Editors Note on “Goodbye Miss Ripley” as Public Exposure to “Female Victimization”

Some time ago, when “Goodbye Miss Ripley” first started airing on Mondays and Tuesdays on MBC, I stated that I would write a layman’s critical review of this melodrama at some point in its run. I wanted to do this because “Goodbye Miss Ripley” is based upon a true story. The drama that we are seeing played out actually happened and does happen every day to many people around the world. Even in modern industrial nations that boast of their ‘human rights’ agendas, women, girls, and to a lesser extent, men and boys, are being snatched from the streets; parking lots; school lots; their homes, and other environments to be sold into sex slavery in their own country or other countries. Many are simply taken and imprisoned for the perverted pleasure of one individual person. Some escape or are rescued, some are still in bondage, and some die in their imprisonment. Prostitution, which is fueled by poverty, low self-esteem, and the diverted eyes of authority, still runs rampant in every town.

Some third world countries still have slavery as it has existed, in its original form, throughout the centuries.

Incest and rape exist in large proportions right in victim’s family homes–in places where the right to live peaceably and quietly is expected to be a guarantee. Perversion on the Internet enters many peoples lives either as “entertainment’ or as “fuel” that leads to the abuse of others.

Those of us sitting safely in our homes enjoying “Goodbye Miss Ripley” for the sake of watching a good melodrama, or just supporting Park Yoochun in his work as an actor, cannot imagine the fear and degrading circumstances that these victims face. This is a global tragedy of infinite proportions, and even though “Goodbye Miss Ripley’ is not the atypical Asian drama, it has its place in educating and alerting those who watch it to the tragic results of neglecting and dehumanizing people in our societies. The story line of “Miss Ripley” is built upon the placement of orphans, without proper assessment by professionals of the families adopting, and the situations of adoption.

I sat down to write about this melodrama as a whole, but I find myself more concerned about exploring the reasons behind Miss Ripley’s character. Her inability to trust is what fuels her behavior, with fear as the predominant motivator of her actions. Over time, her survival methods have dulled her conscience to what is right and wrong to the extent that she has no inhibitions against lying, stealing, and using others to achieve her personal goals. She lives in a world of denial, unable to see her own faults and continually blaming others for her crimes. She possesses cunning, another survival instinct, that keeps her ahead of the game.
Miss Ripley does have feelings and desires to live free of poverty as is revealed in her pursuit of first Jang Myeong Hoon, Manager of the Hotel, and then her subsequent pursuit of Song Yuhyun based upon his more elevated status as the Junior CEO of the Conglomerate Mondo Resort Group. She rises to the top by forging her credentials and employing devious methods to achieve her goals. Miss Ripley exploits her lifelong friend from the orphanage by taking everything valuable from her to create value for herself.

As Miss Ripley has unfolded, the intricacy of the characterizations has been impressive. What gives this drama strength is its basis in reality, and the ability of the screenwriters to merge so many personalities in creating such a poignant story. The ending to this melodrama is still yet to come. We wait with bated breath to discover whether the redemption of Miss Ripley’s character is nigh–or will she fall victim once again to those who neglected her earlier in life.

Credit: Momma Cha, MASL @ jyjfantalk.com

Access Translation: 110530 Five Key Reasons Why “Miss Ripley” Should Not Be Missed for another written assessment of “Miss Ripley”. or key in Miss Ripley in the search box for other articles.