Multiple publishing platforms also pulled the webtoon version.
A planned K-Drama adaptation of the controversial webtoon The Elementary Schooler I Love has been officially scrapped following widespread criticism over its problematic storyline involving grooming.
According to an exclusive report by Star News on July 3, 2025, production of the drama has been entirely canceled. The original webtoon, serialized from 2015 to 2020, centers around a female elementary school teacher who develops romantic feelings for a mysterious gamer—only to discover he is actually one of her own students. The premise has faced intense backlash for allegedly romanticizing an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a minor.
Production company Meta New Line announced their decision to halt all plans for the adaptation.
“We have taken the public’s concerns very seriously and have decided to cancel the planning and production of the drama based on The Elementary Schooler I Love. We humbly accept the changing societal standards and sensitivities. This incident has reaffirmed our commitment to creating thoughtful and responsible content moving forward.”
Backlash intensified late last month after Meta New Line and the webtoon’s platform, CNC Revolution, revealed plans to develop the series into a drama. The announcement quickly sparked outrage due to the depiction of what appeared to be a romantic subplot between a teacher and her young student, prompting critics to accuse the work of glamorizing grooming.
The Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations (KFTA) released a public statement on July 1, 2025m demanding that the project be stopped.
“Teachers are entrusted with building relationships based on trust and are held to high moral and professional standards. Portraying a story in which a teacher develops personal and romantic feelings for a minor student is not fantasy. It is a clear glorification of grooming crimes.”
They further condemned the project as a harmful attempt to sexualize children under the guise of creative freedom, arguing it undermines public trust in the education system and tarnishes the reputations of dedicated educators. As criticism grew, major platforms such as Naver Series, Kakao Page, and Ridibooks swiftly pulled the original webtoon from their services. Meta New Line, facing growing pressure, ultimately chose to cancel the drama’s development entirely.
The cancellation marks a significant moment in Korea’s entertainment industry, highlighting the public’s increasing intolerance for narratives that blur ethical boundaries, particularly when they involve minors.
