My Bias is Showing (2025)

My Bias is Showing, a Korean BL, directed by Baek Min Hee, tells the story of Ae Jun, a new short-term contract teacher who is a secret fanboy of the group A1.  Ae Jun hides the fanboy side of himself out of fear of ridicule from his colleagues, boss, and students at the high school where he teaches.  One day, his bias, Choi Si Yeol, a K-pop term for one’s favorite member of a group, appears before his eyes at school.  Apparently, the company that manages A1 is set to film a reality variety show around Choi Si Yeol learning the ins and outs of high school teaching life from a member of their high school. He picks Ae Jun to be his mentor, despite Ae Jun being the youngest and most inexperienced among the staff.

bias | ˈbaɪ.əs | noun
1. (in KPOP and Asian BL fandoms) One’s favorite member of a musical group or actor in a series; the person to whom one is most drawn and whom one supports most enthusiastically.
“Hyunjun is my bias in Stray Kids.”
“Who’s your bias in BLACKPINK?”
2. (possessive form: “my bias”) Used to indicate personal preference and attachment.
“My bias looked incredible in that performance.”
Related terms:
bias wrecker (noun): A member or actor who threatens to supplant one’s established bias by repeatedly attracting attention or admiration.
Etymology: Borrowed from standard English “bias” (preference, inclination), repurposed within Korean pop culture fandoms to denote one’s favored individual within a group context. The term gained widespread use in International KPOP communities in the 2010s, and Asian BLs in 2020s.
Usage note: Typically used with possessive determiners (“my,” “your,” “her”) to emphasize the personal nature of the preference.

This BL merged my two current passions, BL and K-pop. K-pop idol Kevin plays the role of Na Ae Jun.  Kevin (Park Jin Woo) is a former member of ENOi and current member of OMEGA X.  Byun Hyun, who plays Yeon Ju Ha, a side character, belonged to the idol group Teen Top and is currently focused on acting. Han Jung-hoon, who plays JJ, was part of ENOi and is now a member of OMEGA X. He and Kevin belong to the same agency and group.

Having current idols and former idols in the show gives the plot a bit more authenticity. Although they may not be experienced actors, they are deeply familiar with idol culture. But realistically speaking, it’s a script, so despite their knowledge, it may be challenging to gain any real insight into the lives of idols; BL is, after all, fantasy. However, I do hope that if they felt something was too far removed from idol life and culture, they would have broached the subject to the director to ask for changes. Then again, it’s their job as actors to adhere to the script and the director’s vision for the series.

Cast:

Kim Kang Min as Choi Si Yeol

Kevin (Park Jin Woo) as Ae Jun

Lee Byung Hun as Yeon Ju Ha

Han Jung Hoon as JJ [A-One member]

Min Yu Jun as Kyu Tae [A-One member]

Synopsis: (courtesy mydramalist.com)

When high school teacher Na Ae Joon shows up for work on an ordinary day, he never expects to bump into his favourite celebrity in the hallway. But when his school becomes a filming location for a show starring Choi Si Yeol, his bias from the idol group A-One, that’s exactly what happens! If that’s not enough to give a fanboy a heart attack, Si Yeol takes an interest in Ae Joon and asks him to join the show as his “co-teacher.”   Desperate to keep his fan life a secret, Ae Joon is forced to put his acting skills to the test, and not just on camera. But as he spends more and more time with Si Yeol, the deception becomes harder to keep up. Not to mention, he might not be the only one keeping secrets… (Source: tappytoon.com) ~~ Adapted from the webtoon “My Bias Is Showing?!” (최애가 나타났다?!) written by Nabit (나빛) and illustrated by Eol (얼).

Thoughts:

This is a lighthearted series, so if you need something to watch to pass the time, this is a good choice. In the beginning, Kevin’s performance of Ae Joon is stiff, while Kang Min’s acting experience is easy to spot. His portrayal of Si Yeol is believable. However, as the episodes progress, I found myself falling for the slightly awkward fanboy Ae Joon.  The more he fanboys at home, the more I relate to him. 😁

The plot is not complex, but that’s not why you would watch the show in the first place. The actors are cute, their chemistry is good, and it makes you smile.

They touch lightly on issues idols have within the lighthearted framework of the story. While I wish to see more of the grittiness of these issues, it wouldn’t work in this BL. The show hints at eating issues, which is believable because idols are often put on a strict diet, especially if they are going to appear on camera. Si Yeol also struggles with being constantly “on” in front of fans, facing their expectations as if he owes them everything. The public’s and fans’ criticism and harsh words strike him deeply, resonating with his own insecurities.  He is treated as a commodity and an object, not a person. This is something I’ve seen from a fan’s perspective. Idols are constantly told they must be grateful to their fans, for without the fans, they are nothing; they are not valuable if they don’t have the fans’ love.

If I have one complaint about the character of Ae Joon, it’s that he lacks depth.  He has insecurities related to his inability to secure a teaching position. He finds A1 and Si Yeol to help him through his hard times and depression.  I find this very reasonable, as I’ve seen so much of this from the fan side of idol culture. These idols, due to the nature of the parasocial relationship, open up and encourage fans to overcome obstacles and tough times. I feel that Western artists focus on their music, while touring and doing other activities, they don’t really get close to their fans. K-pop idols hold fan meetings, fan signs, and create numerous social media posts where they engage with their fans, fostering a relationship that validates both parties.

The side characters also touch on issues that idols deal with, such as the lack of privacy due to paparazzi constantly hounding them. Most idols must appear single, even if they are in a relationship, because showing a healthy relationship can end their idol career. I’ve seen idols whose pre-debut relationships have become public, facing backlash from territorial and very possessive fans.  There are funeral wreaths with the idol’s name on them sent to the company, and trucks with writing on the side parked in front of the agency, calling for the idol to get fired. So the fact that Kyeu Sung protects Ju Ha by distancing himself is also a sad reality, at least in the public eye, of idols.

In the end, this series is not a deep dive into the world of K-pop or idol culture. My Bias is Showing does what it sets out to do: entertain us.  We smile as we watch the story unfold.  I only wish we could have had more music in the series. I would love for the music to pull me into the story, like the gay, live-action version of K-pop Demon Hunters, lol.

For the missed opportunity, I will give it a:

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]