By Kwon Ji-youn
Sexual minority groups are calling on the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to halt disciplinary proceedings against a television drama that portrayed a homosexual relationship.
Rainbow Action against Sexual Minority Discrimination, a group that works to raise awareness about sexual minorities and their rights, held a press conference Tuesday to request the KCSC end discussions for disciplinary measures against JTBC drama "Seonam Girls High School Investigators."
The drama, which tells the story of five students who, as members of a private investigator club, go up against private education, abortion, bullying and suicide, aired kiss scenes between two schoolgirls on Feb. 25 and March 4.
When a complaint was filed with the KCSC, the communications regulator convened a meeting March 18 to deliberate the matter. The drama is rated for viewing by those 15 and older.
"‘Seonam Girls' is a rare drama that accurately depicts the lives of sexual minorities in a society that pretends people with such preferences don't exist," members of Rainbow Action said. "Deliberators at a meeting on Feb. 25 said the drama may encourage homosexuality and went as far as to make inappropriate comments, claiming they believe sexual minorities suffer from a mental disability."
It continued, "The people who need to be deliberated are the deliberators. Other dramas that have dealt with teens and their sexual relationships were aired with no problems, so to discipline Seonam Girls is discrimination against sexual minorities."
On Feb. 25, the production crew for "Seonam Girls" said the kiss scene was a necessary scene in the story's development.
"We wanted to provide a candid depiction of what happens at high schools today — including abortions and secret tutoring," a JTBC official said on March 19 in a phone interview.
But he added, "We will be sure to take caution next time."
When the issue first surfaced, the producers had said the sexual minorities they had met are effectively being treated unfairly at school.
"We don't think it is up to us to decide whether they are right or wrong. We wanted differences to be accepted," they said.
This is the first time displays of affection between schoolgirls have become a subject of deliberation for the regulator. The country remains highly conservative when it comes to the broadcast of sexual content, and homosexual content in particular.
Broadcasting regulations say that programs should not depict content related to sex in an "obscene manner," or air content that goes against "viewers' ethical standards."
The KCSC has said it is too early for the deliberating body to react to such press events by civic groups.
"A number of civic groups are expressing opinions that don't necessarily coincide," a KCSC official said, Wednesday. "We are listening to both sides of the argument. It is too early for an official statement."
The official added that they have nothing more to say about any inappropriate comments that may have been made at deliberations. The final deliberation meeting is set for April 9.
Sexual minority groups are calling on the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to halt disciplinary proceedings against a television drama that portrayed a homosexual relationship.
Rainbow Action against Sexual Minority Discrimination, a group that works to raise awareness about sexual minorities and their rights, held a press conference Tuesday to request the KCSC end discussions for disciplinary measures against JTBC drama "Seonam Girls High School Investigators."
The drama, which tells the story of five students who, as members of a private investigator club, go up against private education, abortion, bullying and suicide, aired kiss scenes between two schoolgirls on Feb. 25 and March 4.
When a complaint was filed with the KCSC, the communications regulator convened a meeting March 18 to deliberate the matter. The drama is rated for viewing by those 15 and older.
"‘Seonam Girls' is a rare drama that accurately depicts the lives of sexual minorities in a society that pretends people with such preferences don't exist," members of Rainbow Action said. "Deliberators at a meeting on Feb. 25 said the drama may encourage homosexuality and went as far as to make inappropriate comments, claiming they believe sexual minorities suffer from a mental disability."
It continued, "The people who need to be deliberated are the deliberators. Other dramas that have dealt with teens and their sexual relationships were aired with no problems, so to discipline Seonam Girls is discrimination against sexual minorities."
On Feb. 25, the production crew for "Seonam Girls" said the kiss scene was a necessary scene in the story's development.
"We wanted to provide a candid depiction of what happens at high schools today — including abortions and secret tutoring," a JTBC official said on March 19 in a phone interview.
But he added, "We will be sure to take caution next time."
When the issue first surfaced, the producers had said the sexual minorities they had met are effectively being treated unfairly at school.
"We don't think it is up to us to decide whether they are right or wrong. We wanted differences to be accepted," they said.
This is the first time displays of affection between schoolgirls have become a subject of deliberation for the regulator. The country remains highly conservative when it comes to the broadcast of sexual content, and homosexual content in particular.
Broadcasting regulations say that programs should not depict content related to sex in an "obscene manner," or air content that goes against "viewers' ethical standards."
The KCSC has said it is too early for the deliberating body to react to such press events by civic groups.
"A number of civic groups are expressing opinions that don't necessarily coincide," a KCSC official said, Wednesday. "We are listening to both sides of the argument. It is too early for an official statement."
The official added that they have nothing more to say about any inappropriate comments that may have been made at deliberations. The final deliberation meeting is set for April 9.
