'Look! Deborah', Auschwitz Metaphor Sparks Controversy... "I Was Not Careful" Apology

Mentioning Auschwitz While Discussing the Importance of Appearance Management
"Embarrassing" Official Apology Follows Viewer Criticism

ENA drama 'Bora! Deborah' apologized for comparing the importance of appearance management to survival in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

ENA Tue, Thu Drama 'Bora! Deborah'
[Photo by Broadcast Screen]

On the 19th, the production team of ENA's Wednesday-Thursday drama 'Bora! Deborah' issued an official statement, saying, "We apologize for the discomfort caused by a specific line mentioned in episode 9 of 'Bora! Deborah'."

They added, "We should have referred to historical facts with an accurate perspective, but we failed to consider it carefully and thoughtfully. There was never any intention to treat a historical tragedy lightly."

The production team also concluded by saying, "We will be more cautious in future productions."

Earlier, in episode 9 of 'Bora! Deborah,' which aired on the 10th, Yeon Bora (played by Yoo In-na) mentioned Auschwitz concentration camp while talking to Lee Su-hyuk (played by Yoon Hyun-min) about the importance of appearance management.

She said, "In Auschwitz concentration camp, people dying on their own excrement watched as someone received a cup of water, drank half of it, and used the other half to wash their face," adding, "They shaved while looking at their faces through broken glass from their trays, and they survived."

She continued, "Taking care of and adorning one's appearance is a matter of survival."

After the episode aired, criticism arose that mentioning Auschwitz concentration camp in this way was inappropriate.

Auschwitz concentration camp was the site of the mass murder of Jews by the German Nazis during World War II.

It is known that Jews washing their faces and shaving at that time was an act to preserve human dignity and survive, but 'Bora! Deborah' reduced this to mere appearance adornment.

Viewers responded with comments such as "It's shameful" and "How could they say such lines?"

One overseas netizen tweeted, "I was shocked," and said, "I can't believe everyone approved this line."

Meanwhile, 'Bora! Deborah' is a romance genre drama that begins with dating coach Deborah, who believes dating requires strategy, and publishing planner Su-hyuk, who believes dating is about sincerity, working together to create a dating book. It airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 9 p.m.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.