Recently, “When The Stars Gossip” (formerly known as “Ask the Stars”), a K-drama featuring Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin as the lead couple, aired its first episode.
However, the K-drama was immediately criticized as netizens focused on a joke from the main character (played by Lee Min-ho), who was accused of misogyny.
In particular, the protagonist works as an obstetrician and gynecologist, and was raised by aunts in a pub, thus helping to deliver their babies.
In describing his background, this character said: “Taking classes and getting A’s on the SAT, going to medical school and seeing women’s uteruses every day, delivering babies every day. Auntie’s womb was like alcohol, but also comforting. They were warm, and even though they were all shriveled up from the smoke, the aunts’ breasts were very large and firm.”
Seeing this line, Korean Internet users were stunned, and a critical topic was posted on the Korean forum “theqoo”, gaining over 82,000 views and 654 comments.
Below are some comments from Korean netizens:
- Is this sentiment still valid in 2025??
- I was surprised when I heard the jokes too
- This line isn’t even from the 2010s, it’s more like the early 2000s. It’s so childish and outdated that I gave up after watching the first episode.
- From the beginning I was surprised when they said something about the uterus and breasts???
- There’s also a line where Lee Min-ho asks his aunts to bring him money in front of a bar, knowing that they go to bars and earn money. He also asks them to pay if he drinks with a woman. It seems strange to see how he thinks about women and how he writes about them.
- This is really annoying. Why on earth are they writing a drama that will ruin our gender sensibilities in 2025?
