Drama Would You Marry Me? is achieving its highest ratings yet
But, a controversial molka scene sparked intense online criticism
The production team has not yet responded publicly
Drama Would You Marry Me? has quickly become a must-watch, charming audiences with the delightful on-screen chemistry between its leads, Choi Wooshik and Jung Somin. The show, which follows the romantic entanglements and personal growth of its characters, has consistently climbed the ratings, even securing the top spot as the most-watched miniseries on Saturday nights and achieving its highest ratings yet with a nationwide average of 7.5%. However, amidst the celebratory numbers, a significant and troubling controversy has emerged, shifting the conversation from the main romance to a poorly handled subplot in a recent episode.
The uproar specifically targets a sequence in Episode 6 that aired on October 25, 2025. While the main plot revolves around the evolving relationship between Kim Wooju (Choi Wooshik) and Yoo Meri (Jung Somin), this particular scene focused on the supporting characters and has been accused of glamorizing a serious crime and mishandling its moral implications, drawing sharp criticism from viewers online.
Source: SBS via panncafeThe Molka Scene in Would You Marry Me? Sparks Outrage
In the controversial scene, family medicine specialist Yoon Jinkyeong (played by Shin Seulgi) springs into action to perform CPR on a jogger who has collapsed from cardiac arrest. As she is focused on saving a life, the drama shows a man secretly using his phone to record up her skirt, capturing illicit footage of her chest area.
Another male character, Baek Sang-hyeon (Bae Nara), notices the act. His response is to first drape his coat over Yoon Jin-kyeong with the line, "Cover up," before taking over the chest compressions. Later, he confronts the voyeur, seizes the phone, and recites the legal penalties: āIllegal surreptitious filming: up to seven years in prison, fines up to about 36,000 USD.ā
However, he then lets the perpetrator go with a warning, stating, āLooks like itās your first time, so Iāll let it slide. Next time, no mercy,ā before deleting the footage.
This sequence has ignited a firestorm of criticism online, including on Korean community sites like theqoo. Viewers were not just upset by the depiction of the crime itself, but more so by the resolution, which saw a male character taking the law into his own hands and effectively letting a criminal off the hook.
The framing, where the female victim is told to cover up while a man decides the perpetrator's fate, has been widely condemned. The online backlash has been severe and pointed, with comments such as:
Source: SBS via panncafe"The victim is a woman, so why does he get to feel like he can forgive the criminal on her behalf?"
"This is disgusting."
"Why does he have to 'let it slide'? She's trying to save a person, and he tells her to cover up? The mindset is so weird."
"I was planning to watch until the end, but I'm canceling now."
"The story was quite interesting, but that scene yesterday made me feel so icky."
"Once again, why defend the perpetrator and erase the evidence? It makes no sense."
"The storyline is so unrealistic, just take him to the police station."
"This is insaneā¦"
"Deleting evidence of a crime? That's so severe."
"The plot is so outdated, how is this still happening in 2025?"
Would You Marry Me's Team Remains Silent
To understand the depth of the viewers' anger, it's crucial to know what molka is. The term, short for mollae-kamera (ėŖ°ėģ¹“ė©ė¼), meaning sneaky camera, refers to the use of hidden cameras or miniature spy devices to illegally and non-consensually film people, often in private or vulnerable situations. These crimes are a severe form of digital sexual violence that predominantly targets women in South Korea. Cameras are secretly planted in public restrooms, changing rooms, and other private spaces, with the footage frequently being shared online or sold.
Molka is dangerous and must be stopped because it constitutes a profound violation of privacy and human rights. It causes devastating and long-lasting psychological trauma for the victims, who experience feelings of fear, helplessness, and a loss of safety. This crime perpetuates a culture of misogyny and gender-based violence, undermining trust in everyday environments. Despite existing laws that impose penalties like fines and jail time, enforcement is often seen as weak, with low prosecution rates allowing the problem to persist widely. The social impact is massive, contributing to a broader normalization of surveillance and sexual exploitation.
As of now, the production team behind Would You Marry Me? has remained silent and has not issued any official statement or apology regarding the controversial scene.
On the other hand, the drama itself continues to perform well commercially, consistently recording its highest viewership ratings and leading its time slot. The central story follows Yoo Meri (Jung Somin), a woman who impulsively proposes to Kim Wooju (Choi Wooshik), to avoid an arranged marriage, setting off a fake relationship that inevitably develops into real feelings. While this main plot continues to attract viewers, the shadow of the molka scene controversy looms large, leaving many to wonder if the show will address the valid concerns of its audience.
Source: theqoo, Chosunbiz, panncafe, Allkpop, Soompi, Korea JoongAng Daily
As a longtime K-drama fan, I expect better handling of serious issues. They shouldāve reported the criminal, not let him go! 
Time for a rewrite, lads!
