Hi Bye, Mama!’s gender backlash explained – a 5-year-old boy was cast as a girl and Korean drama fans are freaking out
Seo Woo-jin is the five-year-old South Korean child actor who plays veteran actress Kim Tae-hee’s daughter in hit K-drama Hi Bye, Mama! The unconventional part? Seo is biologically male, leading many viewers to become curious as to why a boy was chosen to play the role when there is an abundance of female child actors in the country itching to be called up.
Gender identity? I’m sure everyone who’s ever interacted with my son knows that’s nothing to worry about. Woo-jin is very boyish
What’s the problem?
The production crew has explained that Seo was chosen for two main reasons – his striking resemblance to Kim and his stable acting skills despite his young age. However, some netizens have raised concerns that Seo could become confused with his gender identity as he is often dressed in cute one-pieces with long hair for his role.
Seo’s mother speaks up
On March 30, Seo’s mother responded on her Instagram account defending her and her son's decision. She stated in Korean, “I can’t hold it in any more, so I’m saying a few words. Many people are worried about Woo-jin’s gender identity. Unlike other children of his age, Woo-jin is a smart kid who understands very well about what he is doing right now and why he plays the role of a girl.
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“Of course, when I was offered for him to play the role of a girl, I asked Woo-jin for his opinion, and he willingly said that he was OK and that he could do it well. Gender identity? I’m sure everyone who’s ever interacted with my son knows that’s nothing to worry about. Woo-jin is very boyish.”
His mother also reminded fans that she and her husband both majored in psychology in college and that her husband is currently working as a psychologist after getting his PhD – the message being that they know how to handle the situation well given their expertise and that as a mother, she “knows her son better than anyone”.
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She closed the post acknowledging that viewers could be uncomfortable watching after knowing the truth and may not be able to immerse themselves in the drama. However, she believes that the issue is that her son is receiving excessive criticism for playing the role of a girl only for a short while and pleaded with the public to refrain from commenting negatively on his appearance in the drama.
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Seo Woo-jin, 5, might be a boy – but he was cast as Kim Tae-hee’s daughter, thanks to a striking resemblance to the veteran actress – forcing the boy’s real mother to come out and defend her ‘very boyish’ son