![]() Still, the attacks back then never reached the fever pitch commonly seen today, and the audiences understood that period dramas aren't necessarily based on truth and research, especially when they are pyujeon sageuk 퓨전사극-literally 'fusion historical dramas'.Īs the label implies, such shows fuse history with a great deal of invention. A scene from The Immortal Yi Sun-sin, considered one of the 'better' Korean historical dramas (by Koreans) despite some questions about its historical accuracy They also took liberties with history as dramas often do and caused grumbling among scholars, media and even some viewers. The Immortal Yi Sun-sin (2005), about the legendary 16th-century admiral whose statue stands in central Seoul Queen Seondeok (2009), featuring the eponymous monarch of the 7th-century Silla Kingdom and the Deep-Rooted Tree (2011), chronicling the circumstance of Hangeul's creation during Sejong's reign, were all bona-fide hits. It would be no exaggeration to say just about every Korean period drama, no matter how popular, has been met with some public criticism over accuracy. Ensuring that Korean history is portrayed 'correctly' has long been the nation's preoccupation. ![]() But the director of the TV adaptation made the decision to "create a fantastical setting" and "change all names of people and places in order to avoid any controversy about distorting history."Īdmittedly, this debate over what constitutes historical truth isn't new. The book is set in early Joseon and it identifies all the historical figures with their real names. Red Sky, based on a novel of the same title, was reportedly keen to avoid the same fate. Queen disappeared from domestic streaming services, if only briefly. Joseon Exorcist was canceled after two episodes, and Mr. Korean netizens began digging up evidence of links between Park and China and started calling him a traitor to the nation. ![]() The latter, adapted from a Chinese drama, was said to insult one of the last royal couples to rule Korea and their court. The former came under fire for, among other things, showing Chinese food, decor and music on screen. Both were penned by the writer Park Gye-ok, and both were accused of belittling Korean culture and history. One can blame it partly on the controversies that engulfed two historical TV series last year: Joseon Exorcist and Mr. It's taken a year or so for this strange situation to become the norm in Korea. The message is obvious: historical dramas ( sageuk 사극), by definition about history, apparently don't concern history. Both of them feature this disclaimer: "The characters and background of this drama are fictional creations." And at least two different shows from the past couple of months feature Joseon but forego giving names to the kings, calling them simply."the king". Snowdrop, currently on air and available on Disney+, is another. Lately Red Sky isn't the only Korean TV show to argue that it isn't based on history despite ample evidence to the contrary. Trailer for Red Sky, a recent Korean historical drama that claims to be a story of a fictional "Dan Dynasty" ![]() I wonder how many people are really fooled. The power-mad prince is called Juhyang, not Suyang. Ignore that its people dress in early Joseon-style clothing and live in period-appropriate architecture. The similarities notwithstanding, the creators of Red Sky insist that their story unfolds against the backdrop of a fictitious "Dan Dynasty". One of Sejong's sons-the infamous Prince Suyang-in turn went on to stage a palace coup and had his own nephew exiled (and later killed) so that he himself could take the throne. He retired to allow one of his sons to succeed him as the King Sejong (credited with developing the Korean Hangeul script). Central characters of last year's K-Drama Red Sky ( Hong Cheongi 홍천기) include a king who abdicates in favor of his son, a benevolent ruler and his ambitious grandson with a desire to be future king at any cost.įrom that alone most Koreans would recognize the show's setting as the Joseon Dynasty at the beginning of the 15th century, so famous is the story of the King Taejong who reigned from 1400 to 1418. ![]()
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