The rating for Korean drama “Snowdrop,” starring actor Jung Hae-in and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, increased after recording its lowest rating to date.
According to Nielsen Korea, episode 5 of “Snowdrop” on Dec. 26 got a nationwide rating of 2.751 percent based on pay TV households in South Korea.
This is higher by 1.062 percentage points from 1.689 percent for episode 4 on Dec. 25, which registered the lowest nationwide rating “Snowdrop” to date. “Snowdrop” airs on JTBC, a general programming cable TV channel.
JTBC had a three-day special airing of “Snowdrop” from Dec. 24 to 26 to reverse the Korean public’s opposition to the drama, which has been accused of distorting Korean history, disparaging pro-democracy movement in the country and beautifying the image of North Korean spies and the former Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP), a government agency which was linked to the torture and killings of activists in the past.
Rep. Yang Jeong-sook, a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, disclosed on Dec. 26 that data submitted by the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) on complaints against broadcasting stations and programs from Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 24.
She said that a total of 868 complaints requesting to review “Snowdrop” have been filed with the KCSC to date. The total includes 781 complaints filed against “Snowdrop” in the first three days from Dec. 19 to 21 after the drama premiered on Dec. 18 on JTBC (and streamed on Disney Plus).
"Broadcast programming should ensure the imagination and freedom of broadcasters and producers, but should not provide viewers with information that distorts history," she said.
Regarding accusations of history distortion against “Snowdrop,” she said, “If it turns out to be true, a prompt and objective deliberation by the committee is necessary."
“Snowdrop” premiered on JTBC on Dec. 18. Episode 1 got a rating of 2.985 percent while episode 2 received 3.898 percent.
After the first episode aired, a national petition to stop the airing of “Snowdrop” was filed on Dec. 19 on the website of the office of President Moon Jae-in.
As of 7:45 a.m. (Philippine time) on Dec. 27, the national petition has garnered 351,432 signatures. Under the rules, if a petition reaches 200,000 signatures, government officials and the Blue House (the office of the president) are mandated to make a reply.
In “Snowdrop,” Jung Hae-in plays the role of Im Soo-ho, a 27-year-old graduate student who is a North Korean spy sent to South Korea to do a mission. Jisoo is 20-year-old Eun Young-ro, a college student at Hosoo Women’s University.
They meet during a group blind date after which Eun Young-ro falls in love with him. Six months later, during a mission, a bloodied Im Soo-ho is chased by agents from the ANSP. He climbs into the dormitory room of Eun Young-ro and loses consciousness. She finds him in her room and hides him from ANSP agents.