TV
I explained the cultural distortion controversy... Why sharp criticism continues
According to FlixPatrol, an online video streaming service ranking aggregation site on the 11th, 'King the Land', which is currently airing, was ranked 4th on Netflix's top TV programs. According to Nielsen Korea, an audience rating research company, the 8th episode of 'King the Land' recorded a viewership rating of 12.3%, breaking its own record.
'King the Land', with Lee Jun-ho and Lim Yoon-ah's romantic comedy at the forefront, is on the rise in popularity but has hit a rock bottom. It is because of the 7th and 8th episodes of 'King the Land', which were broadcast on the 8th and 9th. In 'King the Land', which was broadcast that day, the Arab prince Samir (played by Anupam Tripathi) appeared.
Samir, who visited Korea, ended up staying at the King Hotel. He expressed interest in Cheoncheon-rang (played by Im Yoon-ah). In particular, Samir, an Arab prince, was surrounded by women at a bar, receiving phone calls, enjoying a meal with wine, and actively courting angels. Ku-won (played by Lee Jun-ho) said of Samir, "He has more than 100 girlfriends and must have divorced."
After the broadcast ended, reviews of viewers of 'King the Land' were posted one after another on IMDB, an American criticism site. Reaction such as "It demeaned Arab culture and Muslims" and "It is unpleasant to portray an Arab prince as a playboy character".
He also demanded an official apology, pointing out that he did not respect the Arab culture, where alcohol is prohibited. Various opinions are pouring in using hashtags on social media. Furthermore, Indian actor Anupam Tripati, who played the role of Samir, is also receiving malicious comments from Arab fans on social media.
An official from 'King the Land' told Ten Asia, "The characters, regions, and place names appearing in the drama are fictitious settings, and there was no intention to caricature or distort a specific culture." He added, "The production team respects various cultures and will pay more attention to production so that there is no inconvenience in viewing."
'King the Land' is the story of a man who despises laughter (played by Lee Jun-ho) and a smile queen (played by Im Yoon-ah) who has to laugh to create a day where they can really smile brightly at the VVIP lounge Kingdom, the dream of hoteliers.
Reporter Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia kkk39@tenasia.co.kr
