Webtoon 'I Love an Elementary School Student' Pulled from Major Platforms Amid Controversy

The webtoon 'I Love an Elementary School Student' has been removed from major online platforms following significant controversy surrounding its themes. As of July 4, 2025, platforms such as Naver Series, KakaoPage, Kyobo Bookstore, and Ridibooks have ceased offering the webtoon after receiving numerous complaints. A search for the title now yields no results on these platforms.
The storyline revolves around a female elementary school teacher who develops feelings for a user she meets in a game, only to discover that the user is actually her student. This webtoon, which ran from 2015 to 2020, had previously sparked debates over issues of pedophilia and grooming.
The situation escalated recently with news of a potential drama adaptation, prompting backlash from educational organizations. The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations issued a statement on July 1, condemning the narrative as a glorification of grooming crimes, stating, "The story that exploits a teacher's position to develop personal feelings with a minor is not something that can be dismissed as romance or fantasy."
They further criticized the material for tarnishing the reputation of dedicated educators and fostering distrust within the teaching community, emphasizing that it undermines the foundational trust between teachers, students, and parents.
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