Controversial drama The World of the Married has been steadily rising in ratings since its premiere four weeks ago, even breaking the record set by its predecessor, Itaewon Class on JTBC. However, the drama has been met with strong criticism for its recent episode.
According to a report by Koreaboo, viewers felt uncomfortable with the excessive violence that was featured in Episode 8 of The World of the Married.
In the episode, Dr. Ji Sun Woo, who is played by actress Kim Hee Ae, was violently attacked at her own home by the abusive boyfriend of her patient. It was revealed that the culprit was paid to threaten the doctor by her ex-husband.
While the scene was intended to mark the different tone in the relationship of the divorced couple, by showing how far Ji Sun Woo's ex was willing to go to harass her, the production team received a lot of complaints from the viewers.
Based on viewer response, the scene was particularly disturbing because it was filmed with a first-person perspective from the side of the assailant. Within the five minute scene, Sun Woo's character was stalked, mauled and even choked.
"To be living through this attack from the victim's point of view, this could have been traumatizing for people who have experienced violence in their homes. I think it is also dangerous in that it could intrigue people to see a home raid through the attacker's eyes. I don't think anyone needs to see a suffering face from the first person perspective. It's too aggressive," one netizen remarked.
However, there were also those who defended the scene and said that the experimental approach was commendable as it added to the tension of the moment. They praised the innovation of the production team in pushing the envelope not only with the story but with the unique approach.
While the violent scene was polarizing for audiences, it did not prevent fans of the show from helping The World of the Married rise once again to the top of the ratings, Soompi reported.
The recent episode broke past the 20 percent ratings for the first time. Nationwide, The World of the Married scored an average of 20.1 percent, surpassing its personal best and marking an all-time ratings high for the drama. As the suspense continues to intensify, it is expected that the drama will rise to even more heights with its future episodes.
