwang as Joo Jeong-tae
- A patient content with life, who was admitted for alcoholism. He was caught being in a relationship with fellow patient Lee Ah-reum by Moon Gang-tae, which is against the hospital's policy. Despite this, he remained optimistic about his recovery after Lee Ah-reum is discharged, and stays in contact with her even after her move to America.
- Ji Hye-won as Lee Ah-reum
- A shy patient who was admitted for anxiety after escaping her abusive ex-husband. She is in an entanglement with Joo Jeong-tae. She is later discharged and moves to America with her family after an altercation by the same ex-husband at the hospital. She and Jeong-tae promise to meet up and be together once Jeong-tae is discharged.
- Kang Ji-eun as Park Ok-ran
- A fan of Do Hui-jae who torments Ko Dae-hwan and Moon Gang-tae.
- Joo In-young as Yoo Sun-hae
- A patient with dissociative identity disorder she developed as a coping mechanism, she has a troubled relationship with her father with whom she despises. After she develops her condition, her parents sold her to a shaman and she subsequently becomes a shaman herself. However, because she has no real supernatural power, her readings were never accurate; Oh Ji-wang admitted her to the hospital after he went to her for a reading.
Others
- Kang Ki-doong as Jo Jae-soo
- Moon Gang-tae's best friend, who follows him and Sang-tae whenever they move. He previously ran chicken shops, and currently runs a pizza parlour. It is implied he has a crush on Yoo Seung-jae.
- Choi Hee-jin as Moon Sang-tae and Moon Gang-tae's mother
- A struggling single parent, she was murdered over a decade ago under mysterious circumstances. Despite Sang-tae being the sole witness of the murder, the killer was never caught.
- Woo Jung-Won as Do Hui-jae
- A best-selling novelist and Ko Mun-young's mother, she disappeared under mysterious circumstances over a decade before Mun-young meets Moon Gang-tae. Mun-young legally declared her dead.
Special appearances
- Kwak Dong-yeon as Kwon Ki-do (ep. 3-4, 16)
- Jung Sang-hoon as a love motel owner (ep. 5)
- Bae Hae-sun as Kang Eun-ja (ep. 5-7, 16)
- Choi Daniel as CEO Choi Daniel (ep.8)
Production
The first script reading was held on Jan 8, 2020 and filming was completed on July 31.
Original soundtrack
It's Okay to Not Be Okay OST | |
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Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
Released | 2020 |
Genre | Soundtrack |
Language | |
Label |
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Part 1
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "You're Cold" (더 많이 사랑한 사람이 아프대; deo manh-i salanghan salam-i apeudae; lit: The One Who Loved More Hurts) |
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| Heize | 3:54 |
2. | "You're Cold" (Inst.) |
| 3:54 | ||
Total length: | 7:48 |
Part 2
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Breath" (숨) |
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| Sam Kim | 4:14 |
2. | "Breath" (Inst.) |
| 4:14 | ||
Total length: | 8:28 |
Part 3
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "My Tale" |
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| Park Won | 3:47 |
2. | "My Tale" (Inst.) |
| 3:47 | ||
Total length: | 7:34 |
Special Track Vol.1
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Wake Up" |
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| Elaine | 4:14 |
2. | "Got You" |
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| GA EUN | 3:13 |
3. | "Your Day" (feat. Kim Bom) |
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| Kim Ki-won | 1:51 |
4. | "Wake Up" (Inst.) |
| 4:14 | ||
5. | "Got You" (Inst.) |
| 3:13 | ||
6. | "Your Day" (Inst.) |
| 1:51 | ||
Total length: | 18:36 |
Part 4
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "In Your Time" (아직 너의 시간에 살아; ajig neoui sigan-e sal-a; lit: I Still Live In Your Time) |
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| Lee Su-hyun (AKMU) | 4:29 |
2. | "In Your Time" (Inst.) |
| 4:29 | ||
Total length: | 8:58 |
Special Track Vol.2
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "In Silence" |
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| Janet Suhh | 3:30 |
2. | "I'm Your Psycho" |
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| Janet Suhh | 3:10 |
