Seoul [South Korea], June 29: Notes from the Last Row premiered on June 26th and quickly captivated audiences on Netflix with its compelling and unpredictable plot, featuring a series of unexpected twists. The series tells the story of a literature professor disillusioned with his failing writing career who gradually becomes obsessed with the literary talent of a quiet student who always sits in the back row of class.
According to Koreaboo , the psychological thriller is facing mixed reviews from Korean audiences regarding a daring scene featuring a pair of actors with a 30-year age difference.
In the drama, Choi Hyun Wook plays Lee Kang, a mysterious student with exceptional writing talent in the literature professor's class. Meanwhile, Jin Kyung plays Jo Hyeon Suk, the professor's wife.
With a distorted and twisted mindset, Lee Kang gradually infiltrates his professor's private life . When he notices the cooling of affection between the professor and his wife, he exploits the wife's emotional wounds and loneliness, attempting to soothe her. In one episode, the two characters share a passionate kiss and engage in intimate acts afterward.
The aforementioned scene immediately attracted the attention of a large number of South Korean viewers. While the scene wasn't overly explicit or offensive visually, what viewers discussed was the relationship between the two characters and their age difference.
Many netizens expressed discomfort at the intimate scenes between a young man and someone twice his age, deeming them offensive and beyond acceptable limits. Numerous viewer posts garnered significant interaction on social media platforms like: "I don't mean to criticize the actors; they are both professional artists. It's just that I personally feel uncomfortable watching intimate scenes between two people with a 30-year age difference," "Intimate scenes between a middle-aged woman and a man 30 years younger? It's really bizarre and creepy," "This movie used to be on my wishlist, but now I don't want to watch it anymore. What the hell is this? It's really disgusting," "The age gap between the two characters makes the scene truly offensive"...
Besides the somewhat negative reactions, many viewers were upset by the age discrimination between male and female actors. Many pointed out that for decades, countless male actors have filmed intimate scenes with much younger co-stars without facing much negative backlash. However, the opposite is true. Many were disappointed, arguing that the controversy surrounding the film only arose when the female lead was older.
Additionally, some viewers argue that this scene is appropriate because its intention is to make the audience feel uncomfortable. Notes from the Last Row is a thriller revolving around obsession, manipulation, and moral ambiguity. Therefore, the inclusion of a provocative yet unsettling intimate scene between two characters in a toxic relationship is not surprising.
Source: Thain Newspaper
