Controversies Surround New Korean Dramas: Cultural Insensitivity and Production Oversights

New Korean dramas are facing backlash due to 'careless attitudes' during production. As K-content continues to spread globally, viewers emphasize the need for production teams to be more attentive in their processes.

The first drama to face criticism is 'To the Moon,' set to air next month. On the 20th, the production team released a teaser video featuring actors Ra Mi-ran, Lee Sun-bin, Jo A-ram, and Kim Young-dae dressed in Arabian-style costumes, dancing in a manner reminiscent of 1980s-1990s ice cream commercials.

After the scene circulated, many viewers from Arab regions expressed discomfort, stating it mocked their traditional culture. Domestic viewers also criticized the scene, noting that the commercial style is outdated by 30 years and questioning how no one anticipated the backlash from Arab audiences.

MBC responded by deleting the video and admitting, "We lacked cultural consideration," promising to approach future projects with more care and caution.

Another drama, 'The Tyrant's Chef,' which premiered on the 23rd on tvN, faced controversy for a typographical error in its first episode. The Chinese character for 'era' in 'Taepyeongseongdae' was incorrectly written, leading viewers to mock the mistake as a sign of illiteracy.

Critics questioned how the production team failed to catch such an error, especially in a historical drama where accuracy is crucial. The team apologized on the 25th, acknowledging the mistake and stating that corrections would be made for re-broadcasts and VOD services. They vowed to be more diligent in future production and review processes.

The upcoming drama 'Hypnosis,' starring Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, faced criticism during production for leaving trash at a filming site in Jeju Island, sparking a 'littering' controversy. A netizen posted photos on social media showing discarded items, including filming schedules and coffee holders with the lead actors' faces.

In response, the production company Showbox explained that the late-night filming led to inadequate site cleanup. They apologized to the filming location and relevant authorities, promptly cleaning up the site. However, a complaint was filed with the national e-People system, requesting fines and preventive measures against the production team.

KBS2's weekend drama 'Brilliant Days,' which aired its first episode on the 9th, faced backlash for depicting illegal drinking at a construction site in its sixth episode. The scene showed Ji-hyuk (played by Jung Il-woo) having lunch with workers, with bottles of makgeolli present, and a worker offering him a drink.

Viewers criticized the scene, highlighting the dangers of promoting alcohol consumption in a hazardous environment like a construction site. Public broadcaster KBS faced scrutiny for airing such content.

In response, the 'Brilliant Days' team explained on the 27th that the scene was intended to indirectly highlight the dangers of drinking on the job. They apologized for any discomfort caused and promised to consider the social impact of their content as a public broadcaster.

By Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr