Amid the controversy over history distortion surrounding the recently concluded MBC Friday-Saturday drama Perfect Crown, Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University strongly criticized the production for its lack of historical verification and for generating controversy through expressions tied to China’s Northeast Project.
On May 19, Professor Seo emphasized the severity of the issue on his social media, stating, "For historical content broadcasted to a global audience through international OTT platforms, it is crucial not only to ensure accurate historical verification but also to carefully monitor ongoing history distortion by neighboring countries. Missing this part is the most painful mistake."
He added, "We must learn from the controversies of SBS’s Joseon Exorcist and MBC’s Perfect Crown starting now, and exercise utmost caution to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future."
The drama sparked intense backlash specifically during the coronation scene of Prince Lee An (played by Byeon Woo-seok). The production was heavily criticized for using the term '천세' (Cheonse) instead of '만세' (Manse), as well as utilizing a 구류면류관 (Guryumyeonryugwan) worn by rulers of subordinate states, rather than the 십이면류관 (Sibyemyeonryugwan) designated for emperors of sovereign nations.
In response, the production team issued an apology, stating, "We deeply acknowledge the viewers' criticism that our production undermined the sovereign status of our nation." Lead actors IU and Byeon Woo-seok also posted handwritten apologies on their social media, promising a more cautious and deep-rooted approach to their future projects.
Meanwhile, Perfect Crown director Park Joon-hwa is expected to break his silence today through a scheduled media interview. While cast member Lee Jae-won decided to cancel his scheduled interview in light of public sentiment, the director plans to move forward with the schedule without cancellation to clearly state his position.