"Perfect Crown" has continued to draw heated criticism even a week after its finale. A national petition demanding the disposal of the work as a "history-distorting drama" has appeared and has met the threshold for referral to a standing committee of the National Assembly. Amid ongoing public criticism, we examined the debates surrounding the work.
# 'Perfect Crown' history distortion vs. factual errors
This morning (26th), the petition titled "Request to suspend broadcasting of history-distorting, Northeast Project controversy drama and to dispose of content on media platforms" posted on the National Assembly e-petition website's public consent board surpassed 50,000 endorsements. The petition, posted on the 22nd, met the National Assembly standing committee referral requirement of "50,000 endorsements within 30 days" in just four days, well ahead of schedule.
The subject of controversy is the recently concluded MBC Friday-Saturday drama "Perfect Crown" (abbreviated as Daegunbuin). "Daegunbuin" ended on the 16th after 12 episodes. The drama ended amid intense interest, recording its personal best rating of 13.8% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide households) in the final episode, but after the finale it became embroiled in controversy over historical distortion.
The fiercest criticism focused on the coronation scene that closed episode 11 of "Daegunbuin." In that scene, the male lead Grand Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok) received the throne from a young nephew and at the coronation wore a gu-ryu myeonryugwan and was honored with the shout "cheon-se cheon-se cheon-cheon-se." Some Chinese internet users claimed this was evidence that Joseon was a vassal state subservient to China. Critics said "Daegunbuin" provided a pretext for China's Northeast Project, an attempt to distort history, and strong criticism followed, even escalating to demands for disposal.
# Korean drama providing a pretext for the Northeast Project...absolutely unacceptable
The criticism of "Daegunbuin" was not driven only by internet users. Experts joined the criticism, including the cyber diplomatic mission VANK, history lecturer Choi Tae-sung, who is active as a top Korean history instructor, and Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University regarded as a Korean public relations expert.
What they most objected to was the episode 11 ending. The gu-ryu myeonryugwan and the shout "cheon-se cheon-se cheon-cheon-se" were used by vassal states rather than imperial countries, and thus there was no need for them to appear in "Daegunbuin," which is set in the fictional constitutional monarchy of Joseon. Since imperial states used the sip-i-ryu myeonryugwan and the shout "man-se man-se man-man-se," many critics say it would have been more appropriate for "Daegunbuin," set in a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy Joseon, to adopt those settings instead.
Above all, many of those criticizing "Daegunbuin" are outraged that scenes from the work were exploited by internet users steeped in China's Northeast Project. In addition, early settings in "Daegunbuin" were criticized for differing from actual Joseon: a regency carried out by the grand prince rather than the queen dowager, high offices such as prime minister becoming hereditary, and the yangban status, once earned through merit and service in the past, remaining solely as a hereditary nobility. The drama's major settings were depicted differently from actual Joseon, and the fact that a Korean drama needlessly provided a pretext is the most enraging point.
# Many setting collapses but...calling for disposal of a "fictional" setting is harsh
Of course, there are also defenses of "Daegunbuin." Immediately, the fandoms of lead actors Byeon Woo-seok and IU mobilized. They opposed the disposal of works featuring their beloved stars and posted "oppose disposal" messages on the official website. However, some fandom members sent malicious comments and opposing messages to history lecturer Choi Tae-sung's criticism of "Daegunbuin," causing controversy. As a result, Choi Tae-sung even apologized, saying he did not intend to target the actors of "Daegunbuin," which only poured fuel on the fires of criticism against the work.
A minority of internet users cautioned against overreacting to China's Northeast Project. Given that the "Daegunbuin" production team said they followed expert advice for the coronation scene, it is possible that in the Joseon dynasty a gu-ryu myeonryugwan was worn and the shout "cheon-se cheon-se cheon-cheon-se" was used; that does not prove Joseon was a vassal state subservient to China. On the contrary, Joseon maintained national sovereignty as an independent state while practicing tributary diplomacy for practical reasons, so the priority should be to guard against China's Northeast Project that spreads a distorted historical view rather than excessively criticizing "Daegunbuin" and playing into Chinese internet users' hands.
Industry insiders are viewing demands for disposal of "Daegunbuin" more cautiously. An official at an integrated entertainment company told OSEN, "It is natural that all creators should heed viewers' critical opinions if there are many gaps in the settings of 'Daegunbuin' or criticism of the work. Still, despite the controversy, it is a work that exceeded 10% in ratings. That is not an easy achievement in today's broadcasting slump, and I heard its global OTT performance was also good. If the work is entirely disposed of after its finale, the production environment will be significantly constrained going forward," the official said cautiously.
Another broadcasting official said, "The Northeast Project reaction from Chinese internet users was an unforeseen variable for any production team. Of course I think it is wrong to assert such distorted historical views. What sane Korean would make such claims? Yet if the conclusion becomes to dispose of the work rather than protest distorted historical claims overseas, then no matter how fictional or fantasy it is, can domestic producers continue to make historical dramas?" the official said with regret.
# MBC reedited the coronation scene...will create a verification system
Amid the controversy, MBC has maintained a cautious stance. However, Byeon Woo-seok and IU each issued apologies on their personal social media, director Park Jun-hwa apologized in an interview with tears, writer Yoo Ji-won posted an apology on the official website, and the production team also issued an apology. MBC had previously criticized SBS's drama Joseon Exorcist, which faced similar historical controversy, for early termination and disposal and even covered it on its main news, so the broadcaster is being accused of hypocrisy.
The most controversial episode 11 ending was reedited and deleted. Initially, the production muted the "cheon-se cheon-se cheon-cheon-se" scene immediately after episode 11 aired and presented the edited version from rebroadcasts, applying the change across OTT platforms. But as controversy continued after the finale, the episode 11 ending coronation scene was ultimately completely removed in a reedit. On the 26th an MBC official told OSEN, "As of today, it has been confirmed that the scene was edited on all platforms."
Regarding the disposal petition, an MBC official told OSEN cautiously, "We are in the process of internally judging and evaluating Perfect Crown." The official added, "MBC will create a verification system when producing content that deals with history at the company level going forward." The broadcaster appears to be monitoring the controversy and continuing internal discussions. Meanwhile, the controversy over "Daegunbuin" has reached the National Assembly standing committee. Attention is focused on whether "Daegunbuin" will continue to exist.
[Photos] OSEN DB and provided by MBC.
[OSEN]