Perfect Crown director Park Jun-hwa apologized tearfully over public criticism surrounding the work.
Park Jun-hwa, who directed the MBC Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown (abbreviated as Daegunbuin), conducted an interview on the morning of the 19th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At this meeting, he spoke with domestic reporters about the recently concluded drama Daegunbuin.
Perfect Crown is a drama that depicts a fate-breaking, status-overcoming romance between a woman who has everything as a chaebol but whose status is merely commoner, making her irritable, and a man who is the king's son but sadly cannot have anything, set in 21st-century constitutional monarchy Korea. Initially, the drama raised expectations with Byeon Woo-seok, who caused a sensation with Lovely Runner, cast as the male lead, Grand Prince Ian, and singer-actor IU, praised for When Life Gives You Tangerines, cast as the female lead Seong Hee-ju. In response, episode 12 (final episode), which aired on the 16th, ended with a personal best viewership rating of 13.8% (Nielsen Korea nationwide households).
However, controversy over historical distortion erupted in episode 11, which aired on the 15th just before the finale. Grand Prince Ian wore the gu-ryu myeonryugwan, the headgear of a vassal state's official, during the coronation scene and chanted "cheon-se" (long live the emperor), which became the trigger. Within the context of China's historical distortion project Northeast Project, which claims Joseon as its vassal state, the coronation scene in Perfect Crown was interpreted as borrowed and sparked controversy over historical distortion.
At this, Park Jun-hwa began the interview by bowing to the reporters gathered at the scene and offering an apology. He first said, "After all the filming of this drama was finished, I once gave an interview at MBC. I said I hoped this drama would remain a pleasant, happy, healing drama for those who watch it, but in a way we created this uncomfortable situation for you rather than healing, and without excuse I think I bear the greatest responsibility as a representative of the production staff. I apologize to the viewers." He added, "Also, personally, I feel sorry and apologize because it seems I caused hardship rather than compensation for the efforts of the actors who have worked hard to create this drama with me."
In particular, near the end of the interview he even showed tears and added, "Rather than an explanation, I saw an elderly person in an Instagram video watching our drama. In fact, when we were filming I said, 'Isn't this too cheesy? The ball scene is too hard.' Someone's fantasy needs to convey the writer's intent, but might this be a setting that doesn't exist in Korea. I worried that if viewers felt uncomfortable with the dancing and the extending of hands it would be a problem, but the elderly person watched that video and was so happy and pleased. The son beside him asked, 'Is it fun, dad?' and he said, 'It's very fun.' And when Grand Prince Ian proposed to Seong Hee-ju, even when I was filming that episode I found it difficult. The elderly person said the proposal scene was touching, so rather than an explanation I felt sorry for causing discomfort to those who found healing in it. I'm sorry," he added.
(Continued in interview②)<
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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