It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay TV Series Details:

Original title	사이코지만 괜찮아
Meaning	Psycho but It’s Okay
Revised Romanization	Saikojiman Gwaenchana
McCune–Reischauer	Saik’ojiman Kwaench’ana
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Genre	Romantic comedy
Season	1
Episodes	16
Release date	June 20 – August 9, 2020
Running time	70–85 minutes
Age rating	TV-MA
Starring	Kim Soo-hyun Seo Yea-ji Oh Jung-se Park Gyu-young
Created by	Studio Dragon (planning)
Directed by	Park Shin-woo
Written by	Jo Yong
Produced by	Do Yeon Cho Youn Jin Kim
Executive producer	Sun-hae Bae Yoo Cheol-Yong Jae Hyun So
Opening theme	“Sketch Book” by Janet Suhh
Music by	Nam Hye-seung
Production Company	Story TV Gold Medalist
Distributor	tvN Netflix

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay TV Series Cast & Character:

• Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae
• Moon Woo-jin as young Moon Gang-tae
• Seo Yea-ji as Ko Moon-young
• Kim Soo-in as young Ko Moon-young
• Oh Jung-se as Moon Sang-tae
• Lee Kyu-sung as young Moon Sang-tae
• Park Gyu-young as Nam Ju-ri
• Park Seo-kyung as young Nam Ju-ri
• Kim Joo-hun as Lee Sang-in
• Park Jin-joo as Yoo Seung-jae
• Kim Chang-wan as Oh Ji-wang
• Kim Mi-kyung as Kang Soon-deok
• Jang Young-nam as Park Haeng-ja
• Jang Gyu-ri as Sun Byul
• Seo Joon as Kwon Min-seok
• Choi Woo-sung as Oh Cha-yong
• OK Psychiatric Hospital Patients
• Lee Eol as Ko Dae-hwan
• Kim Ki-cheon as Kan Pil-ong
• Jung Jae-kwang as Joo Jeong-tae
• Ji Hye-won as Lee Ah-reum
• Kang Ji-eun as Park Ok-ran
• Joo In-young as Yoo Sun-hae
• Ko Do-yeon as young Sun-hae
• Kang Ki-doong as Jo Jae-soo
• Choi Hee-jin as Moon Sang-tae and Moon Gang-tae’s mother
• Woo Jung-won / Jang Young-nam as Do Hui-jae
• Kwak Dong-yeon as Kwon Ki-do (Ep. 3–4, 16)
• Bae Hae-sun as Kang Eun-ja (Ep. 4–7, 16)
• Jung Sang-hoon as a love motel owner (Ep. 5)
• Choi Daniel as CEO Choi Daniel, who is a fan of Ko Moon-young (Ep. 8)

Storyline:

Moon Gang-tae lives with his older brother Moon Sang-tae who is autistic. They frequently move from town to town ever since Sang-tae witnessed their mother’s murder. Gang-Tae works as a caregiver in a psychiatric ward at every place they settle in. While working in a hospital, he meets a famous children’s book writer, Ko Moon-young, who is rumored to have antisocial personality disorder.

Circumstances lead Gang-tae to work at the OK Psychiatric Hospital in the fictional Seongjin City, the same city where they all lived when they were young. Meanwhile, Moon-young forms a romantic obsession for Gang-tae after finding out that their pasts overlap. She follows him to Seongjin, where the trio (including Sang-tae) slowly begins to heal each other’s emotional wounds. They unravel many secrets, seek comfort from each other and move forward in their lives.

About It’s Okay to Not Be Okay TV Series:

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (Korean: 사이코지만 괜찮아) is a South Korean television series written by Jo Yong, directed by Park Shin-woo, and starring Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se and Park Gyu-young.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was created by Studio Dragon and produced by Story TV and Gold Medalist. Jo Yong based the drama on her relationship with a man who had a personality disorder. She developed Moon Sang-tae’s character by listening to the stories of people with autistic brothers and referring to the books recommended by the CEO of Bear Better, a social enterprise where people with developmental disabilities work.

Fashion director Cho Sang-kyung managed costumes, while fashion designer Minju Kim designed some of Ko Moon-young’s dresses.

