After the drama “Joseon Exorcist” was cancelled due to accusations of history distortion, Koreans are setting their sights on stopping the filming of an upcoming drama starring actor Jung Hae-in and K-pop group BLACKPINK’s Jisoo.
As of March 28, 105,053 Koreans have signed a petition filed on the website of the Office of Korean President Moon Jae-in demanding that the filming of “Snowdrop” starring Jung and Jisoo be stopped.
“Snowdrop” is set in Seoul in 1987, a historical year for student activism and pro-democracy movement in South Korea.
During that year, students protested against the government after the torture and killing of activist and college student Park Jong-chol. He was arrested by authorities on Jan. 13, 1987 and was subjected to torture including waterboarding. Koreans also demanded the government to hold a direct presidential election.
“Snowdrop” is a drama by TV channel JTBC. Jung Hae-in will essay the role of Im Soo-ho, a graduate student who, covered in blood, goes into a women’s university dormitory. Jisoo, playing the role of Eun Youngh-cho, a college student, takes him in and hides him from the authorities, and falls in love with him.
The drama is currently being filmed and the airing is set in the second half of the year but it has already received backlash.
In the online petition, it was pointed out that despite it was proven that there was no involvement of North Korea in South Korea’s democracy movement, it claims that the drama features a spy as a main character.
It added that characters are trying to glorify the former Agency for National Security Planning, which was linked to the torture and killing of people under the name of the government.
As response to the ongoing criticisms, JTBC issued a statement to say that “Snowdrop” is not a drama “that disparages the pro-democracy movement and glorifies the Agency for National Security Planning and spies.”
It said “Snowdrop” is a black comedy that satirizes the state of the presidential election against a backdrop of a military regime in the 1980s and it is also a melodrama of young men and women who became victims at the time.
Meanwhile, the “Snowdrop” gallery on the Korean community website DC Inside released a statement demanding the cancellation of the airing of the drama, saying JTBC’s explanation is a vague excuse.
It said that it is a historical fact that many student activists in Korea were accused of being spies and were unjustly tortured and killed.
The statement also asked for clarification if the male lead in the drama is a spy and if the storyline contains elements that glorify spying.
It added that distortion of history and worsening the meaning of democracy in any way should not happen.
“We request the production team of the JTBC drama ‘Snowdrop’ to express a clear position and we strongly urge to cancel the airing,” according to the statement.