Controversial Webtoon ‘My Beloved Student’ Sparks Outrage Over Planned Drama Adaptation

News has emerged that the webtoon 'My Beloved Student', which depicts a romantic storyline between a female teacher and her elementary school student, is being adapted into a drama. This has sparked calls for production to halt from both netizens and educational organizations.

On June 27, it was announced that the webtoon 'My Beloved Student', which ran until 2020, would be made into a drama.

The story revolves around a female elementary school teacher who, after a breakup, discovers that a character she met in a game is actually her student. The drama is set to be directed by Jung Sung-hyun, with the script penned by Jung Se-hyuk, known for plays like 'Rooftop Cat' and 'I Miss You'.

The webtoon previously stirred controversy for its portrayal of a romantic dynamic between a teacher and a student, prompting criticism for its portrayal of an inappropriate relationship suggestive of grooming. With news of its adaptation into a drama, criticism has intensified from both the public and the education sector, urging a halt in production.

Public backlash was swift, with many netizens expressing outrage, voicing their reactions online with comments such as, "Why turn this into a drama?", "Don't they know about the controversy?", "This is unacceptable", "A drama with pedophilia controversy is not okay", and "This has crossed the line".



The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations stated on the 1st, "Attempts to sexualize children under the guise of creativity and artistic originality can never be justified." They added, "The subject matter of this drama tarnishes the honor of all dedicated educators and fosters deep mistrust in the teaching community."

They further commented, "This undermines the fundamental trust between teachers, students, and parents." They expressed concern that "if such works are consumed as romance or fantasy, it could downplay the seriousness of grooming crimes in reality."

In conclusion, while acknowledging the importance of creative freedom in the arts, the association emphasized that portraying teachers as perpetrators of grooming crimes seriously erodes public trust in education.

Photo = Webtoon 'My Beloved Student'

This article was originally published in Korean on Xportsnews and was translated into English using AI.

by Lee Yejin