"Sending emails to the members of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will speed things up. They will raise a fuss during the National Assembly audit. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will have to face their wrath. Let's send emails regardless of party affiliation." (From a community post)
Amid controversy over historical inaccuracies in the drama "21st Century Great Lady," it has come to light that the show received production support from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a government agency, prompting calls for the repayment of funds.
On May 21, various online communities in South Korea are mobilizing to share the email addresses of committee members to protest the issue.
"21st Century Great Lady" was selected as a final project for KOCCA's 2025 'OTT-Specialized Content Production Support (IP Acquisition Type)' program. While the exact amount of funding allocated to the project has not been disclosed, long-form dramas can receive up to 2 billion won. The show has received the full amount of its funding in two installments. A KOCCA official stated, "After being selected for the project, 70% of the advance payment was disbursed, and the remaining 30% was released following a mid-term evaluation. We have received all the funding."
However, there is a possibility that the funds could be reclaimed. KOCCA is set to conduct a performance evaluation this month to determine the success of the project. According to Article 55 of KOCCA's Content Support Project Management Regulations, if the evaluation is deemed unsatisfactory, the full amount of the funding and any accrued interest must be returned within 30 days. In this regard, a KOCCA official mentioned, "The evaluation schedule is still undecided," but added, "We are comprehensively reviewing overall measures, including potential fund recovery."
Some critics argue that it is problematic for government funds to be allocated to a drama that has already sparked controversy over historical distortion. Some community users are filing requests for information disclosure with KOCCA. One user stated, "KOCCA should disclose the evaluation criteria and the evaluation details for 'Great Lady.' They need to explain why historical accuracy was not addressed in the evaluation of historical content and whether there are regulations regarding compensation or fund recovery if issues arise in future productions."
In response, a KOCCA official noted, "Currently, historical accuracy is not mandatory at the project selection stage," but added that they are considering strengthening compliance checks, such as requiring plans for consultation or historical verification from the production support application or selection stages. They also stated, "We will work to prevent similar cases in the future."
Meanwhile, in the drama's coronation scene in episode 11, subjects shouted 'cheonsae' instead of 'manse,' and the king wore a nine-crown instead of the twelve-crown typically used for emperors. Viewers have criticized this portrayal as inappropriate, even considering the fictional context, as it depicts Joseon royal ceremonies in a manner befitting a vassal state.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.