Producer Jeong Hyo-min of 'Sex + People' hinted that the next Taiwan episode will also include stories related to sexual minorities (LGBT).
On the 2nd, I met PD Hyo-min Jeong and PD In-sik Kim, who directed Netflix's 'Sex + Characters', at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul.
‘Sex + People’ is a talk variety show that explores the unknown world of sex and characters in the adult culture industry. The 6th Japanese episode was released on April 25th. 'Sex + People' introduced Japan's sexual culture by including interviews with current AV actors and visits to adult product stores.
The public's reaction to 'sex + character' is polar opposites. Some netizens pointed out that the 'sex + people' content itself, based on Japanese AV, which is illegal to distribute in Korea, was inappropriate. On the other hand, some say that since sexual issues are causing serious problems behind the scenes, if they are dealt with openly, it can actually play a positive role.
Producer Jeong, who went to Taiwan to film the Taiwanese episode following the Japanese episode, expressed his thoughts, "I watched (viewer reactions) from time to time, but I watched them closely. It was a different feeling to see Korean reactions while filming in Taiwan." He continued, "There are a variety of items that were filmed in Taiwan. In Korea, the discussion on homosexuality is controversial, but Taiwan is the first place in Asia where same-sex marriage was legalized. I met ordinary same-sex couples living in Taiwan. Gay couples, lesbian couples. “Among them, I met a pregnant lesbian couple who were thinking of raising children.” Also, "There is a sex fair in Taiwan, and I went there. AV actors also came and greeted me like idols. Three generations even came. I saw parents and children come and participate as audience members, and couples come and participate. When it comes to sex, each country has its own standards. “I knew it was diverse,” he said.
PD Jeong, who directed JTBC's 'Witch Hunt', which aired in 2013, said, "'Witch Hunt' is a program that was aired 10 years ago. Even back then, there was a lot of controversy in the beginning. It was in the very early days of JTBC. How could unmarried people be treated in the media? “I was wondering if I could handle it, but now it’s nothing. I had a lot of thoughts,” he said.
When asked if the current controversy would have an impact on the direction of the Taiwanese edition, PD Jeong said, "It won't." He continued, "It may cause controversy in some ways. I am cautious about dealing with LGBT as a subject. It is not wrong for us to talk about the human way of life or the philosophy of life regarding work. We can say that it is different. Rather than saying that the tone of the Taiwanese version may change, we will try to continue talking about these aspects.”
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr