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AN UNPRECEDENTED LESBIAN kiss between two high school students on a popular South Korean TV drama has fueled a debate about portrayals of sexuality in a rapidly modernising society with deeply conservative roots.
The broadcast and Internet regulatory body, the Korea Communications Standards Commission, said it had received complaints about the scene which aired on Wednesday’s episode of “Seonam Girls High School Investigators.”
“We will decide whether this is an issue after we look into it, and whether there is any violation of broadcast policy,” the commission said in a statement.
Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea, but carries a significant social stigma, with few openly gay public figures.
The country’s prolific TV drama industry, which has become a major cultural export, largely pumps out multi-generational, family-focused soap operas with similar tragi-comic plotlines.
In recent years, some productions — especially those on cable TV — have sought to include more culturally sensitive social issues such as teenage pregnancy.
A few have experimented with gay characters, and just this month there was a kissing scene between two male actors in the drama “Kill Me, Heal Me.”
But the “Seonam Girls High School Investigators” scene was the first of its kind between two female characters, and so caused something of a stir.
Essential to the plot
A spokesman for the JTBC cable channel which produced the show said the kiss had been included because it was “necessary to the plot.”
Several media outlets quoted an unidentified member of the production team as saying the series had been devised with a view to touching on the issue of homosexuality.
The homosexual students that we actually met with told us that they do receive unfair treatment at school because of their sexual orientation.
“We came to produce this drama in hopes that diversity will become accepted,” the producer said.
Reaction on Korean social networks was largely positive.
“If a guy and a girl is OK, there’s no reason we can’t have same sex kissing,” one viewer, Kim Cheol-Ho, wrote on a news website discussing the show.
“At last! Hallelujah!” said another.
Previous television forays into programming focusing on minorities have come unstuck.
In 2012, KBS Joy, an entertainment subsidiary of the national KBS TV, pulled the plug on a newly-launched talk show aimed at the transgender community after just one broadcast triggered an outcry from conservative groups.
The television controversy comes a day after the country’s Constitutional Court struck down an adultery law which for more than 60 years had criminalised extra-marital sex, in another reflection of shifting cultural attitudes.
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Even the Iona Institute couldn’t have a problem with this.
that is disgusting ..they should be jailed for 10 years each
In the same cells
With cameras ….
Now that would be a reality TV show ;-)
Lolz !! Wentworth ;)
Tosser.
Will TG4 be buying “Seonam Girls High School Investigators” dubbed into Irish with English subtitles?
I can’t wait!!
Korean shades of grey
What kind of sick culture produces outrage at 2 girls kissing, but is proud to eat dogs??
What if both girls are dogs?
I know, if only their culture was perfect like ours!!!
They would eat them regardless…
Quick start a vigil outside the south korean embassy praying for the 2 girls troubled souls.
Too much gay crap shoved in your face these days. VOTE NO
Maybe you should ask why it makes you so uncomfortable. Does it bring home a few truths to you? You need to accept who you are and venture out of that closet
Put your name up,or are you still in the closet.
Think gay people could say the same thing about straight things thrown in there face. If you feel that uncomfortable with it you have to ask yourself why? Live and let live buddy. It’s a short life.
You get off on having gay crap shoved in your face Leslie and then boast about it on the Journal.
Maan that’s weird.
@leslie are you for real? Too much Gay???? You really need to come out of the dark ages. People should have the right to marry the person they love. I will be voting Yes anyway and sincerely hope people with your opinions are in the minority on the day.
Imagine how us gays feel!! I can’t turn on the telly or leave the house without straight crap being thrown in my face. It’s never-ending. Even when I go home to my parents, straight crap everywhere. No-where is safe……..
I stay strong though. I even have some straight friends who lovely people, thankfully!!
E.m straight crap?? What’s that all about, and then other comments from others saying gay crap more or less, none of it is crap, it’s all natural, it’s you as a person and your personal choice and right, it’s bad enough when people who are straight coming out with crap like that, but then reading crap from someone who is gay hitting back at straight people, wise up and treat peoplexthey way you should be treated
@Mick I think his comment was meant as a joke in response to how ridiculous Leslie’s comment was about there being too much gay crap. Of course it’s totally natural.
Molly, hmm maybe, I did not read it that way,
Mick, perhaps you should direct your comment to Leslie Skinner. I have taken a tongue in cheek approach on replying to Leslies original comment. And I do treat everyone as I would only love to be treated.
I once read a book when I was a child, Animal Farm. I was so young, I didn’t fully grasp the message of that book, but one line resonated and has stayed with me since. “All men are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
E.m, I my response I did direct at everyone who commented so far, read it again
A programme in a foreign language shown thousands of miles away hardly constitutes it being “shoved in your face”.
Mick, at your suggestion, I have read your comment again. It does seem to be directed at my original comment. Which is ok, I understand you may not want to tackle the issue that has been put out there by others. But by all means, tackle the person who makes a joke out of the disgust portrayed by an other, over what is a human right.
E.m yes it is a reply to your comment also everyone else’s, Leslie’s comment is pure crap, and you responding about straight people is pure crap, (but as someone commented it was more of a joke I did not read it that way) my point over all was to everyone, that it is natural and a personal choice and right, and absolutely nothing wrong with being gay,
Can you guys stop arguing, and let is get back to the two Korean girls kissing… something that unites every aspect of society.
When the Referendum is passed, homophobia will diminish in Ireland.
Homophobia will always exist but it will become less and less acceptable so that those who are homophobic will conceal their homophobia. This can only be good.
Right . ! I’ve just come out. Jesus it’s cold and I have a puncture. I’m going back in
You’re confused because Leslie is a boy’s and a girl’s name:-) Vote yes.
Gay, not gay, come out, stay in, whatever. Its a pretty cool pic I think everyone will agree
Wait till the koreans see what the lesbians do on porņhub
Any chance of seeing the video?
Just so I can figure out exactly how disturbed and disgusted I should be of course.
I’ll report back as soon as I can, probably after a few minutes.
It’ll never catch on this lesbian thing.
Oh everything’s a big deal in South Korea.
They really should dabble in liberalism.
have your say