The Joseon Exorcist brouhaha continues to expand and now it’s roped in a drama that hasn’t even aired yet. K-netizens have set their sights on jTBC period romance drama Snowdrop set 1987 in a university setting. Jung Hae In is a graduate student who stumbles injured into the dorm at a female university and is nursed back to health by sheltered rich girl Jisoo and the two fall in love. Turns out he’s probably a spy for the government (maybe) and netizens are upset about that because they think it’s glorifying the dictatorial government which sent spies to break up student movements during that era when South Korea was fighting to democratize. Netizens think this story set up is putting down the student democracy movement and whitewashing/beautifying the government security bureau and spies, despite the drama not having aired so it’s all conjecture. But it’s enough for jTBC to release a statement that Snowdrop is a black comedy romance set in the 1980’s during the military run South Korean government era and asks that netizens do not take character charts and blurbs on the plot and assume it is putting down the democracy movement and elevating the government perspective during that period. Nevertheless, the network will conduct a fill review of the drama (which is still filming) and remove anything problematic. So this is what self-censorship looks like, and with it goes creativity and growth through differences in opinion.
So I suggest keeping expectations low for this drama, despite the fan love for the…
So this is the drama trolly producer Yu Zheng recently praised as better than Goblin…
So the most recent casting for this drama is now confirmed as the final selection…
So there is a popularity award in both the film and the television sections of…
I have such a soft spot for C-actress Yang Mi and it just makes me…
So Queen of Tears was filmed in 2023 and wrapped awhile ago so it's not…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
I’m personally horrified reading all of these new reports. Knetizens are unintentionally pushing South Korea into becoming like the countries they’re not fond of including China and North Korea. This censorship is frightening. It’s not even the government but its people that are actively pushing these levels of attacks on freedom of speech. I may not be Korean but it’s doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to comment on these issues. Before a nationality, I’m a human first. We are all part of the human race although sometimes I wish I wasn’t haha Are we really allowing debates on historical accuracies to infringe on the rights of a fellow person to use his or her imagination? It’s not even their intentions to be callous towards anyone. Going after the crew and the acting team is subhuman behavior. Historical so called facts from those periods can’t be 100 percent proven since the records are not complete or detailed. Human first, pride second.
You said my thoughts exactly, South Korea must protect freedom of speech or it will go towards a path of authoritarianism instead of
Democracy.
It may hurt the pride of South Korea but to axe something over historical depiction in a fiction is playing the slippery slope of freedom of speech and expression. The minute you begin to censor things, even if it’s for the greater good, you are killing democracy. You do not want to give that power to just a few but to everyone. America did this by burning books when we wanted to protect religion over our own freedom. We know how dangerous it is to take away a voice, even if it lies, cheats and says things you don’t like. It’s their freedom and it’s your freedom to tune out.
In all fairness I know it’s sensitive subject but there was time to retract, make changes. the advertisers had seen the script beforehand and did not have a problem until it aired. So, something needed to be done in a haste. They could have changed the characters names, made a clearer announcement that this was not to be taken as historical fact. But most importantly, cancel culture is not the answer. Having the conversation is. I hope you will let the actors, crew and director continue to work because other future shows are now in their line of canceling which is censorship and people you do not want that!!!
I completely agree about the slippery slope because where will it end. Everyone should be allowed to express their opinion and artistic imagination in a manner of their choosing as long as it won’t lead to physical harm and everyone is allow to respond and refute back. It’s all about having a conversation but it shouldn’t lead to people being cancelled unless their actions are detrimental and directly harming people.
I agree, they should give the drama a chance to fix themselves rather than hasty cancelling the drama and harming the reputations of many when it was not even their intentions in the first place to hurt anyone.
It’s so easy for people to hide behind anonymous accounts and go after people. Imagine if people try to cancel you for one comment that wasn’t eloquently expressed or taken out of context. Many People sure are lacking empathy and imagination
I remember when knetz look down on China's NRTA censorship and praising South Korea's creative freedom but look at them now. Self-censorship sounds ridiculous but this is literally what they are doing to themselves now (which is worse lol)
This is just too much. Knetz needs to get a life for eff's sake.
