Controversial Webtoon Canceled from Drama Adaptation Amid Outrage over Pedophilia Concerns
According to a July 3 report by Star News, production of the drama based on The Elementary Student I Love has officially been canceled. The decision follows intense controversy over allegations that the story glamorizes pedophilia and grooming. The production company, Metanewline, initially attempted to reassure the public by stating that the drama would differ significantly from the original work. However, due to the sensitivity of the issue, the company ultimately chose to halt production.
In a statement to Star News, Metanewline said, “We have taken seriously the various public concerns raised recently, and have decided to discontinue planning and production of the drama adaptation based on the webtoon The Elementary Student I Love. We sincerely apologize to the original author for the renewed pressure this situation may have caused.” They added, “We humbly accept the changing social sentiments and will strive to create meaningful and responsible content going forward.”
Previously, on June 27, CNCR and production company Metanewline announced they had secured rights to adapt the webtoon The Elementary Student I Love into a drama series. The story follows a young elementary school teacher who, after a breakup, develops romantic feelings for a game character only to discover he is actually one of her students.
Originally serialized from 2015 to 2020, the webtoon faced criticism even during its run for allegedly depicting a grooming narrative between an adult teacher and a minor.
Now that the drama is officially in development, criticism has reignited. On July 1, the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations (KFTA) released a strong statement calling for the show’s immediate cancellation. The organization condemned the premise as a glorification of grooming, warning that portraying such a relationship even as fiction undermines the trust and moral integrity essential in educational spaces.
“This storyline is not romantic or fantastical it’s a clear case of grooming being sugarcoated,” the KFTA emphasized. “Teachers are entrusted with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. This drama distorts those values and endangers the credibility of the education system.”
They further warned that normalizing inappropriate teacher-student dynamics through mainstream media could desensitize the public to real-world abuses and perpetuate harmful misunderstandings about consent and power imbalances.
On July 2, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) also issued a statement, saying, “The news of a live-action adaptation of The Elementary Student I Love has shocked and outraged elementary school teachers nationwide.” They pointed out that the original webtoon had already stirred controversy during its run, with scenes depicting or implying inappropriate relationships.
The KTU warned, “A drama is not the same as a webtoon. When these scenes are recreated in live-action, their impact is significantly stronger. With acting, music, and visual effects, the emotional immersion for viewers is much greater. Once broadcast, it is almost impossible to undo the harm.”
They added, “Scenes involving emotional closeness, comfort, or affection between an adult teacher and an elementary student can easily be misinterpreted or glamorized as romance. This sends a dangerous message that directly violates educational ethics.”
“This distorts the entire educational environment, erodes trust in teachers, and even destroys the social safety net meant to protect students,” the KTU stated. “The KTU Elementary Committee will continue to fight to ensure schools remain a safe and respectful space for children, and one where teachers are trusted.”
Following public outcry, major platforms like Naver Webtoon, Kakao Page, and RIDI have all suspended access to the webtoon. According to News1, a Naver Webtoon representative stated, “We decided to stop sales based on user feedback raising concerns about problematic content.” Kakao Page also confirmed it had stopped distribution after discussing the issue with the publisher.
