Chart-Topping K-Drama Hit With Major Backlash Over Alleged Mishandling Of Sexual Harassment Scene
SBS’s ongoing Friday-Saturday drama, Would You Marry Me, has landed itself in hot water amid rising popularity and viewership.
A particular scene from the drama has sparked significant backlash, prompting viewers to even file formal complaints with the broadcasting regulatory body.
In the sixth episode, which aired on October 25, there was a scene that depicted the character of Yoon Jin Kyung (played by Shin Seul Ki) administering CPR on a person who collapsed from a cardiac arrest in a park. While she was trying to save the woman’s life, a bystander secretly recorded her on his phone, pointing the camera at her cleavage. The character of Baek Sang Hyun (played by Bae Na Ra) noticed this, and he intervened, immediately covering her up with his jacket and taking over the CPR efforts.
Someone is taking cleavage photos of Jingyeong while saving an emergency patient that's why he gave him his windbreaker.#WouldYouMarryMe#WouldYouMarryMeEp6#ShinSeulKi #BaeNaRa pic.twitter.com/Qc3RYWtzc3
— dia ❦ #WouldYouMarryMe pr manager (@xxxtaerixxx) October 25, 2025
Baek Sang Hyun is later shown confronting the man alone, beating him up, and seizing his phone to delete the photos. He proceeds to warn him, saying, “Illegal filming is punishable by up to 7 years in prison or a 50 million KRW fine..It seems like this is your first offense, so I’m letting you off. But there will be no mercy the next time.”
Baek Sanghyun got possessed by Na Baekjin. A deserving punishment to all perverts. 👏🏻#WouldYouMarryMe#WouldYouMarryMeEp6#BaeNaRa pic.twitter.com/3wWfgOE13J
— dia ❦ #WouldYouMarryMe pr manager (@xxxtaerixxx) October 25, 2025
This handling of a serious issue like sexual harassment through illegal filming has rubbed many viewers the wrong way. Many felt that it was problematic to portray this crime so lightly, and have a third party, a man, to “forgive” the criminal without considering the agency of the victim.
Initially, SBS had uploaded the scene on its official YouTube channel but removed it promptly after the backlash grew strong. Many viewers have submitted formal complaints to the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), expressing concern over how the scene downplayed the gravity of a sexual crime and centered the message around another man instead of the woman, who was victimized in the situation.
As of now, SBS has not responded to the criticism.
