Nowadays, Homosexuality is emerging as a popular topic in TV dramas. This cultual phenomenon is embroiled in controversy. In face, this is not the first time that we have seen homosexuality on television. Nevertheless, why do people vary so greatly in their reaction to homosexuality in TV drama?
People become more aware of homosexuality in movies during the last decade. In 2002, Road Mo which is considered the first homosexuality movie in Korea was released. Since then, movies based on homosexuality have become more common. However, they were not successful because of considerable social bias. In 2005, the most popular movie using a Homosexuality theme was released. Brokeback mountain is an American romantic drama film that depicts the complex romantic and sexual relationship between two men in the American West. This movie is so much more than merely a gay cowboy movie. It transcends issues of sexuality or gender and captures what true, unbridled love is all about, in Korea, Lee Jun-ki's The King and the Clown(2005) sold a record-breaking 10 million tickets and became a smash hit. A frozen Flower (2008) and Antique(2008) were also popular even though they portrayed homosexuality.
★ Appearance of Homosexuality in Drama
Homosexuality is fast becoming a main theme in monies and plays. It has also started to appear in TV dramas. Thc MBC drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince(2007), a love story between a tomboyish woman pretending to be a man and a young food empire mogul, became a big hit. It contains "pseudo-homosexuality" elements as the man does not initially know of the tomboyish woman's true sex. Also, in the SBS drama, The Painter of the Wind(2008) Moon Geun-young plays Shin Yun-bok who lives her life as a man ti find answers to the mysterious death of her family during the Joseon Kingdom. Recently, the MBC drama Personal Taste got attention because the main characters performed as "fake guys" in the story. However, in these drama, audiences already know that characters are not really homosexuals. Therefore, they can be played without taking too much risk.
★ Be Realistic' Beautiful Life
SBS drama Beautiful Life, a weekend family soap opera, is openly depicting a gay couple and their homosexual feelings as well as relationships. It discusses homosexuality more seriously. In this drama, the main characters love each other without regard for their sexuality. It is human-to human love. Moreover, Beautiful Life has been in the spotlight because one of the most famous screen writers, Kim Su-hyun, is writing this story. Her main goal is to make homosexuality a subject that is no longer taboo. She focuses un portraying homosexuality a one of us, normal, regular human beings. This drama shows that there are numerous types of love, and it depends on your point of view. Homosexuality is one of those choices, different from ours, but not the wrong thing to do.
How could homosexuality be accepted in pop culture like this? First of all, it is evidence of change in our society. Unlike the past, society is becoming more open and has diversified. People admitting homosexuality as an individual freedom are increasing. As a result, our society has become more open toward diversity and minorities have reached a significantly higher level of tolerance. In addition, the rise of women's position has helped popularize this idea. The Korean traditional family registry system was male-oriented in the past, so there were clears rules for males and for females. However, the distinction between male and female roles is disappearing nowadays.
However, there are people who do not have a positive mind toward dramas chat contain homosexuality. The reason is that humans are not biologically born to have intercourse with the same gender. Critics say that TV dramas only broadcast homosexuality with romance. Those dramas only illustrate how much homosexual people suffer because of the discrimination of the public. Gays in dramas are intelligent, good-looking gentlemen who have professional positions, in reality, you cannot live a beautiful life like in a drama. Homosexuality is still taboo in our society for religious or biological reasons. There are Concerns about the impact of homosexuality in dramas. The question is whether the attention towards homosexuality can broaden the boundaries of what we accept or not.
By Cha Yoon-jae CP Reporter
yukixiah@cnu.ac.kr