The new film starring Kim Go Eun has become controversial because of the unusual marketing, as the audience accuses the filmmakers of downplaying the movie's LGBTQ+ tones.

The film "Love in the Big City," officially selected for a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, presents Kim Go Eun and Noh Sang Hyun in leading roles.

The gothic melodrama is based on the popular novel of the same name, telling the story of two losers who found their unlikely happiness in modern Seoul, where love is complicated. However, the audience likens the upcoming film to a heterosexual romantic comedy because of the patterned marketing.

At the center of the controversy is the character Heung Soo, played by Noh Sang Hyun, who is gay in the original work.

This information is censored in the trailers and on the posters today. It leads some viewers to believe that they are supporting a romantic relationship between a man and a woman.

"This marketing is so misleading." It seems they are trying to hide Heung Soo's sexuality to appeal to a more conservative audience," writes one of the social media users that fueled most of the filmed "baiting" criticism.

The subscribers who had read the book were also dissatisfied with such "prudish" marketing because it moves away from the author's original work's tone.

The premiere date for the film is the 1st of October in Korea, but it may face a lukewarm reception due to the negative pre-release sentiment.

jaehee & heungsu, Love In The Big City (2024)#loveinthebigcity pic.twitter.com/dDYFLgoYWt — mikal... (@ilh88n) August 29, 2024

Fans are urging filmmakers not to compromise the original work's integrity for profit: let Heung Soo be gay to satisfy the audience.

The film's representatives haven't commented. However, the audience likens the upcoming film to a heterosexual romantic comedy because of the patterned marketing.

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This article was written by:

Rovelyn Barba