The “cardigan hug scene” between Go Youn-jung and Goo Kyo-hwan in ‘Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness’ (hereafter ‘Mo-Ja-Mu-Ssa’) has become a hot topic among viewers.
In the JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Mo-Ja-Mu-Ssa’ aired on the 16th, the story focused on Hwang Dong-man (played by Goo Kyo-hwan), who suffers from extreme anxiety after finally debuting as a film director after years of struggling, and Byeon Eun-ah (played by Go Youn-jung) comforting him.
While visiting their favorite comic book cafe, Byeon Eun-ah approached Hwang Dong-man with words of comfort as he felt anxious about his upcoming film production. She told him, “If you want to run away, I’ll let you run away. Why endure this fear for some kind of wealth and honor?” as she spread her cardigan wide and pulled Hwang Dong-man completely inside it, embracing him.
Some critics pointed out that the direction was too infantile for a romance between adults, making it uncomfortable to watch. Beyond just discomfort, some felt that the act of an adult man burrowing into a woman’s clothes in a public comic book cafe was unpleasant, and many questioned if the scene was necessary given the context.
In particular, some expressed discomfort with resolving a romantic relationship through “maternal love,” arguing that it is bizarre to portray the woman as a “pseudo-mother” for the man’s emotional stability.
On the other hand, some empathized with the emotional depth of the scene. Some found it touching to see Byeon Eun-ah, who grew up without her mother’s love, warmly embracing someone like a mother would, and others praised it as a warm and original piece of direction rarely seen in dramas.
Meanwhile, with ‘Mo-Ja-Mu-Ssa’ set to end on the 24th, all eyes are on whether the drama will end on a high note amidst the conflicting opinions over the “cardigan hug scene”.
