A National Assembly public consent petition demanding the suspension of airing and the disposal of content for the drama "21st-century Daegunbuin" is on the verge of reaching 50,000 signatures, the threshold for referral to a standing committee.
As of the 26th, according to the National Assembly public consent petition board, the petition titled "Petition to request suspension of airing of the drama at the center of controversy over historical distortion and the Northeast Project, and disposal of the content on media platforms" had obtained around 49,000 consents as of that day.
The petition, made public on the 22nd, quickly gained support. It surpassed 20,000 in two days after publication, approached 30,000 on the third day and 40,000 on the fourth day, and continued to spread.
The petitioner emphasized that the drama, while set in a fictional Republic of Korea, used Chinese-style attire, etiquette, and vocabulary, triggering allegations of historical distortion and the Northeast Project.
In particular, the enthronement scene in episode 11, aired on the 15th, became the center of controversy. When the scene showed Grand Prince Ian wearing a guryumyeonryugwan and retainers shouting "cheonse cheonse cheoncheonse," some viewers objected, asking whether it depicted Joseon as a vassal state.
As the controversy grew, the production team issued an apology and said it would edit the audio and subtitles of the scene in reruns and on OTT services. Afterward, director Park Jun-hwa, writer Yoo Ji-won, and lead actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok also apologized, and MBC said it would delete the problematic scene.
If a public consent petition gains more than 50,000 consents within 30 days of disclosure, it is referred to the National Assembly's relevant standing committee. The consent deadline for this petition is June 21.