Strong Girl Bong-soon
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Strong Girl Bong-soon is a 2017 South Korean romantic comedy-drama television series that tells the story of Do Bong-soon, a young woman born with superhuman strength, a mystic gift passed down through the maternal line of her family. Despite her extraordinary power, Bong-soon dreams of becoming a video game developer and living a normal life, often struggling to control her strength and emotions. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she is hired as a bodyguard by Ahn Min-hyuk, the eccentric CEO of a gaming company, who is being blackmailed. As Bong-soon uses her strength to fight crime and protect Min-hyuk, she becomes entangled in a love triangle also involving her childhood crush, police detective In Guk-doo. The series blends elements of fantasy, romance, comedy, and crime, as Bong-soon confronts a dangerous criminal targeting women in her neighborhood. The show is generally considered suitable for audiences aged 12 or 13 and over due to themes requiring maturity, mild violence, brief strong language, and some sexual content.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The show uses the perception of the male lead, Min-hyuk, being gay for comedic effect, with problematic portrayals of gay stereotypes and casual homophobia from Bong-soon's mother. It also features an offensively depicted gay antagonist.
For much of the early series, characters assume the male lead, Min-hyuk, is gay. This is used for comedic purposes, including Min-hyuk appearing in women's clothing in Bong-soon's dream to emphasize his perceived homosexuality. Bong-soon's mother, Hwang Jin-Yi, exhibits casual homophobia, attempting to force her daughter to 'cure' Min-hyuk of his perceived sexual orientation. Additionally, a distinct gay character introduced in the latter half of the show is depicted in an offensive manner and acts as a 'petty, obnoxious antagonist,' with his sexuality potentially contributing to his villainous role. While some characters do not think less of Min-hyuk for being perceived as gay, the show's quick dismissal of his rumored sexuality as 'noise marketing' and its failure to address corporate homophobia are noted as issues.
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Violence
The series contains mild to medium violence, primarily involving Bong-soon's superhuman strength being used against criminals, resulting in exaggerated, often comedic, physical confrontations. There is also a serious plotline involving a criminal attacking women.
Romance and Sexual Content
The show features a central romantic love triangle with flirting and implied relationships, typical of the romance genre. Prime Video lists 'sexual content' as an advisory, but explicit details are not specified in the available sources beyond implied physical aspects related to problematic LGBTQ portrayals.
Witchcraft & Occult
The central premise involves a 'mystic gift' of superhuman strength passed down through the maternal line, with consequences for its misuse. There are also minor references to superstitious elements for comedic effect.
Substance Use
The media includes references to substance use, alcohol use, and smoking. Specific details on the frequency or depiction are not provided, suggesting casual or incidental presence rather than heavy or glamorized use.
Scary & Intense Content
The show contains suspenseful elements related to a serious crime plot involving a serial kidnapper, creating a sense of danger and concern for characters' safety.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The series portrays some instances of disrespect and rebellious behavior, including a comedic running gag about spousal abuse and characters defying authority.
Anti-Christian Themes
No evidence of anti-Christian themes was found in the search results. The show does not appear to feature explicit criticism, mockery, or negative portrayals of Christian beliefs or symbols.
Strong Girl Bong-soon presents a worldview that highlights the importance of using one's unique gifts for justice and the protection of the innocent, which aligns with biblical calls to defend the weak and uphold righteousness. Bong-soon's internal struggle with controlling her immense power and her desire to use it for good, despite the temptation for personal gain or revenge, reflects a moral conscience and the pursuit of virtue. While she occasionally misuses her strength, there are consequences, and the show ultimately rewards her for acting selflessly and righteously, demonstrating a sense of moral accountability within its narrative. However, the show's moral landscape is complicated by its use of problematic humor. The depiction of homosexuality, relying on stereotypes and casual homophobia, contradicts biblical teachings on the dignity of all individuals and risks normalizing prejudice. The implied physical abuse of a spouse for comedic effect is also deeply concerning and contrary to Christian values of respect, love, and protection within marriage. The worldview presented, while aspiring to justice, at times descends into a more relativistic or pragmatic approach to humor that undermines core biblical principles of love, respect, and the sanctity of relationships. Redemption themes are present through Bong-soon's journey of learning to control and responsibly wield her power, often involving personal sacrifice for others. Family relationships are central, though they are portrayed with both heartwarming support and deeply flawed, even abusive, dynamics for comedic effect. Faith representation is minimal, with no explicit Christian themes, making it difficult to assess its portrayal. Parents will need to exercise discernment, appreciating the positive messages of strength for justice while addressing the problematic comedic elements that clash with a Christian ethical framework.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
13+ is the recommended age. This is based on multiple ratings including Netflix's 13+, iQIYI's 13+, and Prime Video's 13+, with advisories for mild violence, brief strong language, and themes requiring a bit more maturity, as well as substance use and sexual content.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware of the show's blend of comedy with more serious themes like misogynistic crime, and particularly its use of problematic LGBTQ stereotypes and casual homophobia for comedic purposes, which some viewers may find offensive or inappropriate. The implied spousal abuse played for laughs is also a point of concern. While the violence is often comedic and exaggerated, the underlying threat of a serial kidnapper is a serious plot element.
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