Recently, there have been cases where various broadcasting platforms have censored and erased queer content. Apparently, there is no proper evidence for all of these actions.
English Translation: Juyeon
Translation review: 지니, 피웊
Writer of the original text: 레이
Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel
Recently, various movies, dramas, and music that prominently feature LGBTQ+ individuals have emerged. However, broadcasting companies are regulating such content, resulting in the erasure of numerous queer content. We would like to introduce several recent cases in which broadcasting stations have censored queer content.
In 2021, SBS deleted a same-sex kiss scene from “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
In 2021, SBS aired the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” as a special Lunar New Year film. The movie had achieved great success in Korea, surpassing 9.94 million viewers and ranking 6th among all foreign films in audience numbers. Due to its popularity, it was selected as a special film for the Lunar New Year broadcast. However, the film includes a same-sex kiss scene of the main character, Freddie Mercury, who is bisexual. SBS chose to either delete or blur this scene before airing the film. SBS explained that their decision was based on the film’s PG 15+ rating on broadcast channels during the holiday, and that they had no other intentions behind the editing.
In response, internet users raised criticisms of “insults and censorship towards LGBTQ+ individuals.” Kim Jihak, the director of Diversity Korea, stated, “This is a highly discriminatory action that reveals different standards applied to heterosexuality and homosexuality. Whether it’s a kiss or sex, instead of viewing it as an expression of love based on consent, this is a case where heterosexuality is considered normal and natural, while homosexuality is seen as strange, wrong, perverted, and obscene, creating a distinction between what is considered normal and abnormal.”
In reality, while kissing scenes between heterosexual couples can be shown with a rating of 12 years and over, regulations regarding same-sex kiss scenes vary. The Korean film “ Antique Bakery” released back in 2008, received a rating of 15 years and over due to a same-sex kiss depicted on screen. Similarly, the movie “Eternals,” which was released in the same year as SBS’s broadcast of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” featured a same-sex kiss scene but was given a rating of 12 years and over.
After the incident, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group “Rainbow Action Against Sexual-Minority Discrimination South Korea” filed complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), stating that SBS’s censorship of the same-sex kiss scene exposed hatred and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. However, the KCSC dismissed the case with three members ruling “dismissal,” one member issuing a “recommendation,” and one member ruling “no issue.” The NHRCK, while acknowledging that the erasure and blurring of the kiss scene could perpetuate negative perceptions and biases against LGBTQ+ individuals, dismissed the case explaining that it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the National Human Rights Commission Act as they did not consider it to be a case of harm to specific individuals. Nevertheless, they requested that SBS ensure the equal representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in their broadcast scheduling and not exclude socially vulnerable groups.
The controversy surrounding censorship or editing of same-sex intimacy scenes on domestic broadcasts is not new. In 2015, the KCSC imposed disciplinary action on JTBC drama “Schoolgirl Detectives,” which featured a kissing scene between high school girls. At the time, the commission issued a significant warning, stating that the drama violated broadcasting regulations by depicting a same-sex kissing scene between high school girls in close-up for an extended period of time in a drama that targets teenagers.
Reason for Broadcasting Restriction: Homosexuality
Broadcasters not only censor same-sex physical intimacy but also engage in censorship of content mentioning sexual minorities or directly involving queer individuals. On December 31, 2021, during the ‘Bosingak, New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing' event organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the dance team Lachica performed a dance to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” which is known for its representation of LGBTQ+ people. However, parts of the lyrics that directly mentioned gay, bisexual, and transgender were removed. The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that the editing was done considering the performance time and the overall broadcast review, without deliberate intention. However, cultural critic Sohn Hee-jeong criticized the event organizers for deleting the message and context and reducing the performance of diversity to a trendy pop culture consumption. Sohn expressed concerns about the continuous erasure of queer stories in mass media due to the influence of regulatory reviews, pointing out that not only raising opposition but also excluding queer narratives in mainstream media is a form of discrimination.
In a similar context, the Korean boy group LIONESSES, consisting of LGBTQ+ members, received a broadcasting ban from MBC for their new song “It's OK to be me,” released on December 17, 2022, on the grounds of homosexuality according to the broadcasting review. The lyrics, similar to “Born This Way,” containing the lines “I was designed to be gay from the beginning. It was determined by Lord,” were deemed problematic during the review. What’s more shocking is that the notification message from MBC’s review team regarding the music review result stated “Reason for Restriction: Homosexuality,” without providing any further explanation beyond those words. Fortunately, due to media coverage and protests from fans worldwide, including international press, MBC’s decision was overturned. Through a re-evaluation process, the review result was corrected to ‘Broadcast Appropriate,’ and MBC apologized for the incident and promised to prevent future occurrences. While various LGBTQ+ celebrities are appearing on broadcasts, columnist Rhie Seunghan highlighted the reasons behind such review controversies. Rhie mentioned that when dealing with LGBTQ+ issues, Korean media has paid attention to the amount of suffering they endure. Even if the intention is to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ rights issues, it is difficult to deny that there has been a substitution of solidarity towards queer people, who have been unjustly violated, with an underlying perspective of “let's help the pitiful LGBTQ+” instead of “let's stand in solidarity with fellow citizens whose rights have been unfairly infringed upon.”
In 2021, director Lim Daehyung won the Best Director award at the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards in Korea for the queer film “Moonlit Winter.” During his acceptance speech, Lim stated, “‘Moonlit Winter’ is a queer film. I wanted to mention this obvious fact because there might be some viewers who are not aware of what kind of film it is. It is now 2021, a year where queer content is natural. That truly makes me happy.” Like director Lim’s remarks, we hope that South Korea continues to progress towards being a place where queer content is embraced naturally.
English Translation: Juyeon
Translation review: 지니, 피웊
Writer of the original text: 레이
Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel
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