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Knetz slam 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' for showing 19-year-old 'minor' with older man

According to South Korea's Criminal Act Article 305, the age of consent is 20 years old, making the show's 19-year-old school girl character a 'minor'

The popular Korean drama ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ was criticized by Korean viewers for depicting a so-called ‘minor’ falling in love. The K-drama stars Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri, who are not minors in real life. But their on-screen characters' story portray a 23-year-old guy falling for a 19-year-old girl. This romance between them was slammed by Knetz, who thought it was inappropriate. Globally, an 18-year-old is considered to be old enough to make adult decisions. But, according to South Korea's Criminal Act Article 305, the age of consent is 20 years old, making a 19-year-old girl a minor in their country. In contrast, in the US, the age of consent varies between 16 and 18 years.

On March 13th, Nam Joo Hyuk (who portrays the 23-year-old guy) declared his love for Kim Tae Ri in the tenth episode of tvN's 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One'. Kim Tae Ri, who plays a 19-year-old high school student, accepted his confession at the end of the scene. Since a 19-year-old is still seen as a child in conservative South Korea, having an affair with a 23-year-old man at such a young age is taboo.

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How does the story go?

Shortly after the broadcast, many viewers expressed their displeasure with the media's romanticization of a 'relationship with a minor'. 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' tells the story of a young fencer (Kim Tae Ri) who meets a hardworking man (Nam Joo Hyuk). While both of them have different aspirations, their friendship soon transforms into a glittering love. While this relationship seems healthy, the Knetz did not approve of a ‘school-uniform’ wearing girl falling in love. But since the age of the character is 19 years old, opinion was somewhat divided.

How did fans react?

Speaking of viewers and fans, various opinions have been aired on Twitter. One user supported the backlash saying, “ok but it’s weird though in korea taeri’s character is still a minor and joohyuk’s character is way older ... y’all might think it’s normal but it’s not,” while another wrote, “I’d like to point out that while us as foreigners can say that their relationship is perfectly normal, the legal age of consent in South Korea is 20. I personally see no issue with their relationship since they aren’t official or anything yet, but I can understand Knetz concerns.”

Did anyone go against the backlash?

Yes, there are plenty of fans who are totally against the backlash. Here is a user who wrote, “This drama is wildly successful in the US and she isn't considered a minor here. This is a non-issue for me, personally. Even if an 18 year old (legal in the US) high schooler were dating a 22 year old, it would still be acceptable. Besides, there hasn't been physical contact.” while another said, “Did they even watch the whole episode? The two are not even in a relationship yet. The lead guy is not pushing anything because she’s still young and not yet sure of how she feels. The way he acts, he’s actually mindful of her current age.” What are your thoughts?