Son Ye Jin’s Kdrama ‘Thirty-Nine’ Slammed for ‘Glamorizing Marital Affair’
"Thirty-Nine," starring Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun, is garnering mixed reactions after it premiered right after Valentine's Day.
On February 16, JTBC and Netflix released the newest slice of life series, focusing on friendship and budding romances.
In the Wednesday and Thursday series, the soon-to-wed actress stars as dermatologist Cha Mi Jo. She has a realistic and warm personality but shows her tough side when the situation arises.
Joining her is the "Hospital Playlist" actress who took on the role of the feisty and very straightforward Jung Chan Young.
Lastly, Kim Ji Hyun portrays the beauty cosmetic manager Jang Joo Hee, who is the most reserved out of the trio.
Did 'Thirty-Nine' Glamorize Illicit Romance?
At the beginning of the series, the JTBC series introduced the characters, showing their perception of love, family and career.
Cha Mi Jo and Jang Joo Hee highlight their budding romance with doctor Kim Seon Woo (Yeon Woo Jin) and restaurant owner Park Hyun Joon (Lee Tae Hwan).
However, Jung Chan Young harbors a complicated relationship with Mi Jo's former classmate Kim Jin Seok (Lee Moo Saeng).
In "Thirty-Nine," it showed that Chan Young and Jin Seok retain their special friendship despite the CEO being married to Kang Seon Joo (Song Min Ji).
Their bizarre relationship also got Mi Jo disappointed over her best friend, saying that she wasted her time with him, considering that he is a married man and has a son.
Lee Moo Saeng
However, Jung Chan Young explained that they are not sleeping together, pointing out that it is not an affair; hence, she is not a mistress.
READ MORE: Jeon Mi Do Reacts to Comparison Between her Role in New Drama 'Thirty-Nine' and 'Hospital Playlist
In "Thirty-Nine" episode 3, the legal wife visited Jung Chan Young at her office and confronted her about her true relationship with Jin Seok. Was it only work, friendship or romance?
She calmly assured her that nothing was going on between her and Jin Seok, but Kang Seon Joo still doubts her statement.
Spewing harsh words towards Jung Chan Young, Cha Mi Jo defended her best friend and slapped JIn Seok's wife, saying she deserved every bit of it for looking down on Chan Young.
Viewers Accuse 'Thirty-Nine' of Highlighting Extramarital Affairs
However, some fans were disappointed at the storyline of Jung Chan Young and Kim Jin Seok, accusing the drama of glamorizing marital affairs.
In a report cited by Newsen, viewers expressed their frustration by saying that they were expecting a romance between two single people, "but each drama setting is harmful that started with an affair."
Meanwhile, others also noted that the plot "wasted" the stellar cast lineup.
Despite the controversy, "Thirty-Nine" highlights the value of friendship and creating a genuine connection with other people.
"Thirty-Nine" episode 4 will air on February 24 via JTBC and Netflix.
