Recent dramas such as “Good Partner” and “My Sweet Mobster” have sparked controversy for their depiction of one-night stands, with some viewers questioning the necessity of these scenes, particularly when they disrupt the established persona. characters.
In “My Sweet Mobster”, in particular, a character unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a one-night stand, leaving viewers perplexed without forgetting that these two series are intended for an audience aged 15 and over, which raises concerns about to the possibility that these representations instill unhealthy values regarding sexuality.
These two popular dramas have recently tackled the subject of one-night stands in different ways. First, in episode 4 of the SBS series “Good Partner”, the characters Han Yu-ri (played by Nam Ji-hyun) and fellow lawyer Jeon Eun-ho (played by Pyo Ji-hoon) end up spending a night together after drinking heavily, which did not convince viewers, who found this scene inconsistent with Han Yuri’s character. Indeed, the latter was presented throughout the series as deeply affected by her father’s infidelity, which made her skeptical of marriage and romantic relationships. The fact that she suddenly decided to spend the night with Jeon Eun-ho, whom she considered more of a friend than a romantic partner, is not in keeping with her character, leading to criticism from critics. viewers.
Freedom of expression
Among the comments on the SBS YouTube channel, we can read mentions such as “It’s so old-fashioned, the scene where two people wake up together in a motel is so cliché” or “Does it make sense that a character Who has a strong aversion to relationships with men has a one-night stand? ”.
The same thing happened in JTBC’s “My Sweet Mobster”, where Mi-ho (played by Moon Ji-in) suddenly spends the night with Il-young (played by Kim Hyun-jin), leading to a unexpected pregnancy and the subsequent marriage, not to mention the fact that Il-young admits that he only started loving Mi-ho after learning of the pregnancy. The Korea Communications Commission’s regulation, Section 35 on sexual expression, states that broadcasts should not focus primarily on immoral or unhealthy relationships. What’s more, with the Korean Media Classification Board’s rating of fifteen and above, the content must be suitable for teenagers without distorting their perception of sexuality.
Despite the permissibility of indirect or implied sexual expressions that do not directly contradict social ethics, the repeated depiction of one-night stands in dramas can create a sense of déjà vu among viewers even though society has expanded his view of sex and the concept of sexuality has evolved, the frequent use of one-night stands as a plot device can be concerning. For example, the currently ongoing KBS2 drama “Beauty and Mr. Romantic” briefly features a plot in which two characters spend the night together after a chance encounter.
At the limit of acceptable
These themes are even more common in the over-the-top (OTT) streaming industry, with series like Tving’s “Work Later, Drink Now” and Netflix’s “Love to Hate You” often featuring characters sexually liberated and independent females. Interestingly, all of these dramas feature female protagonists who lead proactive and ambitious lives. When it comes to “Good Partner,” for example, the story focuses on a young lawyer who thrives in her role and develops a healthy understanding of marriage, making the sudden introduction of an affair a evening difficult to understand.
Certainly, one-night stands have been a recurring theme in dramas of the past, but it seems that their representation is becoming more and more frequent and, while this content may reflect certain aspects of social reality, it is also limit of acceptable. Of particular concern are the possible negative repercussions on adolescents, who are in the process of forming their sexual values. You should know that after the removal of cigarettes from public broadcasts, the smoking rate decreased both among adolescents and adults.
While not illegal, one-night stands do not necessarily contribute to a healthy broadcast culture, highlighting the need for producers to carefully consider the implications of such content.
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