The drama 'I Love Elementary School Students,' which depicts a romantic relationship between an elementary school student and a female teacher, is in production, prompting a strong backlash from the education sector. There are concerns that it glamorizes grooming crimes against children.
The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) stated on the 1st, "Attempts to sexualize children under the guise of creativity and artistic originality can never be justified," urging for the production to be halted.
In a press release issued that day, the KFTA criticized, "The subject matter of the drama will tarnish the honor of all educators committed to the education field and provoke deep distrust in the entire teaching community," and called it "an act that undermines the foundation of education, which relies on trust among teachers, students, and parents."
It further expressed concern, saying, "When such works are consumed as romance or fantasy, it can dilute the seriousness of grooming crimes occurring in reality."
While recognizing the freedom of expression and the right to create, the KFTA added, "Content that portrays teachers as perpetrators of sexual crimes against children can never be tolerated."
'I Love Elementary School Students' is a romance story involving the main character, Sim Cheong-a, who becomes an elementary school teacher, getting dumped by her boyfriend, and at a moment of giving up on romance, meets an 'expert' in online gaming who turns out to be her elementary school student, Im Dang-su. Their romantic feelings become a secret revealed to their fellow teachers, escalating the conflict.
The original webtoon began serialization in 2019 and was completed after a total of 142 episodes, also winning an excellence award at the 1st World Cartoon Contest.