3. | "Lighting Up Your World" |
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| Janet Suhh | 3:38 |
4. | "In Silence" (Inst.) |
| 3:30 | ||
5. | "I'm Your Psycho" (Inst.) |
| 3:10 | ||
6. | "Lighting Up Your World" (Inst.) |
| 3:38 | ||
Total length: | 20:36 |
Part 5
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Hallelujah" (나도 모르는 노래; nado moleuneun nolae; lit: A Song I Don’t Know) |
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| Kim Feel | 4:28 |
2. | "Hallelujah" (Inst.) |
| 4:28 | ||
Total length: | 8:56 |
Part 6
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Little By Little" (너라서 고마워; neolaseo gomawo; lit: Thanks For You) |
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| Cheeze | 4:27 |
2. | "Little By Little" (Inst.) |
| 4:27 | ||
Total length: | 8:54 |
Part 7
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Puzzle" (퍼즐) |
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| Yongzoo | 3:55 |
2. | "Puzzle" (Inst.) |
| 3:55 | ||
Total length: | 7:50 |
OST Special Album
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Sketch Book (It's Okay to Not Be Okay Opening Title)" | Janet Suhh | 1:51 |
2. | "You're Cold (더 많이 사랑한 쪽이 아프대)" | Heize | 3:54 |
3. | "Breath (숨)" | Sam Kim | 4:14 |
4. | "My Tale" | Park Won | 3:47 |
5. | "In Your Time (아직 너의 시간에 살아)" | Lee Su-hyun (AKMU) | 4:29 |
6. | "Hallelujah (나도 모르는 노래)" | Kim Feel | 4:28 |
7. | "Little by Little (너라서 고마워)" | Cheeze | 4:27 |
8. | "Puzzle (퍼즐)" | Yongzoo | 3:55 |
9. | "Wake Up" | Elaine | 4:14 |
10. | "Got You" | GA EUN | 3:13 |
11. | "Your Day" | Kim Ki-won | 1:51 |
12. | "In Silence" | Janet Suhh | 3:30 |
13. | "I'm Your Psycho" | Janet Suhh | 3:10 |
14. | "Lighting Up Your World" | Janet Suhh | 3:38 |
15. | "Quelemente (괜찮은 병원 체조송)" | Lee Jong-soo, Na Byung-soo | 1:57 |
16. | "Song for Election (Symbol No. 1 Kwon Man Soo)" | Funny J | 2:50 |
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
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1. | "Sew Your Heart" | Kim Kyung-hee | 3:24 |
2. | "Brother (Gang-tae, Sang-tae's Theme)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 3:35 |
3. | "Her World (Moon-young's Theme)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 3:23 |
4. | "Destiny is Nothing (운명이 별거)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 1:32 |
5. | "Gang-tae & Jae-soo's Speed Instinct (강태와 재수의 질주본능)" | Kim Kyung-hee | 1:19 |
6. | "Facing the Fate (운명을 맞잡고)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 1:45 |
7. | "River of Loneliness (Gang-tae's Theme)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 3:00 |
8. | "On The Road, Left Alone (혼자 남겨진 그 길 위에서)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 4:22 |
9. | "Through The Dark Tunnel of Time (어두운 시간의 터널을 지나다)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 3:16 |
10. | "Their Own World (그들만의 세계)" | Lee So-young | 2:12 |
11. | "It's Okay (괜찮아)" | Nam Hye-seung, Go Eun-jung | 1:10 |
12. | "Thunderbolt (우렁각시)" | Nam Hye-seung, Go Eun-jung | 1:15 |
13. | "Rooftop March (Chopsticks Variation)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 0:53 |
14. | "Butterfly (Do Hui-jae's Theme)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 2:35 |
15. | "Jae-soo and Alberto (재수와 알베르토)" | Nam Hye-seung, Jeon Jung-hoon | 0:40 |
16. | "A Hidden Heart (감춰진 마음)" | Lee So-young | 3:03 |
17. | "Bluebeard (푸른수염)" | Nam Hye-seung, Jeon Jung-hoon | 2:10 |
18. | "The Dusk of The City (도시의 해질녘)" | Lee So-young | 3:52 |
19. | "For Ju-ri (Fur Elise Variation)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 1:25 |
20. | "Publishing Company SangsangESang (상상이상 출판사)" | Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee | 2:44 |
Chart performance
Title | Year | Peak positions |
Remarks | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | ||||
"You're Cold" (Heize) | 2020 | 62 | Part 1 | [7] |
"Breath" (Sam Kim) | 59 | Part 2 | [8] | |
"My Tale" (Park Won) | 92 | Part 3 | [9] | |
"In Your Time" (Lee Su-Hyun (AKMU)) | 31 | Part 4 | [10] | |
"Hallelujah" (Kim Feel) | 80 | Part 5 | [11] | |
"Little By Little" (Cheeze) | 106 | Part 6 | [12] |
Ratings
- In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
- Since July 4, 2020, the drama was aired in two parts per episode.
