What is the controversy surrounding When the Phone Rings’ sign language? Production team issues apology

On November 29, When the Phone Rings' viewer bulletin board addressed concerns raised by audiences about a scene in the first episode that allegedly trivialized Korean sign language and mocked the deaf community. The MBC Friday-Saturday drama sparked controversy over its portrayal of sign language, prompting an official apology from the production team.

The incident occurred during the November 22 premiere of When the Phone Rings. The drama's female lead, Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a mute sign language interpreter, misinterprets the word "landslide" due to a transmission error, causing the sign for "mountain" to repeat. This error led anchor Na Yu-ri (Jang Gyu-ri) to mistakenly sign a gesture perceived as offensive.

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When the Phone Rings team issues apology

The scene provoked a backlash, with viewers posting a protest titled "We Regret Making Fun of the Sign Language Interpretation of the Hearing Impaired." In response, the production team issued a statement acknowledging their failure to adequately represent the challenges faced by the hearing-impaired community and the significance of sign language.

"We apologize for causing concern with some of the sign language scenes in the drama 'Now on the Phone.' The production team takes seriously the criticism that the drama 'Now on the Phone' inappropriately handled sign language, resulting in the trivialization of deaf people and Korean sign language." they said.

The team emphasized that the drama was intended to highlight communication as a core theme and denied any intent to mock sign language. The team further explained that sign language plays a pivotal role in the evolving relationship between the main characters, aiming to show how understanding each other's language fosters connection.

Moving forward, the team pledged to avoid similar missteps and deliver a narrative that respects the value of sign language as a vital communication tool. The apology concluded with a request for continued viewer engagement and constructive feedback, as well as a renewed commitment to raising awareness about the importance of sign language in bridging communication gaps.

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When the Phone Rings achieves new heights

MBC's When the Phone Rings, starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin, made an impressive debut after its November 22 premiere on MBC and Netflix. The drama quickly climbed to 4th place on Netflix's Global TV (Non-English) chart, garnering 3.3 million views in its first week. This achievement set a new record for the highest first-week viewership for a non-original Netflix drama.

The show's captivating melodrama, and what fans have dubbed a "Wattpad-like chemistry" between the main leads, drew viewers in with just two episodes, making it a strong competitor in the global streaming market. In South Korea, When the Phone Rings also gained significant traction, ranking 2nd in Good Data Corporation's K-Content Online Buzzworthiness for the third week of November.

The lead actors, Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin, secured 4th and 5th positions in the performers' chart, following Family by Choice stars Hwang In-youp, Bae Hyun-sung, and Jung Chae-yeon. With both domestic and international audiences captivated, the series is off to a record-breaking start, solidifying its place as one of the most talked-about dramas of the season.

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When the Phone Rings is available on Netflix, with new episodes released every Friday and Saturday.