Netizens are sharply divided over a specific hugging scene in the JTBC weekend drama Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness (hereafter referred to as ‘Mo-Ja-Mu-Ssa’).
In the episode aired on the 16th, the dramatic process of Hwang Dong-man (played by Koo Kyo-hwan), a long-time aspiring director, finally debuting as a movie director was unfolded.
The two spent some quality time at their favorite comic book cafe. As Hwang Dong-man felt anxious about his upcoming film production, Byeon Eun-ah quietly approached him with comforting words. She patted his heavy shoulders, saying, “If you want to run away, I’ll let you. Why endure this fear for some kind of wealth and honor?” Then, looking at the emotional Hwang Dong-man, Byeon Eun-ah spread her cardigan wide and wrapped him entirely inside her embrace. She swore her steadfast love, saying, “If you tell me to run away together, I’ll run away, and if you tell me to hide for the rest of our lives, I’ll hide.”
While the scene was intended to show the deep bond between the characters, a heated debate broke out on online communities and SNS immediately after the broadcast regarding the so-called “cardigan hug.”
Some netizens expressed discomfort, calling the direction too infantile for a romance between adult men and women. Reactions included, “I was so flustered as soon as I saw it. If two grown adults did that in a public place like a comic book cafe in real life, it would be nonsensical and uncomfortable,” “They could have just hugged, but putting him inside the cardigan felt off,” and “Even knowing the context, this scene is shocking.”
Another netizen criticized the over-the-top direction, stating, “I don’t understand why the romance between a man and a woman is being solved through maternal love. Putting him inside the clothes seems like a metaphor for a baby in a mother’s womb, which is actually more unpleasant.” They argued that this style of hugging creates a sense of discomfort and alienation in a narrative between adults.
On the other hand, many praised the scene for its emotional depth and fresh direction. Other netizens shared, “I’ve never seen a hug like that in a drama before, so it felt very warm. It felt like the powerful mother figure Eun-ah (Go Youn-jung) wanted to become,” “It’s so touching that a woman who didn’t receive maternal love embraces someone like a mother,” and “I felt a weight of love greater than that of a kiss or bed scene,” praising the message of comfort the work intended to convey.
As ‘Mo-Ja-Mu-Ssa’ heads toward its finale, attention is focused on how it will persuade viewers and end on a high note during the remaining episodes amidst the mixed criticism and praise over the “cardigan hug scene.”
Meanwhile, the JTBC weekend drama Everyone is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness is set to end on the 24th.
