Mohd Apandi Mohamad said there were many other factors that lead to suicides and that he was not singling out such shows in particular.

“I am not saying Korean films or dramas trigger suicides, but they play a part.

“These shows, especially serials, are popular and could influence (their audience),” he told FMT.

Apandi went on to say that he did not expect that his concerns over Korean dramas would spark criticism, adding that there were programmes from the nation that made for excellent viewing.

“They have some good dramas.”

Apandi also said that parents played a crucial role in monitoring programmes their children, especially teens watch.

“There has to be some filtering by parents.”

Yesterday, Apandi was reported to have told the Dewan Negara that almost every South Korean film or drama incorporated elements of suicide, while Malaysian teens were too influenced by these shows.

He said many of the teens who took their own lives were “too influenced by films and dramas from Korea.”

This led to some netizens branding him a joke, while Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said Apandi was “oversimplifying and downplaying the issue without addressing the root problem and providing the necessary support.”