The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 3

    All-Korean showdowns set up on 1st day of medal race

  • 5

    Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment

  • 7

    Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses

  • 9

    Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some

  • 11

    Historic NASA asteroid mission set for perilous return

  • 13

    Hangzhou Asian Games open after COVID-enforced delay

  • 15

    Top diplomats of Korea, Iran discuss bilateral ties following frozen funds transfer

  • 17

    Korea's top-ranked Go player wants to capitalize on rare chance

  • 19

    EU does not want to decouple from China but must protect itself: EU trade chief

  • 2

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 4

    Understanding Korean Modernization

  • 6

    Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws

  • 8

    US finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding

  • 10

    PM departs for China for Asian Games, meeting with Xi

  • 12

    Allies vow stern measures against Russia-NK arms deal

  • 14

    Korea looking to hit ground running on 1st day of medal events

  • 16

    League of Legends, other esports join Asian Games in competition for first time

  • 18

    Yoon returns home from New York trip

  • 20

    PHOTOSOpening ceremony of 19th Hangzhou Asian Games

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Mon, September 25, 2023 | 03:18
Shows & Dramas
Premature to accuse JTBC drama 'Snowdrop' of 'distorting history': experts
Posted : 2021-12-09 19:53
Updated : 2021-12-09 19:53
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Scenes from JTBC's new drama, 'Snowdrop' / Courtesy of JTBC Studio, Drama House Studio
Scenes from JTBC's new drama, "Snowdrop" / Courtesy of JTBC Studio, Drama House Studio

By Dong Sun-hwa

JTBC's upcoming TV series "Snowdrop" is undoubtedly one of the most-talked-about K-dramas this year, not only because of its star-studded cast, but also because of the controversy over its "history distortion."

After cable channel JTBC announced its premiere date (Dec. 18), the 16-episode soap opera is again facing a backlash online, with numerous people insisting that it glamorizes a North Korean spy and implies that North Korea was involved in the 1980 Gwangju Uprising ― a claim made by then-President Chun Doo-hwan in defense of his government's lethal suppression of the democratic movement.

The drama, starring Jisoo of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK and actor Jung Hae-in, was first accused of distorting history in April, when part of its synopsis and character descriptions were leaked online. According to the synopsis, "Snowdrop" is a romance story about North Korean spy Im Soo-ho (Jung) and South Korean college student Eun Young-ro (Jisoo). It is set in 1987, when Korea was under Chun, who seized power after staging a military coup in 1979.

Many raised eyebrows at the series for "glamorizing" North Korean spies, who have been responsible for the deaths of numerous South Korean citizens, and for suggesting that Chun's politically sensitive claim that the North Korean regime was behind the Gwangju Uprising was true. Thus, more than 222,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the drama to be banned.

"Our real history tells us that numerous students who were part of South Korea's pro-democracy movement were tortured and killed, after being falsely accused of spying for North Korea," one of them commented. "The creation of a character like Soo-ho looks like an uncomfortable twisting of our tragic history."

Another person wrote, "The 1980s cannot be explained without mentioning the pro-democracy protests. Why is Snowdrop trying to disparage our historical movement by featuring a spy character?"

The soap opera also caused a stir for its "positive depiction" of another male character named Lee Kang-moo, an official at the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP), the intelligence agency that worked for Chun. In its character description, JTBC described him as a "single-minded" man, prompting numerous people to criticize the cable channel for "beautifying a character who is part of an organization responsible for damaging Korea's democracy."

To assuage these critics, JTBC issued two statements.

"Soo-ho and Young-ro will neither lead nor participate in the pro-democracy protests," JTBC said, adding that its drama will not touch on sensitive issues related to the demonstrations. "We are actually planning to feature a character that is oppressed by the military government after being denounced as a spy. And we described Kang-moo as a single-minded person because he will turn his back on the corrupt organization to which he belongs."



Experts believe it is premature to conclude that "Snowdrop" has distorted Korean history.

"This is a sensitive issue, but as of now, we have too little information with which to judge the series, which has not even aired its first episode," drama critic Yun Suk-jin, who is also a professor of Korean Language and Literature at Chungnam National University, told The Korea Times Tuesday. "It goes without saying that writers and directors should take extra care and be more responsible when they are referring to a historical event in their work. But their artistic freedom must be guaranteed as well."

In fact, many believe that the cancellation of the SBS TV series "Joseon Exorcist" has had a spillover effect on "Snowdrop." In March, the historical-supernatural drama was terminated after airing only two episodes, as viewers boycotted it for "twisting history with its unnecessary use of Chinese foods and negative portrayal of Taejong (1367-1422), the third king of Joseon."

But Yun drew a line between "Joseon Exorcist" and "Snowdrop," saying, "The former caused a stir after airing its first episode and people raised issues with particular scenes. This was something understandable. But in the case of Snowdrop, we have not yet seen the drama."

In a recent forum, Jung Hyun-min, who penned the historical series, "Jeong Dojeon" (2014), said, "Writers may not be able to maximize their creativity if they face more restrictions than now. But I do believe that industry insiders need to be more careful when they are dealing with historical events."


Emailsunhwadong@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
2Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
3Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closerSeoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer
4Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
5Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
6S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain highS. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high
7JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up
8Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatoryPatients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory
9CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war
10Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
2[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
3BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
4[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
5Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group