Popular K-Drama Faces Backlash Over Controversial Intimate Scene

Go Youn Jung is facing backlash over a scene in the JTBC drama We Are All Trying Here.

The controversy began with episode 9. Go Youn Jung’s character Eun Ah lifts her sweater to let Koo Kyo Hwan’s character Dong Man slip inside during a hug at a comic book café.

Korean viewers quickly took to social media with strong criticism.

Many said the hug looked uncomfortable and overly focused on the male gaze, not a natural comforting moment.

“This scene is drenched in the male gaze. It made me feel uncomfortable, the director should have realized how it won’t translate well onscreen.”
— Twitter user Harry

“there could have been so many ways to embrace him to show comfort, even having her wear opened buttoned cardigan so she wraps it around him for a hug would have been sweet. but this just looks like a grown man being swaddled.”
— Twitter user sana

“Fine. I’ll grant you the benefit of the doubt a hundred times over and assume it was an act of pity. But how, exactly… ‘Pity for an Old Man’ Lifting up one’s clothes, deliberately tucking another person’s head inside, and then guiding it all the way through to the other side just to wrap them up…how is that train of thought even remotely possible? I suppose they were trying to portray something like a mother’s maternal love embracing her son… But honestly? It just comes across as creepy.”
— Twitter user 워리 (translated)

The deeper issue? Korean fans slammed how Eun Ah was framed as a mother figure comforter to an older man nearly a decade her senior.

This theme is seen as a tired trope by director Park Hae Young, who also wrote My Mister.

“Park Hae Young, the writer behind My Mister, how long are you going to keep producing works like this? Stop putting scenes like this out into the media. It depicts a working woman in her early thirties falling in love with an unemployed man in his forties out of pity, and the way she chooses to comfort him is by lifting up her clothes, tucking him underneath, and wrapping her arms around him.”
— Twitter user 아이나 (translated)

“Why is it always the woman who has to coddle the older man?”
— Twitter user 신토불이걸 (translated)

“It’s staged to look like a woman in her 30s is adopting a man in his 40s. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
— Twitter user 거미북이 (translated)

“Overall, I feel repulsed by this author’s works because her desperate desire to embrace and comfort men is so obvious.”
— Twitter user 완다 (translated)

As the situation heated up, international fans showed a different viewpoint.

Many praised the scene as a rare, tender moment of intimacy.

“I’m not impressed by kissing scenes anymore It doesn’t matter if it’s a cute kiss or being devoured kiss or anything like that, in my opinion, that’s a real love scene, simple and realistic, that we all desire, full of affection and tenderness. That scene was the purest and most…”
— Twitter user Patty #WeAreAllTryingHere

“this is one of the most intimate, genuine and heart warming scene i think i have watched in a really long time. she hides his tears and holds him close like he was made for her embrace. absolutely stunning…”
— Twitter user tallyn

“Isn’t this what we need? Someone telling us it’s okay to get away if it’s too much, it’s okay to protect ourself, & it’s okay to not start a journey we just aren’t ready for? It gives way more strength than an empty cheer! Her protective hug.”
— Twitter user Joonie⁷⊙⊝⊜

The divide remains tight between Korean backlash over the problematic mothering trope and global fans applauding the scene’s emotional honesty.

What do you think of this controversial moment?