The series received a warning from the Korea Communication Standards Commission over provocative and inappropriate scenes, after over 6000 complaints about the content of the series were filed by viewers.
The series scandalized some viewers in Korea, who complained about the content on social media, to the broadcaster (SBS) and the Korea Communication Standards Commission. While the drama was promoted as a family-oriented, romantic comedy, the visuals were deemed extremely bold for family viewing in Korea, where shows are very conservative when portraying love encounters and adult themes. For example, where in traditional K-drama series, it takes 4-6 episodes before the characters kiss, a kiss is shown in the first episode of this series. Other complaints were that that the female lead character is still in the high-school while the male lead is in his twenties and the male lead character's reaction when he ends up in a sex worker's room. As a result, viewers took to social media and shared their dismay over the first episode and demanded the series' cancellation.
Based on webcomic "Pyeonuijeom Saetbyeoli" written by Hwalhwasan and illustrated by Geumsagong (published from August 11, 2016 to December 8, 2017 via Toptoon/DAYcomics).
First script reading for SBS drama series "Backstreet Rookie" took place around February, 2020 in South Korea.
"Backstreet Rookie" takes over the SBS Fridays & Saturdays 22:00 time slot previously occupied by "The King: Eternal Monarch" and followed by "Alice" on August 28, 2020.