Korean Canneseries Title ‘S Line’ Explores Sexual Boundaries and Voyeurism: ‘We Zeroed in on the Specific Situations That Can Trigger Shame’

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At Canneseries Season 8, held from April 24th, South Korea’s Sidus unveiled their boundary-breaking supernatural thriller “S Line” on the global stage for the first time, showcasing its initial two episodes.

The six-part television series, conceived and filmed by Handae Rhee and jointly developed and helmed by Jooyoung Ahn, delves into an intriguing concept: What if the bonds of sexual intimacy between individuals manifested as visible red cords? As eyewear capable of exposing these private ties falls into the wrong hands, a whirlwind of chaos occurs as personal privacy turns into a publicly accessible item.

10 years ago, we began creating ‘S Line’. The initial webcomic took us by surprise, feeling like a jolt of electricity, explains Rhee, who is the executive producer at Sidus. When the hidden S lines become apparent, one single revelation sets off chaos for an individual, a family, and eventually, society as a whole.

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In 2011, we initiated ‘S Line’ development. The first webcomic hit us like a bolt of electricity, recounts Rhee, who is the executive producer at Sidus. As the concealed S lines come to light, one single truth unveils turmoil for an individual, a family, and eventually society itself.

The much-delayed project finally comes to light as Rhee acknowledges that the show has encountered multiple hurdles throughout its 10-year development process. “I’m still trying to find suitable platforms,” Rhee says, “because the series isn’t a conventional romantic tale or a joyful conclusion; it’s intentionally divisive.

Director Ahn, along with Hogil Hwang and Joonhyun Kim, reworked the original webcomic substantially. Instead of presenting a universe where everyone experiences sexual links, the series is set as a prelude where only individuals donning special spectacles can observe these connections.

Co-writer Hwang explains that while maintaining the original concept, we decided to concentrate on a single character’s inner experiences to create a more concentrated and impactful narrative. The main challenge for us was identifying which character should possess the glasses to keep viewers engaged throughout the entire storyline.

This series features Soohyuk Lee portraying detective Han Ji-wook, K-pop sensation Arin (from the group Oh My Girl) as Hyun-heup – a character who has an innate ability to perceive S lines, and Dahee Lee. The narrative blends elements of the supernatural with traditional detective plotlines.

Actor Soohyuk Lee elaborates that in the ‘S Line’ world, he perceived the red threads as representations of each character’s deepest personality traits and yearnings. Given that the role I am playing is pursuing the truth about the S lines, my character sees everything through a detached, logical perspective.

For Arin, depicting her character proved to be quite intriguing due to its unusual aspects: “I needed to convey feelings seldom spoken aloud, so I focused on nuanced facial expressions and actions that hint at either concealing or revealing emotions.

Ahn argues that instead of being the main focus, sexuality serves as a tool or catalyst within the series. He explains that if sex was given prominence, the message intended would become blurred. “We chose to use sex and its implications as a plot device, or a MacGuffin,” he says. Since attitudes towards shame and surveillance differ across cultures and generations, Ahn approached these themes with an inclusive perspective. He believes that sexuality is a natural instinct and unless it goes against societal norms, there’s no inherent reason for feeling ashamed. Therefore, the series concentrates on instances that can cause feelings of shame, environments that foster them, and importantly, individuals who try to take advantage of such situations.

The series is inspired by East Asian legends of destiny’s red threads, yet reimagines this idea for today’s digital era. Ahn explains, “I think intangible S lines are all around us. Just consider the myriad connections we create daily on the internet.” He continues, “It isn’t a physical string you can feel; it’s a bond you can remove or create on demand, reveal when it’s not present, or conceal even when it is – much like the flexible, continually changing bonds that interweave the digital world.

Creating a visually appealing representation for these connections wasn’t without difficulties. As Rhee points out, the main struggle was not so much about the technical aspects but more about finding the right visual style for the S lines on screen that would be budget-friendly.

In a nutshell, Joonhyun Kim, another contributor, encapsulates the central theme of the series: “Individuals have unique sexual preferences and inclinations, but very few express them freely. Interestingly, we feign indifference while secretly showing great interest in others’ intimate sexual lives.

Regardless of its Korean roots and cultural nuances, Rhee asserts that “S Line” transcends regional boundaries due to its focus on universal themes such as human desires and conflicts: “While ‘S Line’ is a Korean production, it delves into fundamental human struggles, making it universally relatable to audiences worldwide.

At the upcoming premiere of Canneseries, it’s anticipated that director Jooyoung Ahn along with actors Lee Soo Hyuk, Arin, Eunsaem Lee, and Nam Kyu Hee will make an appearance.

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2025-04-25 16:16