K-Drama’s Shockingly Sexual Scenes Trigger The Korean Government To Take Disciplinary Action

“I can’t believe I’m trying to sell adult toys.”

JTBC’s comedy K-Drama A Virtuous Business is facing backlash after South Korea’s government stepped in over what it considers excessively sexual content.

On April 21, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) held a full committee meeting and voted to proceed with an official hearing for the drama. The KCSC — which oversees all media including TV, film, radio, and online content — will determine the final level of disciplinary action at a later date.

The controversy began after viewers submitted complaints about scenes in A Virtuous Business that they found too sexually suggestive. These included characters modeling in their underwear and showing off adult toys shaped like male genitalia. The KCSC stated that the drama’s sexual content exceeds what is permissible even by the more lenient standards often applied to streaming (OTT) platforms.

The level of sexual expression in this K-Drama exceeds the limits, even for OTT [streaming] content.

— KCSC

Set in a rural village in 1992, A Virtuous Business follows four women — known as the “Bangpan Sisters” — who dive into door-to-door sales of adult products during a time when open discussions about sex were still considered taboo. While the series uses humor to explore themes of independence, growth, and female friendship, the suggestive nature of some scenes has raised serious concerns.

Meanwhile, in the same meeting, the KCSC issued an administrative warning to tvN K-Drama No Gain, No Love, citing frequent uses of blurred out middle finger gestures and muting profanities and vulgar language.

Remains to be seen what the level of disciplinary action the KCSC will take for A Virtuous Business.