“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” (사이코지만 괜찮아) is a standout among Korean dramas, blending psychological healing, romance, and dark fairy-tale whimsy into a deeply affecting narrative. With its striking visuals, nuanced performances, and fearless exploration of trauma and mental health, this 2020 series has earned its place as a modern K-drama classic.
Premise and Setting
The story centers on Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), a selfless caregiver at psychiatric hospitals, and his older brother Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), an autistic artist haunted by the trauma of witnessing their mother’s murder. Their lives are upended by the arrival of Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a famous children’s book author rumored to have antisocial personality disorder. Drawn together by fate and their shared scars, the trio embarks on a journey of healing, confronting old wounds and uncovering the mysteries that bind them.
Characters and Performances
- Moon Gang-tae: Defined by his role as a caretaker, Gang-tae’s life revolves around his brother, often at the expense of his own happiness. Kim Soo-hyun’s performance is subtle and heartbreaking, capturing Gang-tae’s bottled-up pain, resentment, and eventual catharsis.
- Ko Moon-young: Seo Ye-ji brings a magnetic, unpredictable energy to Moon-young, whose brashness and emotional volatility mask profound loneliness and trauma. Her journey from isolation to vulnerability is one of the drama’s emotional cores.
- Moon Sang-tae: Oh Jung-se’s portrayal of Sang-tae is sensitive and authentic, never reducing the character to a stereotype. Sang-tae’s growth—from fearful and dependent to confident and independent—is both moving and inspiring.
Supporting characters, especially the staff and patients at OK Psychiatric Hospital, add warmth and depth, each with their own struggles and quirks that enrich the story’s tapestry.
Themes and Storytelling
“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” is unafraid to tackle difficult topics: childhood trauma, mental illness, grief, and the stigma surrounding both. The drama’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy solutions. Healing is portrayed as a messy, nonlinear process, requiring courage, forgiveness, and self-acceptance.
The series uses fairy-tale motifs—both in Moon-young’s haunting storybooks and in the narrative structure itself—to explore the characters’ inner worlds. The show’s visual style is lush and imaginative, often blurring the line between reality and fantasy to evoke the feeling of a dark, modern fable.
Plot and Pacing
At its heart, the series is both a murder mystery and a romance. The unresolved trauma of Gang-tae and Sang-tae’s mother’s death and its possible connection to Moon-young’s own troubled family history drives much of the suspense2. Twists and red herrings abound, but the real focus remains on the characters’ emotional journeys rather than plot mechanics.
The romance between Gang-tae and Moon-young is slow-burning and refreshingly mature, built on mutual recognition of pain and a willingness to confront each other’s flaws. Their relationship, along with the evolving bond between the brothers, is the heart of the show.
Strengths
- Stunning Cinematography: The series is visually arresting, with fairy-tale-inspired set pieces and inventive animation sequences that enhance the emotional impact.
- Complex, Relatable Characters: Each character is fully realized, with strengths, weaknesses, and growth that feel authentic and earned.
- Emotional Resonance: The drama’s depiction of trauma, mental health, and healing is both sensitive and unflinching, offering catharsis for characters and viewers alike.
- Strong Supporting Cast: The ensemble of hospital staff and patients adds both levity and depth, making the world of the show feel lived-in and real
Weaknesses
- Occasional Melodrama: Some plot twists and revelations can feel contrived or overly dramatic, though these moments are balanced by genuine emotional stakes.
- Pacing Issues: The show’s middle episodes occasionally meander, focusing on side stories that, while charming, can distract from the main narrative.
Final Thoughts
“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” is more than a romance or a mystery—it’s a meditation on the wounds we carry and the courage it takes to face them. With its unforgettable characters, visual flair, and compassionate storytelling, the series is a testament to the power of empathy and the importance of accepting that, sometimes, it really is okay not to be okay.
