Korean drama "The Art of Negotiation" has been airing since March 8, 2025. Although it has just started airing, the drama starring Lee Je Hoon has received many reviews from viewers who say that the drama does not meet expectations. Representative examples include criticism that director Ahn Pan Seok's unique style does not fit the drama.
There is also a reaction that the background music (OST) is too emphasized in an office drama with a lot of dialogue, which reduces the immersion in "The Art of Negotiation." "The Art of Negotiation" is a drama about the activities of Yoon Joo No (Je Hoon), a legendary negotiator and M&A expert.
This drama is a story about a merger and acquisition (M&A) project to resolve the Sanin Group's huge debt, which reaches 11 trillion won. Director Pan Seok, who directed "The Art of Negotiation", usually gives his own unique color to his OSTs. He insists on using old pop songs sung by foreign singer-songwriters or OSTs without lyrics.
"The Art of Negotiation" is no different. The problem is, this drama is an office work with a lot of dialogue. This work is different from many of the director's previous projects, which are love stories that prioritize atmosphere over dialogue. The first OST for "The Art of Negotiation" is Kevin Salem's "Money Takes the Heart," a blend of rock and blues emotions.
The lyrics convey the meaning that money and greed threaten the essence of human nature, and the statement that behind the glamour brought by money and success, there is a coldness that appears again and again. The OST was played repeatedly throughout the first and second episodes, and it felt out of place with the content of "The Art of Negotiation."
For example, in the scene where Je Hoon explains the M&A project to the company executives, the OST was too loud, making it difficult to convey his lines properly. There was also criticism that the OST was overused, creating an atmosphere that did not fit the scene and ruining the flow of the drama. The casting of interconnected actors was also criticized.
Director Pan Seok kept using actors who had worked together in dramas, and even just by looking at the supporting cast, the public could tell that this was an "Ahn Pan Seok drama." It is known that actor Oh Man Seok has worked with director Pan Seok in a total of 7 works including this one. Some viewers responded by saying, "We should stop using the same actors."
Meanwhile, "The Art of Negotiation" aired as a replacement for "The Story of Lady Ok," but it did not have the proper halo effect since it was released after a two-month hiatus. Although its ratings rose from 3.3 percent in the first episode to 6.1 percent in the second episode, given that it is in a time slot with no competing works, it is likely to drop again in the third episode.
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