Hankook Ilbo reported that recently, many Korean films such as "A Virtuous Business" (Kim So Yeon), "No Gain No Love/Shin Min Ah)... have received attention for boldly telling stories about women's love and sex.
In "The Diligent Salesman," the female lead Jung Sook is a saleswoman of adult products, while Hae Young in "Marriage Without Loss" always prioritizes contraception as a mantra.
According to Korean newspapers, this is considered a new and challenging direction for filmmakers in the face of things that seem taboo for women. The reason is that in the past, female characters in TV dramas were often restricted from mentioning, or had to talk implicitly about sex. In particular, asking to eat noodles at home after a date was considered a "discreet invitation" for young people.
The change in thinking of filmmakers, breaking stereotypes and prejudices with the aim of increasing autonomy for women was positively evaluated by critics. They said that "The diligent salesman" or "Marriage is not a loss" expressed women's desires without rejecting romance, marriage or family.
“The fact that these dramas respect women's desires and remove stereotypes is key to addressing demographic challenges,” said culture critic Bok Gil.
While critic Gong Hee Jung argues that women have long been confined within certain frameworks and rules, the films "highlight how oppression has made women vulnerable, while also creating empathy for those who are denied recognition of their basic rights."
On the audience side, they are also gradually becoming more open to dramas with new content and bold storytelling. According to research by Hankook Ilbo, the number of teenage female viewers watching "The Neat Salesman" has increased by 233% from its premiere to the latest episode. The reason is that dramas focusing on women's self-discovery are quite rare in Korea.
Meanwhile, the film's female lead - Kim So Yeon revealed that to prepare for the role, she spent time researching the script, the character as well as going to an adult toy store with her husband - actor Lee Sang Woo. The actress hopes to bring joy and comfort to viewers through the new project.
Along with that, she hopes that modern women, despite experiencing countless challenges and failures, will continue to move forward if they believe that their path is right. "The rewards may seem far away at first, but sometimes they come unexpectedly like a gift," said Kim So Yeon.