Omg. These Knetizen reactions remind me so much of China. They claim to hate China but they're just the same. This is wokeness gone overboard.
I was just about to sayd! If local netizens dont want to support then they dont have to. These materials can be marketed outside of korea. The reason for these content breaking out internationally was because they are creative and thinks out of the box... or shall we now assume this will now cease to be the case? In that case then the popularity they have been experiencing will decline. Really disappoibting news.
I understand if they want to preserve their history but the thing is now these Knetzs are harming their own celebrities and peoples. This drama not only still not on air, it don't show any trailer or official poster to the audiences yet.
I wonder if these Knetz's dramas escalated because of the timing of tense Knetzs vs Cnetzs. If they really care about historical accuracies there will no drama like Queen Seon Duk and Empress Ki in Korea. Not only Empress Ki was aired on public channel and got high ratings, it also won public channel awards back then.
But imagine if Empress Ki airing now. I believe these loud Knetzs will tear down the drama apart huhu
I'm sorry, there was already official poster for Snowdrop but no offical trailer yet.
So will the Korean historical drama inspired by the Chinese historical drama, The Golden Hairpin continue to filming after they secured the main casts? The Knetzs wouldn't be happy you know.
They've even gotten Mr. Queen removed from streaming platforms.
Aside from Snowdrop, others on the hitlist are The Golden Hairpin, My Roommate Is A Gumiho, Tale of Secret Royal Inspector & Joy, Jirisan, When The Day Breaks/Until The Morning Comes and counting. The non-historicals in the list are accused of being funded by Chinese investment or so.
Meh this drama will flop for jung hae in doesn't have charisma and star power to bring rating.
This kind of news is depressing. A drama which has not started airing is already being targeted. I heard it already lost one sponsor.
Wow, this craziness from k-netz is entertainment in and of itself. I often hear from koreans living abroad that korea can sometimes be toxic and that everyone takes things too seriously, this is probably an example of what they mean. Just gonna sit here with my popcorn and watch if any of the creatives will eventually push back lol. Must be so stifling to be an artist there and not have full creative freedom, always in fear of 'the mob' (good title for a kdrama I might say). I hope this mob has just been extra antsy due to the stress from the pandemic and that they will eventually calm down.
There are so many historical dramas that needs to be reviewed before releasing. I am hoping TGH, EunBin’s drama, and Hong Chun Gi will go well. I read somewhere that HCG teasers are all put on private but maybe they are going to reedit some parts especially I noticed that Ahn Hyo Seop’s clothes does not look like it is from Joseon era. It looks like from the three kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, or Silla). It’s my first time also seeing a noble man in Joseon with his hair down. Aren’t they mostly tied and partnered with a hanbok hat? Though they are very creative with their costume but JE also faced the same problem since their era is in Joseon and not before Joseon. But I hope netizens would not make this of big deal since it is a fantasy themed drama and not using any historical figures.
I don't know what to say. But after I saw this article, I opened my mind about this case.
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/03/the-story-of-the-real-life-student-protestor-chun-young-cho-who-inspired-jisoos-character-young-cho-in-snow-drop-garners-attention-in-midst-of-drama-boycott
Wow!
Probably now non-koreans will understand better why koreans reacted the way they do.
Thanks for sharing.
The story should make it 100% fiction without using real people name lol.
They should make the story ambiguous based on alternate reality like Kingdom.
Jirisan (English title: Cliffhanger), a modern drama from the same screenwriter of Korean historical movie, Kingdom, also among other Korean dramas that caused public's concern.
This drama is a modern drama and not using any real historical figures, not an adaptation or remake from any Chinese dramas but it still on the observation list because according to source it has Chinese investment or something like that.
So I don't think many Korean dramas will survive if this newly formed of Knetzs censorship continue LOL
https://twitter.com/kdramacasting/status/1375088890004992001