SENSITIVE CONTENT Fans urge boycott of Kdrama due to references towards Jonghyun

[RussianRoulette]

A new Kdrama, Lovely Runner, has been a hot topic online recently due to it seemingly making references towards Jonghyun and his death.

The Kdrama was originally based on a webtoon, though the producers stated they changed parts of the story to "seem more realistic". Kpop fans were quick to point out that the changes made to the webtoon actually seem to be changes made to make the kdrama reference Jonghyun.

For those who are unfamiliar with the story, it is about a fan who travels back in time to prevent the suicide of her favorite kpop idol.

Some of the changes/references Kpop fans have been pointing out on twitter are:

- In the original webtoon the girl travels back 6 years to when her and the idol is 17 years old. In this drama, she travel's back 15/16 years to 2008 (it is stated the girl traveled back 15 years to 2008, so this drama was probably filmed last year?) where the characters are now around 18-19 (This is the year Shinee debuted, and around the same age Jonghyun was at debut as well.)
- Character has a similar death and seemed to be around the same place in life/his career as him.
- The thing that most fans are angry about is that the show was decided to be released today, April 8th, on Jonghyun's birthday.
- In the promo photos and video for the Kdrama, the main character girl is wearing a pearl aqua sweatshirt:

Some people are arguing that they can't choose their broadcast date, and the changes to the kdrama are just a coincidence.

Many people online are boycotting that at the very least, they should try to delay the broadcast day since debuting a kdrama about this topic on the anniversary of a Kpop idol's death is very insensitive.

Do you think this Kdrama is referencing him? Or is it just a coincidence?

 

[kyom ✦ kyom ✦ pom]

I can't say... I like the premise to begin with? I guess I'm not open minded enough.

 

[Your Biggest Fan]

The changes to the story seem unnecessary and incredibly disrespectful.

 

[RussianRoulette]

I can't say... I like the premise to begin with? I guess I'm not open minded enough.

I agree? The premise of going back in time to stop someone from dying isn’t new ( I think there’s an anime called orange with that theme?) But I think it’s WAY too soon to make a kdrama about stopping suicide in Kpop. Especially since this kdrama seems to be a comedy? It just seems insensitive.

There is another Kdrama called imitation which also addressed suicide in Kpop but I think they did addressed it 10x better. In that kdrama no one is traveling back in time, but it shows how all of the characters are grieving and addresses the dark side of Kpop which makes people hit that point and I think in general they brought awareness to it so much better. I was crying my eyes out at the song tribute in the final episode.

 

[OutroTearTheFirst]

This is weird even without the changes made
The changes made are a bit too coincidental imo

 

[Bellamy]

Too many coincidences...why the need to make all those changes?

 

[jellokitty88]

I really sat with this and thought about it but I just can't stand the idea
Too many coincidences & it feels so disrespectful to Jonghyun
Jonghyun is more than how he died... He is part of SHINee's music... legacy & also the legacy of his own solo music too Can't they at least make it about all the positive things he was known for... Speaking up for LGBT+ in S Korea... Being open about his own mental health struggles and how that helped & gave comfort to so many by making them feel less alone & more understood. Jonghyun's memory deserves better than this insensitive trash

 

[Thigh-high feminist]

Sucks that they are using him. The year of his departure, a couple of months prior to it, his co-member, Minho, starred in a drama about a doctor (played by Minho) who somehow time-traveled back to when he was 17 and he tried to stop his first love from commiting suicide.

Anyway, if they are using Jonghyun, I hope the drama flops hugely. He has a family that deserves better than this.