Lesbian kiss on Korean drama sparks debate

An unprecedented lesbian kiss between two high school students on a popular South Korean TV drama has fuelled a debate about portrayals of sexuality in a rapidly modernising society with deeply conservative roots. The broadcast and internet regulatory body, the Korea Communications Standards Commission, said Friday it had received complaints about the scene which aired on Wednesday's episode of "Seonam Girls High School Investigators." "We will decide whether this is an issue after we look into it, and whether there is any violation of broadcast policy," the commission said in a statement. Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea, but carries a significant social stigma, with few openly gay public figures. A few have experimented with gay characters, and just this month there was a kissing scene between two male actors in the drama "Kill Me, Heal Me." But the "Seonam Girls High School Investigators" scene was the first of its kind between two female characters, and so caused something of a stir.