Sexual Content In New K-Dramas Triggers Criticism, Clashing Opinions

According to a recent report by The Korea Times, popular K-Dramas such as Good Partner and My Sweet Mobster are receiving criticism for their portrayal of one-night stands.

In Good Partner, two characters spend the night together after drinking, while in My Sweet Mobster, a one-night stand results in an unplanned pregnancy and marriage. Both shows are rated 15+, targeting audiences aged 15 years old or older. As such, some Korean viewers worry that the normalization and portrayal of one-night stands could “instill unhealthy sexual values” in a young audience–and there might be some evidence to back that claim up.

Before going any further, though, it’s worth noting that K-Dramas created and aired by some global streaming platforms, such as Netflix and Disney+, are not bound by the same broadcasting restrictions as series made to air on Korean television. Section 35 of the Korea Communications Commission’s regulations states that broadcasts–not just 15+ rated K-Dramas–should not “focus primarily on immoral or unhealthy relationships.”  

You might recall watching a K-Drama or two where a character lights a cigarette but never smokes it. According to The Korea Times, smoking rates for both teens and adults decreased after smoking was removed from public broadcasts, including K-Dramas. This suggests that some real-life lifestyle habits and norms, including one-night stands, could potentially be influenced by fictional portrayals. Hence, the reason for some viewers’ concerns.

This isn’t the only reason, however, why not everyone is a fan of seeing one-night stands in K-Dramas. Some viewers criticized Good Partner, for example, for including a one-night stand that seemed to contradict the protagonist’s personality and values for the sake of the plot. Others are simply tired of watching “cliché” one-night stand storylines.

Some international fans agreed that the age of the intended audience should be taken into consideration for 15+ rated shows. Others pointed out that the portrayal of sexuality tends to depend on the age of the show’s protagonists, not just the rating.

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Some found the portrayal of adults “acting like adults” in relationships to be “refreshing.” Others agreed that one-night stand plotlines could be the result of “lazy” writing while pointing out other potentially problematic content, such as heavy drinking.

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What are your thoughts?