The premiere of MBC’s new drama Mary Kills People on August 1 has quickly ignited conversation online for its daring plot and controversial themes. Starring veteran actress Lee Bo-young as emergency physician Woo So-jung , the drama dives headfirst into the moral gray areas of euthanasia and subtly explores underage same-sex attraction—all in its very first episode.
Adapted from the Canadian series of the same name, Mary Kills People tells the story of a doctor who secretly assists terminally ill patients with ending their lives, while being pursued by a relentless detective. The Korean remake adds a new cultural context to this ethically complex narrative.
The opening scene features Choi Kang-yoon (played by special guest Lee Sang-yoon ), a terminal patient who declares, “I, Choi Kang-yoon, am now ending my life. This is my choice, and I feel happy and satisfied at this moment.” He then receives a glass of champagne from Woo So-jung , laced with pentobarbital—a lethal drug used in assisted dying.
When Choi Kang-yoon asks how long it will take, So-jung coldly replies, “Usually, it ends in an instant.” Moments later, Choi Kang-yoon passes away, setting the tone for the rest of the drama.
In addition to the euthanasia plotline, the drama introduces a subplot involving Woo So-jung’s niece, Jae-yeon (Kim Sang-ji) , and her friend Woo-mi (Kang Na-eon) . The two teenage girls share a moment of emotional and physical tension, raising eyebrows among viewers.
Woo-mi , after getting permission for Jae-yeon to sleep over, mocks the trust of adults: “My mom thinks it’s totally safe if it’s just girls. She thinks she knows everything but really knows nothing.” The scene builds in intensity as the girls exchange suggestive glances and compliments, with Woo-mi telling Jae-yeon , “Your eyes are really pretty.”
From assisted suicide to queer-coded teen subtext, Mary Kills People wastes no time confronting viewers with morally challenging content. Its bold narrative choices have already sparked heated debates across Korean online communities.
Episode 2 of Mary Kills People airs on August 2 at 10 p.m. KST on MBC.
Sources: Daum
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