tvN's "Goblin," also known as "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," has come under fire for indirectly promoting pedophilia to viewers. Many netizens were said to be upset with the brewing romance between Kim Go-Eun and Gong Yoo's characters in the show.
"Goblin" has been getting attention for its A-list cast and refreshing storyline. The hype was so prominent that it even ousted other popular Korean dramas such as SBS' "The Legend of the Blue Sea" and KBS 2TV's "Descendants of the Sun."
However, as early as the fifth episode, many viewers are already voicing concern over the love line plot between Gong and Kim's character. In the show, the former transforms into a 936-year-old immortal goblin and protector of souls, while the latter portrays a senior high school student.
With this, many netizens took to the drama's official website, as cited by All Kpop, asking screenwriter Kim Eun-Sook to reconsider the love angle between the two. They even stressed that the dialogues between the two lead stars are uncomfortable to watch.
"Do I have to watch a drama that portrays a pedophile in 2016?" one netizen wrote. "The man who looks like he is middle aged and a minor falling for each other is being portrayed as romance...It's disgusting."
Despite that, "Goblin" was crowned the most influential television show for the first week of December. It took the first place with a record of 7,449 points, ruling over SBS' "The Legend of the Blue Sea" and MBC's "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo," according to CJ E&M, as cited by The Kpop Herald.
With the show's growing popularity at home and abroad, the "Train to Busan" actor's brand reputation has also increased. It was reported that around 50 to 65 advertisers have contacted Gong's agency, Management Soop, to secure a potential endorsement deal with him.
Check out Gong and Kim's on-screen romance in tvN's "Goblin" here: