The announcement of an LGBTQIA+ subplot in the upcoming K-Drama Love in the Big City has incited heated backlash and has prompted sponsors to remove all promotional material for the show.
The drama is a screen adaptation of Park Sang Young’s bestselling novel, and the cast features actors Jin Ho Eun as Kyu Ho and Nam Yoon Su as Go Young.
Fans of the book, along with the enthusiasts of the adapted Boy Love series and the majority of LGBTQIA+ members, were thrilled to see the work they have grown to love come to life on screen.
Over the past several weeks, religious organizations have significantly stepped up their protests against what they call “gay propaganda.” Reportedlybecause of considerable pressure from the conservative groups, expressions of interest in the latest trailers have been withdrawn from all platforms.
Today 14/10 – These people from conservative party protested in front of the ministry building??!! Demanding Love In The Big City to be cancelled!!!!
Read the banner, i wanna throw up ☠️ pic.twitter.com/4fQNBW1do8
— Litbc 21/10 (@booger_cereal) October 14, 2024
According to the cast and crew, drama writer Park Sang Young has confirmed through her agents that the premiere will proceed as scheduled on October 21. She has expressed her frustration over the current circumstances on her social media page.
Thanks to the fact that it was pointed out to the drama Love in a Big City’s parent organization and received a barrage of complaints from related departments, all official trailers were eventually taken down. It was 9 days before the drama opened, and I couldn’t sleep all night because I was so anxious about the ridiculous situation of not being able to promote anything. I thought I had gotten used to this after working as a writer for 8 years. pic.twitter.com/yLTuhc2kTc
— New York (SangYoung Park) (@novelistpark) October 12, 2024
No matter how many times I experience the bare face of hatred, I can never get used to it. I’m looking for a way to resume advertising. No matter what happens, we will definitely open on October 21st. Everyone, please have fun! In the end we win!
— New York (SangYoung Park) (@novelistpark) October 12, 2024
READ MORE: Nam Yoon Su Receives Massive Hate After Portraying Gay Role in New K-Drama ‘Love in the Big City’
“Due to a certain organisation targeting the drama and the flood of complaints filed with the relevant department, we ended up having to take down all the official trailers. I’m looking for ways to resume advertising. No matter what happens, we will definitely premiere on October 21”.
Social media has responded to the situation with disgust and flood upon a flood of indignation and a call to action.
Many followers of the original novel and fans of the show plan to support the series on social media to now only demonstrate the weakness of the allegations brought by the groups and, indeed, the benefits of inclusivity.
The protest was infront of TVING & CJ building. They even threatened to boycott all CJ products if Love In The Big City continued to air. Seems TVING tried to quell the protest by taking down the trailers. But these ppl want whole series to be cancelled
Guys what should we do 🙁 pic.twitter.com/OHDGxMMkR8
— Litbc 21/10 (@booger_cereal) October 14, 2024
Overall, the coordinated protests seem to have had the opposite effect, as many followers now suggest boycotting TVING, the production company and associated companies.
Nam Yoon Su’s fans, on the other hand, applauded the actor for choosing the initial professional project. They claimed that due to the fear of losing millions of fans and ties with sponsorship, hardly any A-list actors ever agree to play in gay series.
Love In The Big City trailers in all official site is currently removed EVERYWHERE after a mass complain from some Koreans conservatives group.
SHAME ON THEM BECAUSE THEY JUST GIVE US MORE REASON TO SUPPORT THE DRAMA HARDER.
LOVE IN THE BIG CITY OUT THIS OCT 21! pic.twitter.com/0REvueTsMn
— mikey / 🏳️🌈 (@beansxooo) October 12, 2024
It is unclear how the situation will have affected views in the long run as the show’s release date nears.
READ MORE: Kim Go Eun’s K-Movie ‘Love in the Big City’ Faces Backlash Over Misleading Marketing of LGBTQ Character
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Rovelyn Barba
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