Korean Government Reportedly Reviewing Fund Recovery From ‘Perfect Crown’ Over Historical Distortion Controversy
Perfect Crown is facing another wave of controversy after reports revealed that South Korea’s media authorities are reviewing whether to recover government support funds provided to the drama following criticism over alleged historical distortion.
According to reports released on May 19, the Korea Media and Communications Commission is currently examining whether the financial support granted for the drama’s overseas promotion and global market expansion can legally be reclaimed under clauses related to “social controversy” and “harm to public interest.”
Previously, on April 23, Perfect Crown had been selected as one of four Korean drama projects introduced to international buyers during a content investment showcase connected to the Cannes International Series Festival.
The drama was presented alongside “Filing for Love,” “Bloody Flower,” and “Gokdu” as part of an overseas promotion initiative jointly organized by the Korea Media and Communications Commission and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA).
However, controversy erupted after Episode 11, which aired on May 15, featured a royal coronation scene that triggered intense backlash from Korean viewers.
Although Perfect Crown is set in a fictional modern constitutional monarchy version of Korea, critics argued that the series inaccurately portrayed Joseon-era royal customs and ceremonial traditions.
One of the biggest criticisms centered around court officials saying “Long live the king” instead of using expressions associated with the traditional “ten thousand years” royal blessing used in historical Korean royal protocol.
Viewers also criticized the king’s ceremonial crown, pointing out that the drama used a “nine-jade-bead crown,” traditionally associated with a vassal state, rather than the “twelve-jade-bead crown” reserved for imperial status in historical customs.
Following the backlash, complaints were reportedly submitted to the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The production team later issued an official apology on May 16, admitting that there had been insufficient consideration of historical context during the drama’s world-building process.
The producers also announced that audio and subtitle corrections would be made across reruns, VOD services, and OTT streaming platforms.
Lead stars Byeon Woo Seok and IU additionally released apology statements on May 18 regarding the controversy.
Several public figures in Korea also criticized the production, including Seo Kyoung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University and well-known history educator Choi Tae Sung, both of whom argued that the production lacked proper historical consultation.
Despite the backlash, Perfect Crown still finished its run with strong ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama achieved a peak nationwide viewership rating of 13.8 percent.
Still, many industry observers believe this case could become a major turning point for South Korea’s content industry. If authorities ultimately decide to recover the support funds, future government-backed overseas content initiatives may adopt much stricter standards regarding historical accuracy and social impact evaluation.
Source : allkpop