June 20 (2020-06-20) – August 9, 2020 (2020-08-09)
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (Korean: 사이코지만 괜찮아; RR: Saikojiman gwaenchana; lit. Psycho But It's Okay) is a 2020 South Korean romantic television series starring Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji. The series tells an unusual romance story between two people who end up healing each other's emotional and psychological wounds. It aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST) time slot from June 20 to August 9, 2020 for 16 episodes. The series is available worldwide on Netflix.[2][3]
Synopsis
The drama tells the story of Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who does not have time for love, and Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a successful children's book author who suffers from antisocial personality disorder and has never known love. After meeting each other, the two slowly begin to heal each other's emotional wounds. As the story progresses, the truth behind their intertwining pasts that has been haunting them is also revealed.
An orphaned caregiver working at OK Psychiatric Hospital. While empathetic to everyone around him, he struggles to give himself love as a result of the life he was born in and avoids having close relationships with anyone other than his older brother. Because of his brother's traumatic experience, he frequently moves town with him and has never lived a normal life.
A popular children's book author. She had a troubling childhood and a turbulent relationship with her parents. She develops a romantic obsession with Moon Gang-tae after a coincidental encounter and often goes to extreme lengths to get his attention.
Moon Gang-tae's autistic older brother, who is a fan of Ko Moon-young and an aspiring illustrator. He was the sole witness to his mother's murder, resulting in his irrational fear of butterflies that leads to a nightmare every spring that forces him and Gang-tae to move town so they can "run away from the butterflies."
A nurse and Moon Gang-tae's co-worker, who had an unrequited crush on him. She gradually develops feelings for Lee Sang-in, and is shown to be easily jealous of others who are close with her romantic interest. She lives with her mother Kang Soon-deok, who is a cook at the hospital.
The charismatic 38-year-old CEO of SangsangESang Publishing Company, who publish Ko Moon-young's children's books. He started his career as an editor of a fairy tale story written by Moon-young, and knows about her illness and past story. Despite the trouble Moon-young often puts him through, he is deeply caring for her well-being and those close to her. He has a crush on Nam Ju-ri, at one point recruiting Yoo Seung-jae to help him win Ju-ri's heart.
The art director at SangsangESang Publishing Company, but usually acting as Lee Sang-in's assistant. Despite constantly being scolded by Sang-in, the pair hold a deep respect for one another. She is naturally gifted in determining someone's true intentions, often sussing out when a person is lying or has a romantic interest in someone. It is implied that she used to be a saesang fan of H.O.T., and as a result, is skilled in tracking down one's personal details and history.
The president of the hospital. Despite his use of unconventional methods, he holds a genuine concern and rapport with all of his patients and often successfully helps them get better. He becomes a pillar of support for Moon Gang-tae as he learns more about his tragic background, and offers both him and Sang-tae counselling sessions to overcome their trauma.
A skilled chef at the hospital and Nam Ju-ri's mother. She deeply cares for the two brothers and often helps Moon Gang-tae look after Moon Sang-tae, seeing the two of them as her own children.
A nurse with 3 years of experience. Nam Ju-ri's friend.
Seo Joon as Kwon Min-suk
Choi Woo-sung as Oh Cha-yong
A young and careless caregiver.
Patients
Lee Eol as Ko Dae-hwan
Ko Moon-young's father and a patient at the hospital who is suffering and bed-bound from dementia. He was an architect who designed the Ko family house, which is nicknamed the cursed castle after Do Hui-jae's disappearance.
Kim Ki-chun as Gan Pil-ong
A kind-hearted yet troubled Vietnam War veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He acts as Oh Ji-wang's informant, letting him know what patients are secretly up to or hiding. He shares a patient room with Ko Dae-hwan and Joo Jeong-tae, but is closer with Jeong-tae as a result of the former's condition.
Jung Jae-kwang as Joo Jeong-tae
A patient content with life, who was admitted for alcoholism. He was caught being in a relationship with fellow patient Lee Ah-reum by Moon Gang-tae, which is against the hospital's policy. Despite this, he remained optimistic about his recovery after Lee Ah-reum is discharged, and stays in contact with her even after her move to America.
Ji Hye-won as Lee Ah-reum
A shy patient who was admitted for anxiety after escaping her abusive ex-husband. She is in an entanglement with Joo Jeong-tae. She is later discharged and moves to America with her family after an altercation by the same ex-husband at the hospital. She and Jeong-tae promise to meet up and be together once Jeong-tae is discharged.
Kang Ji-eun as Park Ok-ran
A fan of Do Hui-jae who torments Ko Dae-hwan and Moon Gang-tae.
Joo In-young as Yoo Sun-hae
A patient with dissociative identity disorder she developed as a coping mechanism, she has a troubled relationship with her father with whom she despises. After she develops her condition, her parents sold her to a shaman and she subsequently becomes a shaman herself. However, because she has no real supernatural power, her readings were never accurate; Oh Ji-wang admitted her to the hospital after he went to her for a reading.
Moon Gang-tae's best friend, who follows him and Sang-tae whenever they move. He previously ran chicken shops, and currently runs a pizza parlour. It is implied he has a crush on Yoo Seung-jae.
Choi Hee-jin as Moon Sang-tae and Moon Gang-tae's mother
A struggling single parent, she was murdered over a decade ago under mysterious circumstances. Despite Sang-tae being the sole witness of the murder, the killer was never caught.
Woo Jung-Won as Do Hui-jae
A best-selling novelist and Ko Mun-young's mother, she disappeared under mysterious circumstances over a decade before Mun-young meets Moon Gang-tae. Mun-young legally declared her dead.
This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).