France’s Prime Minister Unknowingly Promotes An NSFW Korean BL
March 8 is International Women’s Day, a holiday celebrated by many worldwide.
Recently, a government official honored not only the women of his country but unknowingly advertised the work of a Korean author!
French Prime Minster Gabriel Attal celebrated the holiday by inviting 101 female entrepreneurs to Hotel Matignon, the official residence of the country’s prime minister.
Bienvenue, Mesdames, à Matignon pour célébrer avec vous l’entrepreneuriat féminin qui rayonne à travers toute la France ! pic.twitter.com/iuTlLfMWNL
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) March 8, 2024
The moment was immortalized in a photo of the group with the Prime Minster, shared on his X account. Posted with the caption, “Who run the world? Girls,” the photo highlighted women working hard in many industries.
Who run the world ? Girls ! pic.twitter.com/hKrHBOUOpt
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) March 8, 2024
However, a detail quickly caught attention after the photo was shared online, causing it to go viral.
One of the women in the photo in the front row is holding a book depicting two animated men in a suggestive position.
The book is a print edition of Love Shuttle, an NSFW manwha. Love Shuttle, written by Korean author Aeju, was originally posted on the webtoon site Lezhin and tells the story of two men set in an Omegaverse universe.
In Omegaverse works, in addition to the biological sex traits humans have, additional secondary sex is given. These secondary sex traits — Alpha, Beta, and Omega — have different attributes when it comes to reproduction and behaviors, including reproduction cycles (“heats” and “ruts”) and scent (pheromones.)
Omegaverse is said to have first been featured in Supernatural fanfiction and gained popularity through other series, especially those including werewolves.
@icaruspendragon Reply to @nura.beifong14 a brief introduction to omegaverse. #ao3 #fanfic #omegaverse
As it turns out, the book’s inclusion in the photo was not an accident!
The newly established Nao Studio Publishing sells the physical edition of Love Shuttle in France, and its founder, Noémie, was the person in the Prime Minister’s photo holding the book.
After author Aeju expressed surprise over seeing their work in the photo, the publisher’s X account replied, stating they were proud of the collaboration and to have published the story.
I am proud of our collaboration. And I wanted to introduce the first work of Nao Studio Publishing. Aeju nim, you have worked very hard, and your work is incredible. I want to highlight it. Take care of yourself please. 😊
— Nao Studio Publishing (@blAddictbyNao) March 9, 2024
Based on all the attention the photo and subsequent posts got, the advertisement method worked!