Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil cut from ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ — was it due to political stance?
Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil / Newsis
Popular Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil was initially included in Netflix’s hit series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," but all of his scenes were ultimately cut from the final version, sparking speculation that his outspoken political activity played a role in the decision.
According to multiple online communities on Thursday, Jeon was supposed to have a cameo in the drama and had confirmed his participation two years ago on a Korean history exam forum he operates. However, he is nowhere to be seen in the released episodes, prompting viewers to question what happened.
Fans of the drama speculated that Jeon would appear in Act 4 of the series, particularly during scenes involving the online lecture company founded by the character Geum-myung, played by IU. Instead, another actor appears in that segment. It remains unclear when Netflix reshot the scenes or discarded Jeon’s original footage.
Some online users believe that Jeon’s increasingly political image might have made his appearance problematic for the production team. After President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, Jeon has publicly supported the president and participated in right-wing rallies, opposing calls for impeachment. He has also been active in political campaigns, including promoting candidates from the ruling People Power Party during by-elections on Wednesday.
A scene from "When Life Gives You Tangerines" / Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix confirmed that Jeon did make an appearance in "When Life Gives You Tangerines" but denied the edits were politically motivated. "Jeon was cast in a cameo role, but various edits and reshoots were carried out to enhance the overall quality of the show," a Netflix representative said.
Despite Netflix’s explanation, progressive online forums such as Bobaedream have been critical of Jeon. “If Jeon had appeared, the show’s quality would have plummeted. It would’ve been ‘When Life Gives You Cancellations’ instead of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines,’” one commenter said.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.