the Homosexual Agenda strikes Korea again, now with lesbians!

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

KBS’s Drama Special, an anthology series of one-act (aka single-episode) dramas, is into its second season now, and its latest installment has become a target of netizen controversy. Today’s (August 7) episode is titled Daughters of Bilitis Club and is peopled entirely with lesbian characters, its title borrowing from the American lesbian rights group Daughters of Bilitis.

Homosexuality is becoming more visible on Korean television screens in both scripted and unscripted forms, and has been a key story point in several network drama series like Coffee Prince, Personal Taste, and Life Is Beautiful. Off network, there was the cable reality program Coming Out, which featured real-life gay people and showcased their stories of identity and acceptance.

It’s promising to see the topic handled with sensitivity and thoughtfulness, even if the progress is slow. But it seems the public is still far from accepting, what with the ill-informed campaigns of netizen mothers who railed against Life Is Beautiful, accusing the show of possibly turning their currently-totally-straight children gay in the near or far future, yunno, just in case The Gay is transmittable through airwaves and the power of suggestion. And now Drama Special has received complaints for the Daughters of Bilitis Club episode, with demands to take it off the air immediately. Some have called its frank portrayal of its lesbian characters unfit for television.

This really is too bad, because when I first heard about this one, I was intrigued by the subject and was hoping it would be noteworthy for its story. Drama Specials can be hit or miss, but overall I find it to be a quality program that treats its stories with a light and thoughtful touch.


Featured in Daughters of Bilitis Club are several pairs of lesbian characters, who span multiple generations: Representing the 50s age range are two familiar veteran actresses, Choi Ran (Hong Gil Dong, You’re Beautiful) and Kim Hye-ok (Scent of a Woman, Bad Guy); in their 30s are careerwomen Han Go-eun (A Man Called God) and Oh Se-jung (Yi San); and playing teenage students are Jin Se-yeon (The Duo) and Ahn Ji-hyun (While You Were Sleeping).

Writing is Sohn Ji-hye of this year’s KBS series President, while the PD is Han Jun-seo, who worked on dramas like My Precious You and Capital Scandal and has directed a few other Drama Special episodes.

In the older generation, Kim Hye-ok is estranged from her daughter (played by Chuno’s Min Ji-ah), probably due to her relationship with her partner (Choi Ran). However, the daughter decides to meet with her mother before she departs for the U.S., and their meeting is rife with mother-daughter love and strife.

In the middle generation, Han Go-eun’s character is in a relationship with a woman (Oh Se-jung) who isn’t fully certain of her sexuality (I hesitate to use the word bisexual because she hasn’t made the choice to be bi, either; the description points out that she’s still undecided).

In the teen generation, Jin Se-yeon plays a senior in high school who likes a girl in a different class at school, and is in search of other lesbian teenagers like herself to connect with.

On the upside, Daughters of Bilitis Club has met with a positive response from some of its viewers who appreciated the subject matter and its treatment. By all accounts, the story is more about the emotions of these women than a salacious attempt at sensationalism. The motifs at play include a mother’s pain, a teenager’s uncertainty and angst, and the hurt of a woman whose lover left her and married a man.

And despite the loud voices of the offended, not all the responses are angry. Some comments have been more open-minded, stating that “The world is big and drama topics diverse, this is just one of many.” And “Homosexuality is no longer just for minority of people. It’s a subject that we should think about deeply and thoughtfully as a society.” And “I welcome the Korean version of The L Word.”

sources: dramabeans, Star News, mk.co.kr, Star News again

Comments

[jaemin0.livejournal.com]

the korean version of the l word omfg yes please
with jessica taeyeon tiffany yuri krystal and amber please

[jaejunggim.livejournal.com]

+1

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

Yes, please. I like the sound of this. Is it going to be subbed? I hope so, I want to watch this.

[yeongwonnie.livejournal.com]

since it's a KBS production, there'll definitely be a hardsubbed version of the episode aired on KBS World
so let's wait for it

[xxqod.livejournal.com]

I really hope it's as good as the L word or even better. It sounds wonderful.
And I also hope it makes people more accepting of homosexuality.

[omen1x2.livejournal.com]

It's just sad that people seem to think that homosexuality is catching. And it really doesn't make any sense, either. Obviously, all the straight programs running rampant haven't turned homosexuals straight, so why would the reverse be true?

I think it's important that people understand that gays are people also, and it's good to see things from their side. Moreover, it's especially good for children that might be having issues with this to be able to have something like a television show to turn to.