Ep. | Part | Original broadcast date | Title | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen)[13] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide | Seoul | ||||
1 | June 20, 2020 | The Boy Who Fed On Nightmares | 6.093% | 7.036% | |
2 | June 21, 2020 | The Lady In Red Shoes | 4.722% | 5.474% | |
3 | June 27, 2020 | Sleeping Witch | 5.940% | 6.529% | |
4 | June 28, 2020 | Zombie Kid | 4.942% | 6.000% | |
5 | 1 | July 4, 2020 | Rapunzel and the Cursed Castle | 4.661% | 5.285% |
2 | 5.248% | 5.782% | |||
6 | 1 | July 5, 2020 | Bluebeard's Secret | 5.056% | 5.114% |
2 | 5.647% | 5.748% | |||
7 | 1 | July 11, 2020 | The Cheerful Dog | 5.054% | 5.434% |
2 | 5.555% | 5.753% | |||
8 | 1 | July 12, 2020 | Beauty and the Beast | 4.744% | 5.160% |
2 | 5.634% | 6.407% | |||
9 | 1 | July 18, 2020 | The King Has Donkey Ears | 4.995% | 5.416% |
2 | 5.814% | 6.501% | |||
10 | 1 | July 19, 2020 | The Girl Who Cried Wolf | 4.212% | 4.669% |
2 | 5.481% | 5.995% | |||
11 | 1 | July 25, 2020 | The Ugly Duckling | 4.552% | 4.681% |
2 | 5.681% | 5.661% | |||
12 | 1 | July 26, 2020 | Romeo and Juliet | 5.145% | 5.597% |
2 | 5.264% | 6.108% | |||
13 | 1 | August 1, 2020 | The Father of the Two Sisters | 4.794% | 5.155% |
2 | 5.696% | 6.151% | |||
14 | 1 | August 2, 2020 | The Hand, The Monkfish | 5.403% | 6.042% |
2 | 5.947% | 6.654% | |||
15 | 1 | August 8, 2020 | The Tale of Two Brothers | 5.567% | 6.198% |
2 | 6.492% | 7.365% | |||
16 | 1 | August 9, 2020 | Finding The Real Face | 6.224% | 7.296% |
2 | 7.348% | 8.535% | |||
Average | 5.425% | 6.025% |
- This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
References
- Yun Seong-yeol (February 27, 2020). "서예지, 김수현과 로맨스 호흡..'사이코지만 괜찮아' 캐스팅(공식)". StarNews (in Korean). Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Kang, Minji (March 23, 2020). "Korean Romance Drama It's Okay to Not Be Okay To Premiere on Netflix in June". Netflix Media Center. Seoul. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Kim, Doo-yeon (May 21, 2020). "'사이코지만 괜찮아' 티저 영상 공개…김수현·서예지의 '조금 이상한 로코'". Sports Hankook (in Korean). Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- Lim, Jang-won (February 7, 2020). "Actor Kim Soo-hyun to star in tvN drama 'Psycho but It's Okay'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "Oh Jung-se Joins Kim Soo-hyun in "Psycho, But It's Okay"". HanCinema. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- Lee Seung-hun (February 18, 2020). "박규영, '사이코지만 괜찮아' 남주리 役 출연 확정..김수현과 호흡 [공식]". Naver (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- "2020 Week 26 Digital Chart". June 21–27, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "2020 Week 27 Digital Chart". Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- "2020 Week 28 Digital Chart". Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- "2020 Week 29 Digital Chart". Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- "2020 Week 30 Digital Chart". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- "2020 Week 31 Digital Chart". Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved June 20, 2020.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- It's Okay to Not Be Okay on IMDb
- It's Okay to Not Be Okay at HanCinema