'Airport' hit for dubious relationship

Kim Ha-neul, left, and Lee Sang-yoon in “On the Way to the Airport” / Courtesy of KBS

By Park Jae-hyuk

“On the Way to the Airport,” a KBS drama that premiered Wednesday and looks to be the romance series of the fall, is being criticized by some viewers for justifying adultery.

Actors Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Ha-neul star as a married man and woman who are in rocky relationships with their spouses, who start to console each other.

Kim, returning to the small screen after four years, plays veteran flight attendant Choi Soo-ah and Lee plays part-time university lecturer in architecture Seo Do-woo.

In the first episode, Choi and Seo meet because their daughters were roommates in Malaysia. When Seo’s daughter abruptly dies in a car accident, Choi comforts him on the way from Malaysia to Korea.

The teaser for the next episode implies the two will become closer, spending more time together.

“This drama basically depicts a subtle relationship between two people, which is hard to define with specific words,” said director Kim Cheol-kyu during a press conference at Amoris Hall in Times Square, southern Seoul, Tuesday. “Mature societies naturally accept friendship between a married man and a married woman.”

Actors Kim and Lee said it is up to the viewers to judge whether the drama is seen as a story about adultery.

Viewers praised images showing the beauty of Incheon International Airport and the background music played on a piano. They also commented on Kim, who plays a mother’s role for the first time as an actress.

However, most viewers questioned the relationship between Choi and Seo.

“If the two met each other after a divorce, it would be okay,” a viewer commented online. “But the drama seems to glamorize adultery as the two still have spouses.”

Despite the criticism, the drama ranked second in the ratings, beating its competitor “Shopaholic Louis,” MBC’s romantic comedy that premiered on the same day. “Jealousy Incarnate” of SBS topped the rankings in the same time slot.

“On the Way to the Airport” airs every Wednesday and Thursday night at 10:00 p.m.