Kim Hee-jung and Kang Kyung-heon lead separate lives as 'Mom Has Gone Crazy' opens strong at 7.7% — Who is the unwelcome visitor after 23 years?

Two mothers, two very different paths: Veteran ensemble captivates viewers

KBS 1TV's new daily drama 'Mom Has Gone Crazy' got off to a strong start, drawing viewers' attention from its premiere. According to Nielsen Korea's announcement on the 29th, the first episode, which aired the previous day, posted a nationwide rating of '7.7%'. The figure suggests that the stories of middle-aged women navigating turbulent lives struck a deep chord with viewers.

At the center of the story is Jo Mi-mi (played by 'Kim Hee-jung'), who has worked tirelessly while running a restaurant specializing in samgyetang, or ginseng chicken soup. She raised three children on her own after overcoming the pain of a divorce 23 years ago, yet the drama also revealed the lonely reality that no one even celebrated her birthday. In a notable moment, her former mother-in-law, Choi Soon-deok ('Yang Hee-kyung'), was the only person to offer her warmth by bringing her seaweed soup. The tension quickly escalated when her estranged former husband, Kang Hak-sung ('Lee Han-wi'), suddenly appeared after years without contact.

The other central figure, Jeon Jin-hee ('Kang Kyung-heon'), enjoys a glamorous life as the successful CEO of clothing company Hwanggeum Apparel. But the drama also showed her crumbling under the sharp scolding of her mother-in-law, Hwang Geum-soon ('Kim Young-ok'), who suffers from symptoms of dementia, offering a layered look at the harsh reality behind her polished exterior.

The drama's solid storytelling and brisk pacing stem from the synergy of its veteran creative team. Writer Na Seung-hyun, who demonstrated her skill with 'The Love in Your Eyes', teamed up with director Sung Joon-hae, who has showcased his outstanding direction in 'My Wonderful Life' and 'Iron Family', signaling the arrival of a well-crafted family drama.