How K-drama Once Again shocked viewers – forcing KBS to apologise for its sexualised portrayal of women
Viewers were outraged by the depiction of women in the last episode of the popular series, with one even lodging a complaint with the president’s office
KBS apologised last Sunday for its TV series Once Again which aired scenes that allegedly sexually objectified women.
“We regret for having caused inconveniences in the episode which aired on Saturday. We will be more careful not to cause such trouble in the future,” the producers said in an online statement.
The statement went on to say, “Including rebroadcasts and replays, the episode will be replaced with a newly edited one.”
The apology came after viewers criticised the drama for sexually objectifying women.
In episodes 13 and 14, three female characters, who opened a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurant after quitting their jobs at a karaoke bar, appear in revealing miniskirts and high heels that reminded viewers of sex workers. With their seductive poses and manners, they successfully attract customers and their eatery is crowded. The restaurant sign also has two silhouettes of women's bodies which look like the ones used for karaoke bars where illegal sex trade occurs.
In the online bulletin boards of KBS and Once Again, where viewers can leave their comments, many criticised the TV series for sexually objectifying women and inappropriate content.
“I freaked out at the plot of the TV series. It reads former karaoke bar girls have a career transition and open a small gimbap eatery and the drama hilariously depicts those girls selling gimbap with skills they learned at the karaoke bar,” one internet user wrote. Another wrote, “I was embarrassed as I watched it with my children.”
The TV series led one internet user to submit a petition on the presidential office website.
It reads: “The drama includes so many scenes objectifying women. Women from the sex industry open a gimbap restaurant and promote it as if they are seducing customers at a bar … who does that in a gimbap restaurant? It is an unnecessary objectification of female characters. And how can this kind of scene be aired at 8pm on weekends when all family members can watch?”