"Perfect Crown" continues to be embroiled in controversy over historical distortion even after its finale, and the Korea Media and Communications Commission has raised the possibility of recovering government subsidies.
On the 19th, the Korea Media and Communications Commission (abbreviated KMCC) said it is examining the legal possibility of reclaiming government subsidies for the recently concluded MBC Friday-Saturday drama "Perfect Crown."
"Perfect Crown" is a drama that depicts a destiny-forging, status-breaking romance between a woman who is a chaebol with everything but is irritatingly of commoner status and a sad man who is the king's son but can have nothing, set in a 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea. On the 16th, episode 12 (the final episode) recorded its highest rating of 13.8% (Nielsen Korea nationwide households) and ended amid much discussion.
However, the drama still draws heated attention because of a controversy over historical distortion that erupted near the end of the series. In episode 11, aired on the 15th, the scene of the male lead Iaan Daegun (Byeon Woo-seok)'s coronation depicted the new king of the fictional constitutional monarchy Joseon wearing a gu-ryu-myeon-ryu-gwan and being addressed by attendees with the word "cheonse".
The gu-ryu-myeon-ryu-gwan and "cheonse" are headgear and expressions used by the rulers of vassal states of the Chinese imperial system. Nevertheless, despite claiming a fictional constitutional monarchy, episode 11 of "Perfect Crown" has been used by some Chinese internet users to push a Northeast Project narrative that Joseon was once a vassal state of China, alleging historical distortion.
In response, the cyber diplomatic mission VANK, popular Korean history lecturer Choi Tae-seong, Korean public relations expert Seo Kyoung-duk and Sungshin Women's University professor Seo Kyoung-duk criticized "Perfect Crown" for its careless scene composition. Even if the gu-ryu-myeon-ryu-gwan and "cheonse" were used in actual Joseon monarchs' coronations, Joseon was not a vassal state of China, and it enjoyed de facto sovereign authority while adopting a policy of tributary diplomacy as a diplomatic formality. That background knowledge was missing from the drama, and some scenes resulting from "Perfect Crown"'s setting errors provided fodder for Chinese historical distortion.
Nonetheless, last month "Perfect Crown" participated in an investment briefing as a project in the overseas distribution support program promoted by the KMCC and the Korea Communications Agency at the Cannes Series Festival in France. The question of whether government subsidies for that is recoverable is now being discussed.
However, the KMCC says the government support in question was likely not simple production funding but reimbursement for costs related to opportunities and showcase participation at Cannes. Even so, it said it would internally examine the legal possibility of recovery.
In addition, the need has been raised for verification and review work even for fictional historical settings. Attention remains focused on developments surrounding the work even after "Perfect Crown" ended. <
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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