Kdrama series ‘No Next Life' starring Kim Hee-sun premieres at 1.9 pct viewership

▲ This composite still of TV Chosun's Monday–Tuesday series “No Next Life" is provided by the broadcaster. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Yonhap) -- Actress Kim Hee-sun returned to television as a mother in her 40s and a “career-interrupted woman” (gyeongdan-nyeo) in TV Chosun’s new Monday–Tuesday drama “No Next Life,” which premiered with a 1.9% nationwide rating, according to Nielsen Korea on Tuesday.

The first episode depicted Jo Na-jung (played by Kim), a former high-earning home shopping host who left her job to raise two sons, spending a weary 41st birthday after six years away from the workforce.

Her husband, who promised to watch the kids, was called away for work, and Na-jung’s attempt at a peaceful meal out ended in chaos as her sons misbehaved—culminating in an awkward encounter with a junior colleague from her past.

The breaking point came when her husband presented her with a “luxury apron” as a birthday gift. Overwhelmed, Na-jung burst into tears, saying, “Do you think I wash dishes because I enjoy it? I want to work again.”

Kim Hee-sun’s nuanced portrayal of a woman suppressing her identity for the sake of family struck a chord with viewers.

The drama also follows Na-jung’s two close friends—Koo Joo-young (Han Hye-jin) and Lee Il-ri (Jin Seo-yeon)—each facing their own struggles. Joo-young wrestles with infertility in a sexless marriage, while Il-ri, a glamorous single woman, grows weary of unfulfilling relationships.

“No Next Life” resonates with its candid portrayal of women in their 40s navigating midlife challenges, balancing family, career, and self-fulfillment. Future episodes will follow the three friends’ comic yet heartfelt journeys of rediscovery and growth.

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