The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sun, July 3, 2022 | 16:59
JTBC drama facing pre-release backlash
Posted : 2021-03-28 15:34
Updated : 2021-03-29 10:29
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Park Ji-won

                                                                                                Poster for JTBC TV series 'Snowdrop' / Courtesy of JTBC
Poster for JTBC TV series "Snowdrop" / Courtesy of JTBC
JTBC's upcoming TV series "Snowdrop" has also faced a backlash from audiences for allegedly distorting history, following a similar controversy over SBS' "Joseon Exorcist."

Some reacted furiously about the forthcoming drama after its synopsis was leaked online. According to leaked information, the drama, set in Korea gripped by pro-democracy protests in the 1980s, tells the story of love between a North Korean agent and a female South Korean college student.

Their discontent comes from lead characters. Suho, played by Jung Hae-in, is a pro-democracy student activist who turns out to be a North Korean agent who infiltrates South Korea to instigate chaos and political instability, during which he falls in love with the other lead role Young-cho (BLACKPINK's Jisoo). People reacted poorly to the way the male character is described and claim the plot is an apologism for the South Korean spy agency, which had tortured and even killed student activists at the time.

Tens of thousands of people left comments on the network's website, calling for the cancellation of the series claiming that it distorts the history of the democratic movement of South Korea by including false information.

"There are still victims out there who are suffering from the torture done by the spy agency and they are fighting for their honor and compensation. The drama is mocking history and democracy. Stop the production of the series and apologize," someone surnamed Yoon commented.

A petition was also submitted to the presidential office calling for a halt to the series' production and its cancellation, already attracting more than 92,000 votes.

"History proved that there was no North Korean involvement in the democracy movement. But the drama adopted a North Korean spy as a lead role. It is also trying to defend the spy agency which tortured and killed under the name of the government … The synopsis itself mocks the victims and cannot be approved under the name of the drama … The production of the series should be stopped and canceled," the petition wrote.

Meanwhile, JTBC made a case for the TV series: "The drama is not distorting the pro-democracy movement and beautifying the spy agency. It is a black comedy drama satirizing the political situation between the two Koreas under the authoritarian government back in the 1980s. Also, it is a romance drama showing young people who sacrifice their love."

The controversy came amid the cancellation of SBS' original series "Joseon Exorcist" for allegedly distorting history after releasing its first two episodes. The network canceled the show and discontinued production last week after receiving angry responses from viewers for portraying highly regarded historical figures as incompetent and insane, and using Chinese props and designs for a Korean period setting.
Emailjwpark@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Forum revisits lives of first-generation of Koreans in Hawaii
  • Heatwave alert issued nationwide
  • Korean studies and K-vibe
  • EV fires could hinder transition to eco-friendly vehicles
  • Institutional investors dump Samsung shares amid macroeconomic uncertainty
  • '97 group' lawmakers throw hats into DPK leadership race
  • Russia's messages with missiles tell West to back off
  • Top economic policymakers of Korea, US discuss Russian oil price cap
  • Shifting abortion laws cause confusion for patients, clinics
  • NY overhauls handgun rules in effort to preserve some limits
  • Park Eun-bin plays genius lawyer in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' Park Eun-bin plays genius lawyer in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'
  • 'Top Gun: Maverick' tops local box offices for 9 consecutive days 'Top Gun: Maverick' tops local box offices for 9 consecutive days
  • K-pop group aespa to attend UN meeting on sustainable development K-pop group aespa to attend UN meeting on sustainable development
  • 'Elvis' has a lot in common with K-pop music industry: director Baz Luhrmann 'Elvis' has a lot in common with K-pop music industry: director Baz Luhrmann
  • YG Entertainment founder's younger brother reinstated as co-CEO YG Entertainment founder's younger brother reinstated as co-CEO
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group