SBS's drama 'Doctor X: The Era of the White Mafia' has sparked controversy after addressing the Gwangju Uprising. While some praise the show for highlighting the pain of victims, there are calls for its suspension, including a petition submitted to the National Assembly. A social media post by the production head featuring the phrase "NO FEAR" has further fueled the debate.
The controversy centers around the sixth episode, which aired on October 24. In the episode, the character Oh Sang-beom, played by Ha Sung-kwang, suffers from the aftereffects of a gunshot wound to the head sustained during the Gwangju uprising in May 1980. He carries the guilt of having lost his brother during that time. The protagonist, Kye Soo-jung, portrayed by Kim Ji-won, undertakes a risky surgery that other medical staff hesitate to perform. A fictional former president, Ji Do-seok, is also introduced, contrasting the power of the state with the lives of those harmed by it.
There are aspects of the show that merit positive evaluation. It effectively integrates the long-lasting scars left on survivors' bodies and lives from the Gwangju tragedy into a popular medical drama. Addressing a victim suffering from decades of aftereffects in a hospital setting is not an unnatural choice.
However, criticism cannot simply be dismissed as a rejection of historical themes. Korean cinema and television have long tackled significant events from modern history. Films like 'Taxi Driver' and 'Seoul's Spring' have addressed the Gwangju Uprising and the December 12 military coup, respectively. Disney+'s 'Made in Korea 2,' starring Hyun Bin, also uses the political upheaval of modern Korean history as a crucial backdrop.
Not all works that engage with historical events receive acclaim. The recent film 'Assassins' faced backlash for allegedly distorting history by using the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo as its premise. The boundary between historical fact and creative imagination has become a contentious issue.
These examples illustrate that merely addressing historical events does not guarantee a positive reception. The key lies in how the events are approached and how convincingly they are woven into the narrative.
'Doctor X,' based on a popular Japanese medical drama, tells the story of a surgeon who confronts power and corruption within the hospital. Adapting the setting and events to fit the realities of Korea is a natural choice. However, when addressing a significant event like the Gwangju Uprising, the narrative must provide sufficient persuasive power to support that choice.
In the sixth episode, the juxtaposition of Gwangju victims and a fictional former president raises questions for viewers. Why was the Gwangju Uprising addressed in this particular work, at this moment, and in this manner? Was the portrayal of the victim's suffering intended to provide depth to a character's life, or was it merely a device to convey a message?
The petition submitted to the National Assembly indicates that this controversy is not limited to online debates. The petitioner claims that the Gwangju-related content was inserted without relevance to the existing storyline and demands verification of the production process and a halt to the broadcast.
On the day of the broadcast, production head Lee Ok-kyu posted "NO FEAR" on social media. If there was no anticipation of controversy from the outset and no hesitation in their choices, was there really a need to assert a lack of fear? The statement could imply an awareness of something that might warrant concern.
It remains unclear what specific concerns the production team may have had. However, it is likely they recognized how sensitive the choice to incorporate a historical tragedy into a medical drama could be and the potential backlash it could provoke. Therefore, the crucial question is not whether they felt fear, but why they made this choice despite that awareness and whether they considered how to persuade viewers.
Creative works often become tools of politics and battlegrounds for ideological conflict. Messages intended by creators can take on political significance through the diverse perspectives of viewers. When the focus shifts from what the work intended to convey to which side it aligns with, the value of the work is overshadowed.
Thus, creators must exercise a delicate balance to maintain their message while ensuring their work is not consumed by ideology. Creating without fear is easier than creating with an awareness of what should invoke fear.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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