Korean Entertainment and Its Toilets

 

I used to watch some dramas with a friend and after completing a few, she said, “Have you noticed how there’s always someone on the toilet in these TV Shows?” Before that, it had never crossed my mind and in a way, I didn’t really believe her. But since then, every time a toilet scene comes up, I notice it! And would you believe, out of the 52 Korean dramas I’ve completed, around half have at least one toilet scene in them! Whether it’s a character with constipation, vomiting from too much soju, or even just on the toilet for normal needs.

But it doesn’t stop at dramas, no… There are toilet scenes in Korean movies and even music videos!

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Movies
The first time I noticed a toilet scene in a Korean Movie was in 100 days with Mr. Arrogant. About 10 minutes in the movie, there is a scene in which you see the main character's classmate in the toilet. She’s apparently having a hard time because she’s crushing something in her fist. I have noticed that there are a lot of toilet scenes in comedies, so films like 100 days with Mr. Arrogant seem to use them a lot.
 

I recently watched My Tutor Friend 2 so there is no way I’m not mentioning that toilet scene. I love how he just waits for her to notice; so funny!



Check out this funny movie poster for Hello Ghost:



Music Videos
Are there toilet scenes in Korean music videos? Even though they are less frequent, they are still used! For example the famous PSY’s Gangnam Style!
 

Since it is very unusual for this kind of thing to be shown in the West, I think this scene shocked a lot of people; but in a way, I think, it probably lent a hand in PSY’s immense popularity.

The most recent example of a toilet scene in a K-pop MV is Lee Hi’s It’s Over.
 

And then there’s a strange one in Super Junior’s Cooking, Cooking.
 

I don’t think he even has his pants down… Maybe his trousers are so shiny and blinding that he got banished to the bathroom… that must be it….

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Dramas
To me the most memorable toilet scene drama (if I can say that) is Personal Taste; it has both a commonly used toilet scene and a rarely used one.

The commonly used scene: constipation.

I think this was the first constipation scene I ever saw, because even though it’s not that special I remember it really well… it is pretty funny though.

The rarely used scene: period.



 
This scene is very funny (Spoiler) Kae-in finally calls Jin-ho, who rushes over to the bathroom to see if she’s okay, but she tells him that she needs… those things… you know… with the wings. Jin-ho: “What’s the what? And who’s got wings?”

Next thing you know, Jin-ho runs down the street to a convenience store, where we commence with the most hilarious thing ever: Jin-ho in a Mexican stand-off with a group of teenage girls, and a box of ultra thin flexipads with wings. (Source: http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/04/personal-taste-episode-6/)

And then there’s the bit where he rubs her aching tummy, sooo cute >////<  


Don’t all girls want a handsome guy to rub their tummies when they have their periods?

Want some more examples of toilet scenes in Dramas? Boys Over Flowers also has a scene in which the girl gets walked in on:
 

I really don’t get why she cries so much! I mean I would be a little embarrassed but I wouldn’t cry for the whole day just because some guy walked in! 

There’s a funny one in Protect the Boss when the two guys are fighting in a public restroom and a man comes in:
  

Quick! Act normal! I love their recovery.

Or In You’re Beautiful where the girl gets sprayed in the face by the pop stars luxurious toilet:
 

And then, to top that of, there are the scenes in which, (a) character(s) have never seen a toilet before; like in Rooftop Prince:
 

And My Girlfriend’s a Gumiho:
 


Other Appearances...
Did you know that South Korea has a Toilet “Theme Park”? 


If you are interested for more information, you can check out a video about it >>>here<<<. 

I wonder if “Mr Toilet” had a hand in making toilet scenes so popular… 

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Toilet scenes are everywhere in South Korean entertainment. So is it just that, entertainment? Are toilet scenes entertaining? Well yes I think they are! If done right they can be hilarious! They take part in making a drama, MV, movie, etc. more entertaining for the viewer.

It also seems as though South Koreans are more open about things like people going to the loo. And as it is tried and tested, Korean entertainment companies are not afraid of using it, even if it results in putting the “toilet scene” in the book of clichés.

I personally think that toilet scenes in the west are not used enough (or not at all) so I find the way Korean entertainment uses them refreshing, or I did until I watched so much Korean entertainment that now I think they’re used a little too much. Can’t you get it right guys?!

What do you think?