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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Petition to pull 'Perfect Crown' from streaming platforms surpasses 50,000 signatures

Petition to pull 'Perfect Crown' from streaming platforms surpasses 50,000 signatures

Published May 26, 2026 08:52 am  |  Updated May 26, 2026 04:26 pm
Byeon Woo-seok in episode 11 of "Perfect Crown" (Screenshot from Disney )
Byeon Woo-seok in episode 11 of "Perfect Crown" (Screenshot from Disney )

A petition demanding the suspension and removal of the K-drama Perfect Crown has surpassed 50,000 signatures in South Korea amid allegations of historical distortion and cultural appropriation.

Filed on May 22 through the National Assembly of South Korea petition platform, the campaign has now met the threshold for committee review.

The backlash centers on episode 11 of the series starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, particularly a coronation scene involving Grand Prince I-an. Critics objected to the use of the term “Cheonse,” arguing it framed Korea as a vassal state rather than an independent nation. Petitioners said the production should instead have used “Manse,” a term associated with sovereignty and independence.

Another point of contention was the depiction of a nine-sided crown rather than the twelve-sided imperial crown traditionally associated with an independent monarchy.
"Perfect Crown" (MBC)
Byeon Woo-seok in episode 11 of
Byeon Woo-seok in episode 11 of "Perfect Crown" (Screenshot from Disney )

The show’s leads, IU and Byeon Woo-seok, issued public apologies following the growing backlash, acknowledging the controversy surrounding the coronation scene and the concerns raised by viewers over historical representation. Both actors expressed regret over the distress caused, while the production team pledged post-release corrections to audio and subtitles in response to criticism. However, the apologies did little to ease public outrage, as critics argued that responsibility extended beyond the cast to the writing and production decisions, and that corrective edits after global distribution were insufficient to undo the perceived historical inaccuracies already circulated online.

Petitioners argued that the drama’s global release on streaming platforms intensified the impact of the alleged inaccuracies, warning that distorted portrayals of Korean history and symbols could spread internationally in real time. Although the production team pledged to revise audio and subtitles after criticism emerged, opponents said the response was insufficient given that the episode had already circulated worldwide.

The petition is urging the Korea Communications Standards Commission and related agencies to halt the drama’s broadcast and remove it from all VOD and OTT platforms. It also calls for long-term penalties against production companies accused of undermining Korean cultural identity through historical distortion.

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