Upcoming K-Drama “Lovely Runner” Accused Of “Disrespecting” SHINee’s Jonghyun
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Upcoming K-Drama Lovely Runner faces a boycott after allegedly referencing the life of SHINee‘s Jonghyun.
The show has been gaining attention for the plotline, which sees Im Sol, played by Kim Hye Yoon, take solace in Ryu Sun Jae, played by Byeon Woo Seok, a top-tier K-Pop idol. When she travels back 15 years, she finds herself in the high school days of Ryu Sun Jae and faces the overwhelming task of preventing his future suicide. The show is based on the webtoon The Best Of Tomorrow.
The videos showing the two leads’ height difference also gained attention, raising anticipation ahead of the premiere.
However, following the release of the latest tweet with information on the show, netizens have called for a boycott of the K-Drama because of SHINee’s Jonghyun.
With the announcement of the plot and the date of release…
아아 – '선재' 들고 튀는 '솔'의 생생 현장 목격👀
순수 열성팬 솔에게 꼭 붙잡힌 톱스타 선재
드디어 최애를 업고 튈 기회가 생겼다 |ૂ•ᴗ•⸝⸝)”♥
(👥접어서 업고 튀라던 사람 누구야.. 웅성웅성)타임슬립 구원 로맨스 <선재 업고 튀어>
4/8 [월] 저녁 8:50 첫 방송ㅣtvN#선재업고튀어… pic.twitter.com/gRD8PZ0OSU— tvN drama (@CJnDrama) March 5, 2024
Netizens voiced their anger that it was seemingly trying to use Jonghyun’s story for entertainment. In particular, along with the plot referencing the death of an idol, netizens noticed that the first episode would air on April 8, which is Jonghyun’s birthday.
After a tweet was shared on March 6 (KST), it received a lot of backlash from SHINee fans both in Korea and globally, who called for a boycott of the K-Drama.
this is the drama that is using Jonghyun's beautiful existence for their sick plot and releasing it on his birthday on top of it
BOYCOTT, SHAWOLS https://t.co/DlSWQbtjlt
— isSHINeeback? (@isSHINeeback) March 7, 2024
so a drama about going back in time to save an idol from committing suicide, and it’s being released on jonghyun’s birthday? and you actually want people to watch it? https://t.co/wkv6FTwolt pic.twitter.com/272cG6KX2t
— irene 🌔 (@pommirene) March 7, 2024
This is obviously taking someones sad story and using it for your own profit. Jonghyuns life is not entertainment. This is so disgusting and disrespectful I hope it flops.
— Elspeth 🖤❗🌧️ (@elspeth_13_) March 7, 2024
It’s been really triggering seeing my tl talk about the similarities to Jonghyun that they’re using in this drama so I haven’t been reposting in case it’s painful for my followers too but this I have to share. Look at the color of her shirt. Out of all the colors in the world?? https://t.co/6NXyf0YDMx
— Orange Taemint (@orangetaemint) March 7, 2024
While the show is based on a webtoon, the small details of the release date, the plot, and some mentioned that the color of Hye Soo’s shirt seem disrespectful to Jonghyun, and netizens feel it’s tvN using the idol for entertainment.
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