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[ASKKPOP] 'Seonam Girls High School Investigators' stirs mixed response with a bold kiss scene between lesbian students

The February 25th episode of theJTBCdrama, 'Seonam Girls High School Investigators' took a bold approach at portraying the subject of homosexuality with a kiss scene, leaving the rather conservative viewers of Korea surprised. 


Although the topic of homosexuality has been touched upon in a few dramas before, such as in 'Reply 1997', it is usually dealt with in a more subtle manner. However the producers of 'Seonam Girls High School' decided to push the boundaries by airing a kiss scene between two female students. 



When asked why they decided to take such a bold approach (by Korean standards that is), the producers of the drama responded,"We produced this project in aims to raise acceptance of diversity. We do not think that it is up to us to decide whether homosexuality is right or wrong. Homosexuality was the very first topic that PD Yeo Yoon Hyuk had wanted to touch upon when we were in the midst of preparing 'Seonam Girls High School'. Although PD Yeo worried about the reaction, he wanted to push forward with a topic that should be dealt with. 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."


It's said there was no formal complaint lodged regarding this kiss scene by the viewers, but the scene was bold enough forKorea Communications Standards Commissionto take notice. The commission revealed,"We are currently confirming the content of the broadcast. We will decide whether this is an issue after we look into it and whether there is any violation against broadcast policy."


Hearing that the commission is looking into the matter, netizens responded with varying thoughts:"It's not even a bed scene, it's just a kiss scene. Are they saying that it's more erotic because it's done by two females? The public, major broadcast station was even airing a bed scene between high school students and them having a baby, why doesn't the Commission review that instead?", "Well... That's a cable station and not a major network, that's why they can air that," "What's wrong is wrong", "For those who don't think this is a problem, it is a problem because young students may watch and follow", "If male actors had done a kiss scene, would the Commission be looking into this? Why is it that men can kiss each other but when women kiss one another it becomes an issue?", "If the topic dealt with in the drama is homosexuality, of course they can show a kiss scene. Are we still in the 1980s?", "When I watch broadcast on major networks, there are many scenes when men kiss, but never when women kiss. Why is it that it's fine when men kiss but women can't? What exactly is the regulation here?"


It seems many were pointing out the fact thatPark Seo JoonandJi Sungrecently shared a smooch in a recent episode of 'Kill Me, Heal Me' and thatLee JoonandGo Ah Sungare currently portraying the topic of teen pregnancy on 'Heard It Through the Grapevine' - both of which are major network dramas. The overall mood seems to be that if those scenes are fine to be aired even on a major network, why does a simple kiss scene between two women have to be something that needs review?

You can check out the scene below, in which the two female students share a steamy kiss after one tells the other she wants to break up because she is afraid that others may find out about them and judge.