The recent episode with actor Eum Moon Suk dancing in reggae with a Nigerian heightened the volume of complaints drama received. Since its premiere last June 19, "Backstreet Rookie" has been bombarded with complaints regarding Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung's encounter, wherein she's wearing her school uniform and asked him to buy cigarettes.
Although the management did not release any statement regarding this scene, concerned netizens continued to watch any ambiguous scenes. The time slot covered the family airing time for local citizens of Korea.
The complaints never stopped in one scene and the latter part, the Eum Moon Suk incident, triggered more international viewers to react through different social media sites. Many cited that it was an offensive scene and racial to be exact.
Articles and reports by Media Today announced that "Backstreet Rookie" has received 6,384 civil complaints. The KOCSC representative commented, "This particular drama series gained the highest number of civil complaints in the last year. Though there has no period to be followed, this show top among others with the number of complaints received."
Korea Communications Standards Commission or KOCSC handles the complaints, in regard to any drama series inappropriate for the viewers.
On July 8, KOCSC's subcommittee met with the production team for getting their "statement of opinion" about the complaints filed. There are five members of the deliberation committee that determined in question with the broadcasting company to listen to their explanation. They are concerned with an episode of "Backstreet Rookie," which was aired June 19 might be violated. The provisions of broadcasting regulations including "maintaining class" and "broadcasting language."
It was in question with and shared by committee member Park Sang-Soo, "'Backstreet Rookie' was rated 15+ on the onset of the show. It was advertised to be a family-oriented drama. However, the original webtoon series was rated 19+. They tried to edit and revised the script making it more acceptable but they failed to do so. That is one of the reasons why many civil complaints arise."
One of the committee members added, "The story is presented in a drama but the ethical and emotional harm to teenagers is great. The 15+ rating does not match to their plot."
Kang Jin Sook one of the KOCSC member discuss with the commodification of women. In her thoughts, "Based on the webtoon, female teenagers are sexually objectified through the perspective of men. The drama used the webtoon as the original work, it brought many problems to the scenes presented.
According to chairwoman Heo Mi Sook, the way the management made in directing the webtoon through the series has fundamental issues.
Concerned netizens who filed complaints against "Backstreet Rookie" selected scenes cited. The drama portrayed sexually objectified underage women. In connection with the controversies, the problematic scenes were taken out of replay VOD services.
