Adapted from a novel of the same name by Sang Young Park, Love in the Big City is currently stirring conversations among K-drama viewers. With eight episodes now streaming online, the TVING-produced show has become a topic of discussion for its portrayal of LGBT+ themes.
What Is "Love in the Big City" About?
Not to be confused with the Korean movie that shares the same title, Love in the Big City is a slice-of-life TV series that stars Nam Yoon Su, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun Woo, and more. The plot follows Go-young, a gay man navigating life after finding out about his HIV diagnosis. Over the course of a decade, he develops romantic bonds and gains enlightenment about what his future holds given his condition.
Korean Anti-LGBT Groups Issue Statement on "Love in the Big City"
Certain anti-LGBT groups in South Korea have voiced their disapproval of the series. Upon the release of its official trailer, which teased some intimate scenes between Go-young and his partners, one group has expressed how the show is "glorifying and promoting homosexuality." This led the show's production companies to initially take it down from their channels.
Despite such backlash, the team behind Love in the Big City decided to re-upload the trailer and premiere the series as planned. It was reiterated that the project was produced with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, which validates its right to be streamed.
During the show's press conference, the source material's author Young Park expressed how such criticism isn't new given South Korea's history with queer-oriented content. "Good works tend to stir up controversy. I think it might be because I've written a problematic yet good work," he stated. 
Aware of such pushback, lead actor Yoon Su came forward with a statement of why the show's story needs to be told. "The main reason I chose to [star in this adaptation] was to show that [LGBT] love is not different. And I constantly thought about how to portray this," he said.
"Although it was a short period [of filming], it was a precious time for me as well. I hoped that through this drama, viewers can feel the message that their love is not different."
Netizens React to K-Drama "Love in the Big City"
Several viewers have expressed their support and admiration for Love in the Big City. Clips of the show's steamy scenes, in particular, have become viral on X. Filipino photographer BJ Pascual, for one, quipped about one of Go-young's encounters, playfully reacting to the scene.
Other users shared how forward the show was with portraying two men being intimate with one other. "The homophobes will hate to see this," one said in jest. Another added how the homophobic backlash actually contributed to the K-drama's publicity in other countries.
Some netizens have expressed how Love in the Big City seemingly pushes the envelope when it comes to Korean storytelling, as it veers away from typical cliches and portrayals.
Dr. Thomas Baudinette of Macquarie University stated how the series' "passionate depictions of love and desire between men is more than just hot fan service." He emphasizes how such portrayal actually challenges the often heteronormative culture of Korean media. "This is BL [boy's love] at its finest," he finished his statement.
Viewers in the Philippines can stream Love in the Big City through Viki.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
