Amid a controversy over historical distortion, the lead actor and director of Perfect Crown apologized while the writer issued the apology last.
On the 19th, the official website of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown posted a message saying, "I am Yu Ji-won, the writer of 'Perfect Crown'."
Writer Yu Ji-won said, "Under the imagination that the Joseon royal family continued firmly into the modern era, I wanted to show our traditions and beauty. However, in the process of applying Joseon court etiquette to the modern era and depicting a fictional modern royal family, there was insufficient thorough research and verification."
She continued, "The scene in the coronation that was criticized for the guryu myeonryugwan and the cheering of chense as if they were the same was my fault for not carefully considering the historical context that should have been taken into account when applying Joseon rituals to the modern era. I also take all the opinions sent by viewers very seriously," and added, "I offer a deep apology once again to everyone who was hurt by the lack of depth in my consideration. I will take to heart the criticism and admonitions sent by viewers, look back on my shortcomings as a writer, and reflect. I am sorry."
Perfect Crown, the MBC Friday-Saturday drama that ended on the 16th with its highest-ever ratings (written by Yu Ji-won, directed by Park Jun-hwa and Bae Hwa-young, planned by Kang Dae-seon, produced by MBC and Kakao Entertainment), was criticized for distorting history in episode 11 when at Prince Ian's (Byeon Woo-seok) coronation, the officials shouted "chense," used by vassal states, instead of "manse," the symbol of a sovereign country, and the king wore a guryu myeonryugwan worn by Chinese officials rather than the sipimyeonryugwan worn by emperors of sovereign states.
Below is the full apology from Perfect Crown writer Yu Ji-won.
Hello. I am Yu Ji-won, the writer who penned the drama Perfect Crown.
I sincerely apologize for disappointing and worrying viewers over the factual verification controversies of Perfect Crown. I am sorry that my cautiousness about possibly causing greater discomfort caused a delay in speaking up, which inconvenienced more people.
Perfect Crown is a romance fantasy drama set in a fictional constitutional monarchy. Under the imagination that the Joseon royal family continued firmly into the modern era, I wanted to show our traditions and beauty. However, in the process of applying Joseon court etiquette to the modern era and depicting a fictional modern royal family, there was insufficient thorough research and verification.
In particular, the guryu myeonryugwan and the scene in which chense was chanted during the coronation, which were criticized, are my fault for not carefully examining the historical context that should have been considered when applying Joseon rituals to the modern era. I also take all the opinions sent by viewers very seriously.
I offer a deep apology once again to everyone who was hurt by the lack of depth in my consideration. I will take to heart the criticism and admonitions sent by viewers, look back on my shortcomings as a writer, and reflect. I am sorry.
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