# Now, We Are Breaking Up (지금, 헤어지는 중입니다)
**Now, We Are Breaking Up** (지금, 헤어지는 중입니다) is a South Korean television melodrama that aired on SBS from November 12, 2021 to January 8, 2022, starring [Song Hye-kyo](https://www.edgepedia.org/song-hye-kyo) (송혜교) as a fashion designer and [Jang Ki-yong](https://www.edgepedia.org/jang-ki-yong) (장기용) as a freelance photographer whose past connection reshapes her view of love.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) The series ran for 16 episodes in SBS's Friday–Saturday 10 p.m. slot, was pre-produced, and streamed on Netflix and Coupang Play in Korea.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) • [2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Broadcast | SBS Friday–Saturday drama, November 12, 2021 to January 8, 2022; 16 episodes listed at 70 minutes each by the production company[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) |
| Lead cast | Song Hye-kyo, Jang Ki-yong, Choi Hee-seo, and Kim Joo-hun[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) |
| Creative team | Directed by Lee Gil-bok and Kim Jae-hyun; written by Jein; created by Gleline and Kang Eun-kyung[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) |
| Production | Samhwa Networks and United Artists Agency (UAA), with planning by Studio S; pre-produced[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14408016/) |
| Nielsen Korea ratings | Opened at 6.4% nationwide, peaked at 8.0% (episode 2), fell to a low of 4.2% (episode 14), averaged 6.6% nationwide and 7.1% in the Seoul capital area[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) |
| Streaming | Netflix and Coupang Play in Korea; Netflix lists it as a 2021 limited romance series[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) • [4](https://www.netflix.com/kr-en/title/81661286) |
| Audience score | 6.8 out of 10 on MyDramaList, from 10,289 users[5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now) |
## Plot and characters
The story is a realistic romance about love and breakups set against the fashion industry.[6](https://www.soompi.com/article/1499025wpp/song-hye-kyo-and-jang-ki-yong-are-connected-by-a-fateful-encounter-from-the-past-in-now-we-are-breaking-up) Ha Young-eun is the design department team leader at Sono, one of Korea's top clothing brands, a firm realist pragmatic to a fault.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) • [5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now) • [6](https://www.soompi.com/article/1499025wpp/song-hye-kyo-and-jang-ki-yong-are-connected-by-a-fateful-encounter-from-the-past-in-now-we-are-breaking-up) Part of her job is handling the accidents of Hwang Chi-sook, a high school classmate and the daughter of her company's owner; one day she attends a meeting in Chi-sook's place and meets Yoon Jae-guk, an intelligent freelance fashion photographer who changes her mind about love.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) • [6](https://www.soompi.com/article/1499025wpp/song-hye-kyo-and-jang-ki-yong-are-connected-by-a-fateful-encounter-from-the-past-in-now-we-are-breaking-up)
A backstory connects the leads before the present-day romance. Ten years earlier, while studying abroad and looking after Chi-sook, Young-eun was comforted by a photograph she bought for 20 euros (approximately $23) from the then-unknown Jae-guk.[6](https://www.soompi.com/article/1499025wpp/song-hye-kyo-and-jang-ki-yong-are-connected-by-a-fateful-encounter-from-the-past-in-now-we-are-breaking-up) Netflix's synopsis frames the premise as a successful but pragmatic fashion designer who becomes entangled with a charming photographer, forcing her to challenge her entire worldview; its episode synopses add plot points such as Young-eun transferring teams after a work setback and Jae-guk coming to her aid after her designs are copied.[4](https://www.netflix.com/kr-en/title/81661286)
## Production
The series was directed by Lee Gil-bok and Kim Jae-hyun, written by Jein, and created by Gleline and Kang Eun-kyung.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) At SBS's online production press conference, Lee Gil-bok was presented as the co-director of *Romantic Doctor Kim Sa-bu*, which surpassed a 27% ratings peak, and writer Jein (rendered "Jane" in the conference's English subtitles) as the writer whose debut work *Misty* caused a syndrome; the creators credited were Gline (Gleline) and Kang Eun-kyung.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKmfpM_N-8) Production companies were Samhwa Networks and United Artists Agency, with planning by Studio S.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14408016/)
