"Is This Really a Family Drama?" Misogyny in 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol' [Kim Gayeon's Perspective Twist]

Drama 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol', adapted from the webtoon of the same name
Controversy over misogyny and sexual content from the first broadcast
Producer Lee Myung-woo: "A warm family drama far from the concerns in the original work"

A scene from the SBS drama 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol,' which premiered on the 19th. Choi Dae-hyun (played by Ji Chang-wook) and Jung Saetbyeol (played by Kim Yoo-jung) have their first meeting depicted. Photo by SBS drama 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol' screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] "Excuse me, just a moment. Could you please buy me three packs of cigarettes at the convenience store? Handsome oppa, don’t say no. Just this once."

Choi Dae-hyun (played by Ji Chang-wook) hands a plastic bag to Jung Saet-byeol (played by Kim Yoo-jung). "You should quit if you can. It eats away your bones. Hey students, save that for when you’re adults and put your youth into something cooler."

Saet-byeol flies up, grabs Dae-hyun’s shoulder, and kisses him. "This is the price for worrying about me. You’re the first oppa who told me to quit smoking. Oppa, be careful. You don’t know what I might do to you."

This is a scene from the SBS drama 'Convenience Store Saet-byeol,' based on an adult webtoon. The drama, which premiered on the 19th, has been embroiled in controversy over its sexual content. Viewers have criticized it for containing many misogynistic elements.

Misogyny, translated from the English word 'Misogyny,' does not simply mean 'dislike' but encompasses prejudice, generalization, contempt, disparagement, and violence against women rooted in male-centered culture.

It also includes sexual objectification, treating women not as individuals deserving respect but as sexual objects, as well as instrumentalization for childbirth and child-rearing.

On the 19th, the SBS drama 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol,' which aired its first episode, depicted an illegal prostitution scene in an officetel, sparking controversy. Photo by SBS drama 'Convenience Store Saetbyeol' screen capture

The controversial parts of this drama include ▲ trivialization of officetel prostitution ▲ kissing scenes between teenagers and adults ▲ sexual objectification of female teenagers ▲ and a scene where a male webtoon artist appears shirtless, moaning while drawing adult comics.

In particular, the previously mentioned scene and the scene where Saet-byeol’s younger sister Jung Eun-byeol (played by Solbin) visits a karaoke room with her friends have been criticized for "sexualizing minors." In that scene, Solbin and her friends are shown wearing school uniforms, singing, stroking their chests with their hands, and swaying their hips.

Additionally, the camera angles that seem to scan the bodies of the female actors playing minors from top to bottom have also sparked controversy.

Furthermore, the scenes featuring the adult webtoon artist Han Dal-sik (played by Eum Moon-seok) have drawn criticism. Han Dal-sik is shown in a room filled with drawings depicting naked women, moaning while wearing only a towel, saying, "The artist has to be excited for the drawing to be exciting," as he draws images exposing female bodies.

As a result, concerns have been raised that this drama could instill distorted adult perceptions in adolescent viewers. 'Convenience Store Saet-byeol' is rated for viewers aged 15 and older and is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the so-called 'prime time' on terrestrial broadcasting stations.

A scene from the SBS drama "Convenience Store Saetbyeol," which premiered on the 19th. Adult webtoon artist Han Dalsik (Eum Moonseok) is drawing a picture exposing a woman's body while moaning, wearing only a towel / Photo by SBS drama "Convenience Store Saetbyeol" screen capture

A 27-year-old office worker, A, who happened to watch a rerun of this drama while channel surfing, said, "When I turned on the TV, a scene of an officetel prostitution crackdown came on," adding, "I don’t use SNS or online communities much, so I didn’t know it was controversial. Prostitution itself is a very serious crime, but seeing it portrayed lightly shocked me, so I immediately changed the channel."

B, 31, who watched the drama because a favorite actor appeared, said, "They said it was a family drama, but what kind of family drama is this?" He raised his voice, "I was watching it with my family, and we were all shocked. What family drama depicts high school girls sexually and shows moaning sounds for several minutes?" He added, "I don’t know what era this is, but shouldn’t this kind of thing have stopped by now?"

Other viewers have also urged the cancellation and suspension of 'Convenience Store Saet-byeol' through the SBS viewer bulletin board and the Korea Communications Standards Commission complaint board.

Meanwhile, 'Convenience Store Saet-byeol,' based on an adult webtoon, was embroiled in controversy even before airing. It was revealed that the original work used misogynistic expressions such as "future roommangju" (a portmanteau of room salon and promising shareholder).

In response to these controversies, the production team stated that the drama is a family drama with content suitable for all viewers.

Director Lee Myung-woo emphasized at the press conference on the 19th, "This is a warm family drama far from the concerns raised by the original work," adding, "We tried to create a drama that the whole family can enjoy by drawing on the strength of the characters and positive elements of the original work."