Many international fans often say that South Korea is a conservative country. South Korea is historically not a LGBT affirming country, which bleeds into the culture, justice system and general public sense. However, recent study conducted in Chonnam National University states that the attitudes toward homosexuality are becoming increasingly positive.
Queer representation has been more prominent in movies than in dramas. It is only recently that gay characters in dramas became more visible and whose sexuality is not camouflaged. These dramas are Prison Playbook, Be Melodramatic, and more recently Itaewon Class with its trangender woman character. Another drama to note is Life is Beautiful which was the first primetime drama that had an openly gay couple among its supporting characters.
This year, we have two dramas which puts queer representation in the forefront.
Where Your Eyes Linger (web drama, Youtube)
Where Your Eyes Linger depicts a heart-racing romance story between two males in their 18 year old youth. The drama will be Korea’s first BL (Boys Love) drama.
The drama will star Han Gi Chan, who also participated on Produce X 101 and finished in 57th place. He will take the role of Taeju, the only heir of a chaebol family. Also starring in the drama is Jang Eui Soo, who is taking the role of Kook, Taeju’s friend, bodyguard, and always by his side.
The female lead in the drama will be Choi Gyu Ri, who previously appeared in Super Junior‘s “Magic” and BTOB‘s “Dear Bride” music videos. She will play the role of Hyemi, a transfer student from Thailand who creates tension between Taeju and Kook.
Sweet Munchies (cable drama, jTBC)
Sweet Munchies, also known as Late Night Snack Man and Woman, features lead stars Jung Il woo (Haechi), Lee Hak joo (The World of the Married), and former Kara member Kang Jiyoung. It is a romantic comedy drama about an atypical love triangle in which a man and a woman fight over the same man.
Jung Il woo plays the character Park Jin-sung, a passionate chef and owner of the late-night snack restaurant BISTRO. Despite his hardwork, Jin-sung gets scammed out of money and finds himself on the verge of closing down his business. Meanwhile, production director Kim Ah-jin (Kang Jiyoung), a regular customer at BISTRO, comes up with the idea of a talk show where a gay chef fixes midnight snacks as her last project before her contract ends.
To earn money for his father’s medical fees and to revive his restaurant, Jin-sung ends up posing as a gay chef to join the program. Contrary to their low expectations, Ah-jin’s pilot show becomes a great hit and gets an official season order. As the show goes on, Ah-jin starts to have feelings for the supposed “gay” Jin-sung while Kang Tae-wan (Lee Hak joo), the designer sponsoring the show, also grows a crush on him.
So are they ready?
Whether or not LGBTQIA+ representation becomes normal in Kdramas is something for South Korea to decide. But personally, we really hope it would.
