If nudity is essential to the message and flow of a drama, it's inevitable. However, if it's not a vital element, is there a need to showcase full-frontal nudity merely for sensual stimulation? Lately, Netflix has been casually featuring bare appearances in its releases.

The recently aired Netflix series "Mask Girl" is gaining traction as a hot topic. Its plot, which goes beyond being provocative to being uncomfortable, involves elements like murder, assault, and infidelity, leading to divided opinions. Among these, the full-frontal nudity of the female protagonist Kim Momi (played by Lee Han-byeol, Nana) is particularly controversial. Lee Han-byeol, in a drunken state, does an internet broadcast where she strips entirely, and Nana, upon entering prison, undresses for an inspection, revealing her backside. Regardless of the use of body doubles, such scenes are undoubtedly bold for the actresses.

Interestingly, Nana's role in "Mask Girl" isn't that significant. She appears in one-third of the seven episodes, and since each episode focuses on different characters, Nana doesn't get much screen time. This has led to more emphasis on her nudity, overshadowing her acting skills. Despite her radical transformation, only her nudity remains the talk of the town.

Previously, in "The Glory," Cha Joo-young (portrayed by Choi Hye-jung) was the talk of the town for her topless scenes and revealing her backside. Due to the explicit nature of the scenes, rumors about the use of body doubles and CGI surfaced, leading Cha Joo-young to clarify the situation herself.

In an interview, Cha Joo-young explained, "I believed the breast exposure scene was necessary. Given my character underwent breast surgery, we used CGI for certain parts, but parts of my body were also shown. I wasn't concerned about the nudity. We had prepared both a body double and CGI, and I was ready as well. The bathtub scene used a body double, while the shirt scene was genuinely me."

Yet, after watching the nude scene, Cha Joo-young's father left the house. She shared, "I did give a heads-up to my father. I told him there would be a shocking scene in 'The Glory' and promised to explain the context afterward. However, after watching that scene, he left the house."

Last year's "House of Paper: Joint Economic Zone" also faced mixed reviews, with its nudity scenes drawing most of the attention. Despite criticisms about its similarity to the original, character inconsistencies, and awkward performances, the public's focus remained on the bed scenes. Notably, Kim Ji-hoon and Lee Joo-bin were highlighted for their explicit scenes. Lee Joo-bin commented on the bed scene, "I usually avoid unnecessary provocative scenes, but after reading the entire script, I was convinced. I agreed to do it, thinking it was to naturally continue the emotional line, not just for the nudity." She added, "I didn't lose weight, but I exercised intensely."

All these dramas are on OTT platforms, which might allow for more explicit content than traditional broadcasting. While movies have featured full-frontal nudity in the past, OTT platforms are easily accessible, even to minors. It's time to ponder whether we're normalizing high-level explicit content under the guise of being "edgy" and "stimulating."

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