Korean Media Concerns Regarding One-night Stand Scenes in Ongoing K-Dramas

The Korea Times, as reported by Hankook Ilbo, has received criticism for the 19+ one-night stand scenes featured in the ongoing dramas “Good Partner”and “My Sweet Mobster,”despite their 15+ rating.

Specifically, in the drama “The Good Partner”, two characters, Han Yu-ri (Nam Ji-hyun) and her colleague Jeon Eun-ho (Pyo Ji-hoon), engage in a one-night stand while under the influence of alcohol. The media outlet highlighted that this plot twist goes against the established character development of Han Yu-ri, who has a troubled past involving her father’s extramarital affair. Furthermore, Han Yu-ri does not view Jeon Eun-ho as a potential romantic partner, causing many viewers to be surprised by her seemingly illogical decision to sleep with him.

The one-night stand sequence in “My Sweet Mobster”sparked controversy. Following a passionate night with Il-young (Kim Hyun-jin), Mi-ho (Moon Ji-in) discovers she is pregnant and the two ultimately decide to marry. Furthermore, it is only after learning about her pregnancy that Il-young begins to develop feelings for Mi-ho. This scene garnered criticism from viewers who felt it portrayed outdated and inappropriate content for modern-day dramas.

Referring to Section 25 of the Korea Communications Commission’s regulations on depictions of sexual content, the media highlighted the importance of avoiding a focus on indecent and unhealthy relationships in their broadcasts. As such, it is necessary for 15+ content to be suitable for teenagers as they are in the midst of developing their own sexual beliefs and values.

Despite living in a modern era, the frequent portrayal of one-night stands in dramas can have a detrimental effect on the sexual awareness of teenage viewers by normalizing it and leading them to believe it is a common occurrence.

K-drama fans have expressed that they would like to see changes in not only sexual scenes, but also in drinking and smoking scenes, which they consider cliché. They believe that drama writers should be mindful of their drama ratings and intended audiences when including such scenes. This criticism also highlights the importance of producers thoughtfully planning all scenes in their dramas to promote a positive broadcasting culture.

According to The Korea Times, it has been reported that…