**Pre-production and timing.** The drama was fully pre-produced and served as SBS's final drama of 2021, following *[One the Woman](https://www.edgepedia.org/one-the-woman)*.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) The press conference was pre-recorded rather than broadcast live to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and it was held early because lead actor Jang Ki-yong was about to enlist in the military around the time of the first broadcast.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKmfpM_N-8) SBS billed the series as the only drama of late 2021 coloring the home theater with true melodrama sensibility, airing Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKmfpM_N-8)
## Broadcast and streaming
The series aired on SBS in the Friday–Saturday slot from November 12, 2021 to January 8, 2022.[1](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96) • [5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now) In Korea it streamed on Netflix and Coupang Play, with rebroadcasts on SBS Plus, Drama H, skyTV, and Drama Cube.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) Netflix's Korean-language catalog carries it as a 2021 limited romance series starring Song Hye-kyo, Jang Ki-yong, and Choi Hee-seo, tagged Sentimental, Intimate, Drama, Fashion, Korean, Romantic, and [Workplace](https://www.edgepedia.org/workplace).[4](https://www.netflix.com/kr-en/title/81661286) Outside Korea, Hong Kong's Now TV offers the series bilingually in [Cantonese](https://www.edgepedia.org/cantonese) and Korean with Chinese subtitles.[8](https://npx.now.com/ondemand/detail?id=S202207230153444&nodeId=C202206280004691&type=series)
## By the numbers
Per Nielsen Korea figures compiled on the Korean wiki thewiki.kr, the nationwide episode-by-episode run was: 6.4, 8.0, 7.3, 7.9, 7.0, 7.6, 6.4, 6.9, 6.9, 6.8, 6.5, 5.7, 4.9, 4.2, 6.8, and 6.7 percent.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) The premiere drew about one-third of the predecessor's finale rating, a weak start; episode 2 reached 8.0% nationwide (9.0% in the capital area), the series peak, before the numbers settled into the 6–7% range.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4)
The competitive picture worsened over the run. From episode 5 onward the series was overtaken by its timeslot rival, and by episode 14, which recorded the series low of 4.2% on January 1, 2022, the gap to *[The Red Sleeve](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-red-sleeve)* (옷소매 붉은 끝동) approached fourfold.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) The finale recovered to 6.7%, and the series averaged 6.6% nationwide and 7.1% in the Seoul capital area.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) On MyDramaList, international users scored it 6.8 from 10,289 ratings, ranking it #12360 overall with a popularity rank of #803.[5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now)
## Reception
Korean viewer commentary attributed the modest ratings to old-fashioned direction and a clichéd story, noting that the long-reliable formula of "Song Hye-kyo melodrama equals a ratings guarantee" was broken.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) A MyDramaList review argued that the series' experiment of "telling love in reverse" did not fully succeed, praising Song Hye-kyo's handling of her reserved fashion-designer role while finding Jang Ki-yong's characterization unconvincing, and counted the fashion-industry setting as a charm point.[5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now)
At the 2021 [SBS Drama Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/sbs-drama-awards), two supporting cast members of the series won prizes: [Kim Joo-hun](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-joo-hun) took the Excellence Award for a male actor in a miniseries comedy/romance, and Park Hyo-joo won the Supporting Actress Award.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4)
## Context and comparisons
The series marked returns for two of its principals. For Song Hye-kyo it was her first SBS drama in 8 years and 7 months, following *That Winter, the Wind Blows* (그 겨울, 바람이 분다); for creator Kang Eun-kyung it came 3 years and 8 months after JTBC's *Misty*.[2](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4) IMDb's related-titles listing groups the series with Song Hye-kyo's earlier melodramas *[Encounter](https://www.edgepedia.org/encounter-south-korean-tv-series)* (7.6) and *That Winter, the Wind Blows* (7.5).[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14408016/) MyDramaList tags for the series include Older Woman/Younger Man, Age Gap [Drama Life], and Cold Female Lead.[5](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now)
## References
1. [Samhwa Networks — Now, We Are Breaking Up (production company works page)](http://www.shnetworks.co.kr/eng/works_view.php?ca_name=&id=96)
2. [지금, 헤어지는 중입니다 — thewiki.kr](https://thewiki.kr/w/%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%88%2C%20%ED%97%A4%EC%96%B4%EC%A7%80%EB%8A%94%20%EC%A4%91%EC%9E%85%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4)
3. [Now, We Are Breaking Up — IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14408016/)
4. [Watch Now, We Are Breaking Up — Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/kr-en/title/81661286)
5. [Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021) — MyDramaList](https://mydramalist.com/62841-i-m-breaking-up-now)
6. [Song Hye Kyo And Jang Ki Yong Are Connected By A Fateful Encounter From The Past — Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1499025wpp/song-hye-kyo-and-jang-ki-yong-are-connected-by-a-fateful-encounter-from-the-past-in-now-we-are-breaking-up)
7. [지금, 헤어지는 중입니다 온라인 제작발표회 풀버전 다시보기 — SBS NOW (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKmfpM_N-8)
8. [Now TV — Now, We Are Breaking Up (Bilingual)](https://npx.now.com/ondemand/detail?id=S202207230153444&nodeId=C202206280004691&type=series)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Korean contemporary drama › Romance and melodrama series › Romance melodrama miniseries › Tearjerker melodrama series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license