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Scenes of alcohol drinking in K-dramas and viral YouTube chat shows draw fire in Korea
K-dramas like Queen of Tears and YouTube shows where Korean stars let their hair down over drinks ‘familiarise young people with drinking’
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![Ryujin of K-pop group Itzy drinks alcohol during an episode of Nothing Prepared. This and other YouTube chat shows, as well as K-dramas, are being criticised for promoting alcohol consumption to young viewers. Photo: YouTube](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/11/04/0877fbd3-6689-49a8-bacc-61a3c047f986_10eaaf14.jpg?itok=3EFZW09R&v=1730706271)
By Lee Gyu-lee
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Scenes of characters exchanging drinks in Korean dramas and celebrities sharing their personal lives over alcohol on YouTube talk shows are easy to find these days.
In the popular drama Queen of Tears, the character Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) is a lawyer from a rural background married to a leading chaebol heiress, Hong Hae-in.
He frequently finds solace in meeting an old friend in front of a convenience store, where they share beers and discuss the difficulties of his marriage.
![A scene from the hit K-drama series Queen of Tears shows its main character, Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), opening up while drinking beer. Photo: courtesy of tvN A scene from the hit K-drama series Queen of Tears shows its main character, Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), opening up while drinking beer. Photo: courtesy of tvN](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/11/04/8fb78a34-d8a1-4903-ac10-b8c9a0b0f714_7756ec49.jpg)
Such scenes of characters drinking together are a staple in Korean dramas, often used as a narrative device: characters open up about their deepest troubles over drinks.
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