Is it fair for BoA to face criticism because of “Marry My Husband”?

BoA is currently appearing in tvN’s “Marry My Husband“. Based on the original novel and webtoon, “Marry My Husband” has garnered significant attention thanks to its fast-paced and enjoyable plot, as well as the excellent performances by its leads Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung and Song Ha-yoon. BoA joined the drama as Oh Yu-ra and played a pivotal role in intensifying the conflicts from the middle of the series.

However, BoA’s entry into the series wasn’t smooth from the start. Some viewers criticized BoA’s appearance, claiming that her lips appeared thicker and unnatural than usual, affecting her facial expressions and immersion in the role. As the controversy escalated, BoA addressed it directly through a live broadcast on SNS, explaining, “I have a habit of biting my lips. So it seems swollen. Many people are worried about my lips, but they’re fine. You don’t have to worry. My lips are fine.”

After personally addressing the “lip controversy”, another wave of criticism emerged. This time, it was about “destroying the original work”. Some argued, “Forced the appearance of a character that wasn’t in the original work, disrupting coherence and enjoyment.” However, the claim that “a character not present in the original work was introduced” is not accurate. The character BoA portrayed, Oh Yu-ra, also existed in the original web novel, where she harassed Yoo Ji-hyuk’s younger sister Yoo Hee-yeon and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Park Min-hwan. Criticizing the coherence based on the absence of Oh Yu-ra in the “Marry My Husband” webtoon is therefore an inappropriate accusation, as she was already a character in the original work.

The criticism that bringing a character with relatively low presence in the web novel to the forefront of the drama weakened the story’s plot line is also not entirely convincing. Historically, adaptations of existing dramas often showcase unique interpretations while basing themselves on the original elements. In the case of “Marry My Husband”, introducing a character like Oh Yu-ra from the original work to the drama may have highlighted her significance in the story, rather than being deemed a “destruction of the original work” or a “redundancy”.

Instead, such criticism seems to stem more from the discomfort of viewers who were enjoying the refreshing development of the main character Kang Ji-won, suddenly encountering an unexpected villain, rather than being a genuine criticism born out of affectionate immersion. However, the mixed reactions regarding BoA’s acting performance remain a challenge for her to ponder and overcome as she continues her acting career.

Source: Nate