The rise of LGBT+ characters in K-Drama and the portrayal of queer stories in the industry has been a noticeably positive step forward from the industry. However, Love in the Big City producer revealed that making that step has not been easy at all and that a lot of work is still ahead.
While LGBT+ series in Korea continue to cause quite the controversy and heated debate, Love in the Big City has risen above it and managed to become a top series, garnering plenty of success.
Based on the popular novel written by Park Sang Young, the series follows Go Young — a young gay man living with HIV — as he navigates life and love in Seoul alongside his best friend, Mi Ae. The narrative delves into his strained relationship with his mother, societal pressures that force him to separate from his lover, and a journey to Thailand that leads to self-discovery.
The show has been noted for its candid portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes and has faced both acclaim and controversy, reflecting the evolving landscape of queer representation in Korean media. But it has not been easy getting to this.
In a recent interview, the show’s producer, Park Jun Ho, revealed that one of the most difficult challenges they faced during production was casting.
Park had hoped that the K-Drama would hit big if they pulled in big-name directors and actors. However, big actors’ agencies had other things in mind.
I started this project hoping that by having well-known directors and actors, who had mainly been seen in independent films with queer romance, participate, it would create a foothold to bring it into the mainstream.
— Park Jun Ho
Park revealed that when they approached actor agencies to cast the characters, they were happy to offer new actors with little recognition but would strictly prohibit any of their popular actors from auditioning.
Even if the actor in question had the smallest hint of popularity, the agency drew a line.
Many companies were willing to recommend new actors but drew a line when it came to actors with even a hint of recognition. Even after actor Nam Yoon Su volunteered to play the role of Go Young, the production team received feedback from investors saying, ‘It still seems too early for this in Korea.’
— Cine21
Fans online have been saddened by the news and Park’s words.
#LoveInTheBigCity producer revealed that many korean actors agency are strictly prohibiting their popular actors from playing LGBT/gay roles.
"They only send their newer actors for casting and draws the line at their actors with some popularity"
and then Nam Yoon Su stepped up pic.twitter.com/OIE3PxPoZI
— mikey / 🏳️🌈 (@beansxooo) November 16, 2024
However, they also feel that their support towards LGBT+ series is more important now than ever. After all, Love in the Big City becoming a hit could pave the way for more queer similar stories to reach our screens soon.
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