9 Popular Korean Dramas & Movies That Were Embroiled In Controversies; On Netflix, Amazon Prime Video & More
Korean dramas or movies rarely create controversy. But when they did, they unleashed a storm. Korean audiences are apologetic and expressive things that don't suit them. Korean manufacturers are therefore careful about the content they create. However, every now and then there are K-dramas or movies that create controversy. Although they are rarely banned, they are removed from the network in special cases. For example, one of the most controversial Korean dramas of the past, Joseon Exorcist . The supernatural thriller was canceled after just two episodes.
The K-drama completed 80% of its filming, but had to be canceled due to historical distortions and the use of Chinese props. Oh my lady! The nude bathing scene in the first episode surprised the audience. To make matters worse, the authors used a peach emoji (ahem) to censor the "you know"! Audiences also take the actors' off-screen behavior seriously; Exhaustion of the power of public appeal. Similar to what happened with Dear M due to actress Park Hae-soo's school violence scandal , which was postponed indefinitely. This was followed by the popular Korean film The Handmaiden , about Kim Min Hee's homosexuality and relationship issues with guest director Hong Sang-soo during filming. Some popular Korean dramas and movies have made headlines for different reasons. Here are a few:
1. Stupid - Netflix
Starring goblin actor Gon Yu, the film is based on the controversial novel The Crucible . The film chronicles nearly five years of horrific events at Inhwa School in Guangzhou, where deaf students were physically and sexually abused by teachers and school staff. The film sparked public outrage as it showed teachers being dropped with a minimum sentence in court. A petition from a passerby allowed the case to be reopened and the bill was amended to extend the time limit for sex crimes cases.
2. Old Boy - Amazon Prime Video
Starring Choi Min Suk in the lead role, the film sparked controversy in some scenes. The plot basically revolves around a man in prison who is released after a year. Then the search for the culprit began. Blood flows as Choi's character tries to find the prisoner. The climax is the most controversial and includes a scene where Choi eats a live octopus or cuts out a man's tongue, a physical scene, and more graphic depictions. Although the film did quite well, the controversy refused to die down. Fun Fact: This movie is a cookie-cutter Bollywood movie starring Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham.
3. Snowdrops - Disney+ Hotstar
The web series will feature Jisuke from popular K-pop girl group Blackpink opposite Jung Hee-in. Hae-in plays a North Korean spy assigned to a mission in South Korea who falls in love with a student during the rebellion. The series is set in 1987, one of the most important years in South Korean history when the pro-democracy movement overthrew the dictatorship. K-dramas are hyped for all the right reasons at first, but as they air, they twist historical events to fit the narrative. Doubts have also been raised about fictional real-life agents of the National Security Planning Agency (ANSP), who are said to be aware of many of the agency's exploits.
4. Sir - Netflix, Viki Rakuten
Starring popular South Korean idols IU and Lee Sun-kyun, the film drew public ire due to the age gap between the two. Although the story is about a platonic relationship and how the actors heal each other, the fact that the male lead is in his 40s and IU is still in his 20s didn't sit well with angry viewers. Another scene that drew criticism was when IU was beaten up by a criminal on loan.
5. Guardians: The Lonely and Great God / Goblin - Netflix, Vicki Rakuten, MX Player
Featuring an all-star cast of Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, and Yoo In-na, the story follows a 940-year-old elf (Gong Yoo) as he waits for his bride. The curse is over. of eternity At 19, Ji Eun Tak finds love. This K-drama was full of great performances and interesting stories, but was criticized for the age difference between Gong Yoo and Go Eun.
6. Penthouse 3 - Netflix, Vicki Rakuten, Amazon Prime Video, MX Player
Although the thriller received good reviews internationally, Koreans were upset that the brand was too big. Viewers said it disrupted the flow of the scene and distracted them from the scene. Kal has also been used for cultural purposes. The season introduces a new American character. However, the appearance (tattoos, facial piercings, tattoos) and the way the characters are presented are not liked by the public. Actor Park Yoon-seok, who played the character, apologized after the criticism. The drama was criticized for inappropriately using news footage and footage from the 2017 Pohang earthquake and the 2021 Guangzhou building collapse. Officials apologized to the victims and their families. families for this unfortunate incident and scenario. . has been removed.
7. Twenty Five Twenty One - Netflix
The show is one of the most popular Korean dramas of 2022 starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk. Although both actors were praised for their performances, the show remained focused on depicting love between adults and teenagers. While the four-year age difference isn't very obvious, it's Tae-ri's (immature) demeanor and Joo-hyuk's (mature) demeanor that don't resonate with the audience.
8. River Where The Moon Rises - Vicky Rakuten
This historical K-drama was supposed to star Ji Soo as the male lead. However, after filming 90% of the series, the creators had to resume the drama with a new actress after Ji Soo caused controversy. He was accused of harassing classmates with an air gun and throwing food. Although she apologized on social media, the managers chose to leave Queen Na in favor of actor Mr. In-woo . Despite the controversy, the show ended in style.
9. Newcomer Backstreet - Netflix, Vicky Rakuten
Korea's Communications Regulatory Commission, led by Hallyu stars Ji Chang-wook and Kim Yoo-jung, received nearly 6,000 complaints after the first episode aired. Complaints from viewers included the sensational and grossly inappropriate scenes. The drama is based on the R-rated webtoon and the creators promised that the drama would be a family watch when the titles were first released. However, the first episode set the tone for the rest of the episode and viewers wasted no time in expressing their displeasure.
