The Worldwide Sensation 'When the Phone Rings', Faces Shocking Backlash After the Finale

MBC's drama When the Phone Rings concluded with its highest ratings yet, but controversy surrounding a specific scene has surfaced, sparking a backlash among viewers.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 5th, the final episode achieved an 8.6% viewership rating, setting a new record for the series. Based on a romance web novel, the show captivated audiences with the love story between Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok), a presidential spokesperson, and Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a sign language interpreter, while blending in thriller elements.

The finale, where Baek Sa-eon and Hong Hee-joo reunite in the war-torn region of Argan and remarry for a happy ending, received widespread acclaim. The scene featuring Baek Sa-eon’s line, “I needed time to punish myself,” as he spoke to Hong Hee-joo recorded a peak viewership of 10.1%.

However, despite the drama’s popularity, a controversy regarding the depiction of sign language has overshadowed its success.

On the 20th, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) held a general meeting and imposed a legal sanction of "caution" on a specific scene in When the Phone Rings. The controversial moment involved the protagonist, a sign language interpreter, performing the sign for "mountain," during which a news anchor character sarcastically remarked, "You really gave them the finger there. I mean, mountain," while gesturing with her middle finger.

The KCSC stated, “The production team’s lack of sensitivity ridiculed sign language, which is the sole means of communication for the hearing-impaired,” and unanimously decided on the "caution" sanction. In response, MBC issued an apology, stating, “We deeply regret causing hurt to the Deaf community,” but clarified, “There was no inappropriate intent in our depiction of sign language, which we regarded as an important element of the story.”

Nevertheless, the KCSC dismissed the network’s explanation, noting, “General viewers are highly likely to perceive the scene as offensive language.”

When the Phone Rings has been praised for faithfully incorporating romantic web novel tropes, delivering heart-fluttering moments and a complex emotional narrative. With themes of contract marriage, unrequited love, kidnapping, and revenge, the series skillfully blended romance and thriller elements to win over its audience. Yoo Yeon-seok even topped Good Data Corporation's TV-OTT drama cast buzz rankings, surpassing Lee Jung-jae of Squid Game 2.

However, the controversy surrounding the series highlights a lack of meticulousness on the part of the production team, regardless of the drama’s overall quality. The KCSC’s legal sanction serves as a reminder for broadcasters to approach content creation with greater care and sensitivity in the future.