Choi Tae-sung, a Korean history instructor, has sparked attention by proposing the establishment of a "Historical Verification Research Institute" in response to the controversy surrounding the MBC drama '21st Century Great Lady.'
Despite achieving over 13% viewership ratings, '21st Century Great Lady' has faced criticism for historical inaccuracies. Scenes such as the character Lee An-dae-gun (played by Byun Woo-seok) shouting "cheonsae" instead of "manse" during a royal coronation, and the use of a Chinese-style crown instead of the appropriate Korean imperial crown, have drawn scrutiny.
After the show's conclusion, debates arose regarding whether the portrayal of South Korea as a constitutional monarchy implied it was a vassal state of China rather than a sovereign nation. Viewers have called for apologies from the production team and cast, prompting Choi Tae-sung to express his views on social media.
On May 18, Choi stated, "Korean dramas and films have become content consumed by audiences worldwide. A production system that matches this status is necessary." He criticized the frequent historical inaccuracies, questioning why millions are spent on actor salaries while historical verification costs are often minimal.
He added, "Actors should be able to focus solely on their performances. It’s disheartening to receive criticism after working hard to create a good historical drama. I hope a Historical Verification Research Institute can be established."
As the controversy intensified, the production team issued an apology on May 16, stating, "We apologize for causing concern regarding the world-building and historical verification issues. We will correct the audio and subtitles for the relevant scenes in replays, VOD, and OTT services."
On May 18, lead actors IU and Byun Woo-seok also posted apologies on their social media accounts. IU expressed her regret, saying, "As the lead actress, I feel heavy-hearted for not demonstrating a responsible attitude and for disappointing viewers. I sincerely reflect on and apologize for not considering the various verification issues in the drama more deeply."
Byun Woo-seok, in a handwritten apology, acknowledged, "I lacked sufficient consideration of the historical context and significance embedded in the work and how it would be perceived by viewers. I will strive to approach my roles with greater caution and depth in the future."
Once anticipated as a major success due to the pairing of two highly popular actors, '21st Century Great Lady' has seen its success overshadowed by the ongoing historical distortion controversy. Attention now turns to how related content, including the web novel by writer Yoo Ji-won and the OTT video released on Disney+, will address these historical issues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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