KUALA LUMPUR – A PAS Senator is facing a wave of criticism for linking K-dramas to suicidal tendencies, especially among the youths.
Mohd Apandi Mohamad voiced out the issue during a Dewan Negara sitting yesterday (Oct 13), claiming that most K-dramas had suicidal elements and wielded much influence over Malaysian teens.
“Many of these teens who take their own lives, whether you agree or not, most of them are too influenced by films and dramas from Korea.
“When there’s a failure, there’s suicide. Failure, then suicide. Is it because they are too influenced by Korean dramas?” he said.
However, Apandi’s claim was rejected by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, who questioned what K-dramas the former was referring to and said that he was “oversimplifying and downplaying suicide”.
You can watch the video here:
PAS Senator Mohd Apandi claims that Korean dramas have contributed to teenage suicides in Malaysia.
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) October 13, 2021
He told the Dewan Negara, K-dramas tend to depict suicides as common for those who feel they have failed in life.
“Agree or not, when there’s a failure, there’s suicide.” pic.twitter.com/TfwsnUfXJ2
K-drama fans hit back
Apandi’s claim has since irked netizens, who slammed his statement as “stupid” and “a joke”.
On Twitter, they did not hold back in calling him out, releasing a torrent of Korean-themed memes mocking his shallow knowledge of the subject.
Some also demanded that Apandi prove his claim with solid facts and statistics.
Some even pointed out that local dramas weren’t any better, with one writing that ‘watching [them] automatically makes one stupid’.
Others also said that there were deeper factors behind suicide such as economic pressures and social problems.
Are you a K-drama fan too? What do you think of Apandi’s claim? Let us know in the comments!
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Cover Images via KHIGH & Twitter/ BFM News
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
