Jang Hang-jun's film "The King's Warden" was not found by the court to have plagiarized the drama "Eom Hong-do."
according to legal sources, on the 23rd the bereaved family of the drama "Eom Hong-do" screenwriter filed a request for a provisional injunction to stop screenings against the film "The King's Warden" production companies Onda Works and BA Entertainment and distributor SHOWBOX, which was dismissed. The court said that although there are some similarities in that both works are historical dramas based on real people, it judged that the works' central themes, narrative structures and character settings are essentially different.
In particular, the court noted that while the bereaved family's scenario develops around Confucian loyalty and righteousness, the film depicts how Danjong, Eom Heung-do and the villagers interact, change and grow together as its main content.
The court also found that no evidence had been submitted to establish that Jang Hang-jun had seen the bereaved family's scenario or made the film based on it.
Earlier, the bereaved family had applied for the injunction, claiming that key elements such as the process in which Eom Heung-do acts on Danjong's secret orders, the establishment of a swordsmen organization, and an escape scene were substantially similar to the scenario.
With this decision, the production companies can proceed as planned with screenings on aircraft and ships, OTT services, DVD releases and overseas exports of the film.
[Photo] 'Shotbox'
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