[Sports TV News, by Yoo Eun-bi] Instances of K - dramas depicting scenes that offend overseas viewers' sensibilities continue to arise. From 'Suriname' and 'Little Women' to 'Kingdom,' dramas that were performing well and attracting global viewers have become stumbling blocks due to misguided depictions and scenes that missed the mark.
JTBC's weekend drama 'Kingdom,' which has been steadily gaining popularity and even topped the non-English top 10 series on Netflix, unexpectedly faced controversy over the distortion of Arab culture.
Episodes of 'Kingdom' that aired on the 8th and 9th depicted an episode related to an Arab prince named Samir (played by Anupam). Samir, who used to be a close friend of Gwon (played by Lee Joon-ho) during their studying abroad days, visited the King Hotel with a contract containing a malicious clause that said, "You must always answer 'yes' to my demands." Upon seeing the welcoming Cheon Sa-rang (played by Im Yoon-ah), he instantly fell in love and created comical episodes with Gwon.
However, the problem arose from the way Samir was depicted as a "lecherous" character who enjoyed drinking with multiple women. He was shown enjoying nightlife in what appeared to be a club and even made advances toward Cheon Sa-rang upon their first meeting. Gwon, who spent his school days with Samir, even criticized him as a "womanizer."
When this episode was globally released through Netflix, Arab viewers demanded that the scenes be deleted, stating that 'Kingdom' did not respect the prohibition of alcohol in Arab culture. Despite the setting of an Arab prince, the lack of respect and understanding for Arab culture was criticized. Some even raised concerns about an Indian actor playing the role of an Arab prince. However, the production team explained to Sports TV News that "all the characters, locations, and names depicted in the drama are fictional settings, and we did not portray anyone as a prince of a specific country," denying any intention of racial discrimination.
However, despite the production team's explanation, viewers' anger intensified. In response, the 'Kingdom' side issued a statement saying, "The characters, locations, and names depicted in the drama are all fictional settings, and there was no intention to exaggerate or distort any specific culture. The production team will pay even more attention to respecting various cultures and ensuring viewers' comfort." It remains uncertain whether this will appease the angered Arab viewers.
This is not the first time that the direction and setting of K - dramas have sparked conflicts with international viewers. Director Yoon Jong-bin's first series, 'Suriname,' and tvN's 'Little Women' also faced backlash from overseas viewers.
The Netflix series 'Surinam
e,' which was released in September of last year, drew praise in Korea as a solid, well-made drama. However, the Suriname government strongly criticized it for depicting Suriname as a country plagued by drugs and corruption. Albert Ramdin, Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affairs, strongly condemned the drama, stating that they are considering legal action against the production company, as it creates a negative perception of their country.
Conflicts were anticipated from the production stage. Even before its release, concerns were raised about using the name of the country in the drama title, prompting the intervention of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a result, the English title was modified to 'Narcos-Saints.' However, director Yoon Jong-bin mentioned in an interview that since the drama was based on a true story, he did not feel the need to use a fictional country name. In reality, 'Suriname' is based on the story of a real-life Korean drug lord named Cho Bong-hyeong, who operated in Suriname in the late 1990s to early 2000s and was eventually arrested with the help of a civilian named K. Netflix and the production company did not provide any further comment on this matter.
Similarly, tvN's popular drama 'Little Women' faced a historical distortion controversy and experienced a broadcasting suspension in Vietnam. The Vietnam Broadcasting and Electronic Information Authority sent an official letter requesting the removal of 'Little Women' from Netflix Vietnam, accusing the drama of distorting the Vietnam War. Within three days, all episodes of the drama were removed.
The problematic scene revolved around a mention of the character's military service in Vietnam. Dialogues such as "Korean soldiers can kill 20 Viet Cong soldiers, and some soldiers even killed up to 100" and "Korean soldiers are heroes of the Vietnam War" were interpreted as depicting Korean soldiers as heroes of the Vietnam War and were met with backlash for historical distortion. This is the first time that a Korean production has been removed due to accusations of historical distortion.
In response, the production company Studio Dragon stated to Sports TV News, "It is true that local broadcasting of 'Little Women' was suspended due to a written request from the Vietnam Broadcasting and Electronic Information Authority. We deeply apologize for causing controversy and will pay even more attention to social and cultural sensitivities in future content production."
As various global platforms expand, K-content is receiving attention worldwide, and as it gains popularity in many countries, it is essential to show respect and consideration for global viewers. Issues of racial discrimination and cultural distortion require even more careful review. If the direction of K-content aims to go beyond Korea and become global, efforts to understand and embrace the cultures and sentiments of the world are necessary.
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