It's sad to see something that can give people hope or a chance at open-mindedness getting hit like that. If it bothers your hetero sensibilities so much, change the channel. No one's making you watch it.

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

i caught the gay from this comment D:

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

based on the description it seems like it's patterned on if these walls could talk 2 more than the l word.

and it's good that this is on the government run network. it shows that the government is being open minded. or they just want the pink won.

[crazyxcami.livejournal.com]

give it to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[jenna-lovesyou.livejournal.com]

i would totally watch this. i hope it gets subbed somewhere.
i have a tiny glimmer of hope that this could open the eyes of maybe just a few koreans, so that they can see that homosexuality is not a disease or a choice.

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

KBSWorld subs all their shows themselves.

[29septembre.livejournal.com]

Korea has to make a progress in matter of respect of gay community and in general about tolerence towards all differences.

[dipropylene]

Downloading it right now. Can't wait to watch it~

[lobotronic.livejournal.com]

may I ask from where please???

[nene718.livejournal.com]

KEEP TEH GHEY AWAY FROM MY INNOCENT CHILDREN'S EYES

[lcbarnes.livejournal.com]

While I may not agree with homosexuality lifestyle, they are human first and foremost and have a right to live however they choose. If people don't like the basis of the show, don't watch it. Simple as that.

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

Did you really have to come into a post like this and say that?

[naj-mahal.livejournal.com]

I want it! I call this progress, at the very least.

[fay-of-sunshine.livejournal.com]

I wish they wouldn't use Coffee Prince and Personal Taste as a point of reference. If anything, it seems like those shows were a step back since neither of the characters turned out to be gay. It seemed almost like a 'whew, dodged a bullet there' plotline as far as the gay factor. :[

I'm really glad those actresses were open minded enough to participate in this project.

The Gay is transmittable through airwaves and the power of suggestion.

I lol'd.

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

Personal Taste was a definite step back, but I think Coffee Prince had it's heart in the right place. I wouldn't label it as a gay drama, because ultimately there is nothing gay about it, but at least the drama had the guts to have Gong Yoo's character fall for Yoon Eun Hye's before the great reveal. It's still something to have a character openly declare he loves someone even though they're both guys, even if as an audience we know it's not true.

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

give me give me give me give me!

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

YES! I hope it airs without problem, and then I hope it gets subbed. I so wanna see this, and South Korea SO SO SO needs things like this happening on their networks (well, they need a lot more than that, I know, but it's a start.)

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

those damn gays are going after your children! run korea run!

[annhh.livejournal.com]

Well ok this sounds legit. Done by SKoreans is even better. Only I hope people who watch this show aren't like creepy ass middle-aged men.

I have faith in smart South Koreans making their society more open-minded. Yeaah though it might take a while

[taecish.livejournal.com]

watch this show and in 7 days u will turn gay

[jeit91.livejournal.com]

someone think of the children!!

[undying-desire.livejournal.com]

Oh I definitely want to see this. I wish it would be streaming somewhere. xD But I hope it isn't like The L Word . . . something a bit less sexualized and more realistic please.

If that happens then this is a step in the right direction. I hope more broadcasting stations follow suit despite bigots that are all up in arms about this.

[yumi-maki.livejournal.com]

Well, the synopsis certainly doesn't sound sexualized. They're probably comparing it to the L Word because it's the most recent, well known tv show about the topic.

[lobotronic.livejournal.com]

I need to see this immediately. :( I'm a lesbian and I have been waiting to see some good portrayals of lesbians on Korean TV for a while....

[jiwoon.livejournal.com]

Kpop fan lesbian high-five tbh.

[yumi-maki.livejournal.com]

Baby steps. This is good. I respect them for being willing to tackle this topic and doing it in a sensitive, thoughtful way and major props to all the actresses who are taking part. Every little bit helps to fight prejudice. And it's great that there are people who are open to it and appreciate the topic. :)

[lightspeedsquid.livejournal.com]

this sounds really interesting. hopefully KBS doesn't bend under the pressure and stop airing it, because i'd really like to watch it :(

also i can't wrap my mind around the fact that people still think that being gay is contagious. like jfc what century are we in again

more of this please

[ebenetwo.livejournal.com]

(http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/ebenetwo/?action=view&current=tumblr_lgy81agsWv1qe78mso1_400.gif)

Re: more of this please

[fay-of-sunshine.livejournal.com]

loooove.

[cruel-disorder.livejournal.com]

I hope it gets subbed and uploaded somewhere accessible!