The SBS drama from Friday to Saturday Would you marry me is currently enjoying peak popularity, but was criticized for a controversial scene involving illegal filming, sparking backlash from viewers and even formal complaints to Korea’s broadcasting regulator.
In episode 6, which aired on October 25, a scene showed Dr. Yoon Jin-kyung (played by Shin Seul-ki) performing CPR on a citizen who collapsed from cardiac arrest while exercising in a park. During the rescue operation, a passerby secretly films her, prompting Baek Sang-hyun (played by Bae Nara) to intervene. He hands her a coat for modesty, takes control of the CPR, and confronts the voyeur.
Baek then takes the man’s phone, deletes the footage and says: “Illegal filming is punishable by up to 7 years in prison or a fine of 50 million KRW. I’ll let you go because it’s your first offense, but don’t expect leniency next time.”
This portrayal aroused heavy criticism from spectators. Many found it problematic that such a serious crime was treated so lightly, especially when Baek arbitrarily decided not to report the perpetrator to the police. Viewers pointed out that it is inappropriate for a third person to “forgive” the criminal on behalf of the victim, especially in a sexual crime context.
Initially, SBS uploaded the scene to its official YouTube channel with the title “Gold Spoon Hidden Camera Offender Filmed Shin Seul-ki, Bae Nara Delivers Justice”. However, after the backlash intensified, the video was made private. Some viewers claimed it was a fight “justice” he downplayed the seriousness of the crime.
Formal complaints have been filed with the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), and many have expressed concerns on the SBS viewer forum. One complaint noted: “Even if the victim is a woman, the male character determines the severity and resolution of the case. This not only inflicts secondary harm on the victims, but actually glorifies the perpetrator.”
Another stated: “This is a violation of broadcast ethics. Please ensure that such content is not repeated.”
At this time, SBS has not released an official statement addressing the issue.
Despite the controversy, Would you marry me continues to be a success. The romantic comedy follows the 90-day life of fake newlyweds Kim Woo-joo (Choi Woo-shik) and Yoo Me-ri (Jung So-min), who enter into a fake wedding to win a free luxury home. According to Nielsen Korea, episode 6 reached a peak viewership rating of 9.7%.
Sources: wikitree