The filming was completed on July 31, 2020, without a wrap party out of concerns for the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming locations for the drama included Cafe Sanida in Wonju, Gangwon, which provided the background for the “cursed castle”, completed with CGI effects, and Secret Blue Cafe in Goseong County, Gangwon, which was transformed into OK Psychiatric Hospital for the shooting using props. Outside locations included streets and beaches in Goseong, as well as locations in Yangju (Gyeonggi) and Incheon. Some of the furniture used in the drama were antiques and 100 to 200 years old.

It aired on tvN from June 20 to August 9, 2020, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.

According to Nielsen Korea, it recorded an average nationwide TV viewership rating of 5.4%. It was the most popular show of 2020 in the romance genre on Netflix in South Korea. Critical response were primarily positive; some commentators criticized the writing in the latter half of the series but praised the acting by the cast.

The New York Times named It’s Okay to Not Be Okay one of “The Best International Shows of 2020”. At the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, it received eight nominations with two wins (Best Supporting Actor – Television and Technical Award for costume design). It received a nomination at the 49th International Emmy Awards in the Best TV Movie or Miniseries categories.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay TV Series Episodes:

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 1 ∙ The Boy Who Fed On Nightmares

Sat, Jun 20, 2020
Moon Kang Tae has a striking run-in with his brother’s favorite author, Go Moon Young, when she comes to his hospital to read to the children.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 2 ∙ The Lady In Red Shoes

Sun, Jun 21, 2020
Moon Young invites Moon Sang Tae to a book signing event that ends with a nasty commotion. Kang Tae hears about a job opening in his hometown.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 3 ∙ Sleeping witch

Sat, Jun 27, 2020
Having followed Kang Tae, Moon Young begins teaching literature classes at his new hospital. Chaos breaks out when a VIP patient runs away.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 4 ∙ Zombie Kid

Sun, Jun 28, 2020
The VIP patient’s incident triggers childhood memories for Kang Tae, who remains an emotional puzzle to Moon Young. Lee Sang In arrives in town.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 5 ∙ Rapunzel And The Cursed Castle

Sat, Jul 4, 2020
With nowhere else to take Moon Young, Kang Tae brings her back to his place. Discovering her there surprises everyone, most of all Nam Joo Ri.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 6 ∙ Bluebeard’s Secret

Sun, Jul 5, 2020
When Moon Young offers an opportunity to Sang Tae, Kang Tae is forced to bend to their will. A patient at the hospital rattles Moon Young.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 7 ∙ The Cheerful Dog

Sat, Jul 11, 2020
Kang Tae takes a day off from work to spend time with Moon Young, who seems to need a distraction. While drinking alone, Joo Ri encounters Sang In.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 8 ∙ Beauty And The Beast

Sun, Jul 12, 2020
Seeing Moon Young with something that belongs to him upsets Sang Tae. When a belligerent visitor shows up at the hospital, Kang Tae snaps.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 9 ∙ The King Has Donkey Ears

Sat, Jul 18, 2020
Kang Tae and Moon Young decide to go on a day trip together, but an unforeseen situation crops up during their mountain getaway.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 10 ∙ The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Sun, Jul 19, 2020
Refusing to go home, Sang Tae coops himself up in a room. Kang Tae wrestles with the demons of his past and the constraints of his present.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 11 ∙ The Ugly Duckling

Sat, Jul 25, 2020
An escaped patient shows up at the mansion. Moon Young makes an effort to change Sang Tae’s mind about allowing her a place in the brothers’ lives.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 12 ∙ Romeo and Juliet

Sun, Jul 26, 2020
Wanting to overcome his trauma, Sang Tae opens up about his darkest memory. A cruel twist of fate threatens Kang Tae’s newfound happiness.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 13 ∙ The Father of the Two Sisters

Sat, Aug 1, 2020
Sang Tae shows Kang Tae that he’s been practicing drawing his greatest fear. Moon Young receives word about her father’s worsening condition.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 14 ∙ The Hand, The Monkfish

Sun, Aug 2, 2020
The identity of the vandal who ruined Sang Tae’s mural sends everyone into a state of shock. Moon Young struggles to process a devastating truth.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 15 ∙ A Tale of Two Brothers

Sat, Aug 8, 2020
After a chilling phone call, Kang Tae rushes over to the mansion. Later, Moon Young asks the brothers to leave her but they refuse to listen.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay S1, Episode 16 ∙ Finding The Real Face

Sun, Aug 9, 2020
Moon Young decides that she will publish the new fairy tale after all, and everyone comes together at the hospital for a reading of the book.